The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-12-08
Cernple's
Clckets
BY Colin S. Collins
By Colin s. Collins


usher
Marion turned in her seat. Il don't
see any one know" she said, after
scrutiny of the faces. There must be
some mistake"
Better come" urged the usher in a
whisper IF you don't he'll come after
YOU"
VERY WELL" said Marion composed
ly. Let him come. He will probably
have the sense to perceive his error
then"
The usher held up his hand, and in
moment a man came down the aisle.
Come out back" he commanded. u
want to talk to you"
81 do not know YOU" said Marion.
IF you do not cease bothering me l
shall call policeman"
Needn't bother" laughed the man
harshly, as he held his coat open. al
ways glad to oblige lady"
Marion glanced at the shield, then
rcgretfully ut the seat, and followed
him up the aisle, and presently stood
in little office opening off the audi
forum. At desk sat Il man who had
removed his coat, but not his silk hat,
and young man paced the narrow
confines of the office restlessly.
Marion's captor jerked his thumb
toward her That's her." he announc-
ed. Must he a new one. l never saw
her before"
The young man came toward her. Il
have no desire to prosecute" he said
rapidly. IF you will give me back my
property we will let the matter drop"
Marion held out the seat check. The
usher took the rest" she said simply
The detective laughed.
"Shc's a new one, but she's all right"
he declared boisterously. "a girl who
can act like that ought to be on the
stage, not in the orchestra seats"
The younger man handed back the
check. II do not want that" he ex-
planned. you can see the show out If
you want to. want the pocketbook."
Il don't know anything about peck
ctbook," denied Marion, beginning to
cry. Il never saw pocketbook."
Don't make it worse by your de-
malls" urged the other. Don't you
realize that the best thing to do is to
give up the money and papers without
making any more trouble for us than
you can help?
Il don't know what you mean," she
sobbed
NONSENSE he cried irritably. You
were in the street car with me this
afternoon. Several times you bumped
into me as the car swayed, and when l
got off l found that my pocketbook
was gone"
Marion glanced at him with interest.
She did remember man who had
twice saved her from fall that after
noon. This was the same person.
Il do remember seeing you in the
car" she admitted. but l didn't take
the pocketbook."
The detective made n gesture of i'm
patience. Il suppose that ticket and
the rest Of the things just jumped out
of his pocket and into yours" he sug-
gested, with sarcasm. Must be sort
of pocketbook hypnotist."
L HcNSE Sd" lHt l'OShclDOOh' ohC
cried passionately. Il haven't seen any
pocketbook. Why don't you let me
go? Why do you keep me here?"
There was something genuine in her
denial, and the young man looked con-
fused Perhaps the ticket Is all
mistake" he suggested to the detective.
The latter laughed.
civ hut cho
can't fool me-" he declared. I'm too
used to their lodges. She knew what
/ wanted all right. She tried to braZen
1t out when sent for her. but as soon
as l flashed my badges she came all
right"
u thought it was because Of the
ticket" sobbed Marion.
"Sure 1t was" grlnned the detective,
with triumphant look at the other
about the ticket and the rest of the
things in the pocketbook."
81 don't know anything about the
pocketbook, she denied. There was
sign out in front Of the theater that
said tickets bought from spectators
would not be accepted"
what about that?" growled the de-
tectivc.
81 arpposcd that meant all kinds"
she explained, and l bought these in
Wilkins cigar store. When you show
ed me your badge supposed you want
ed to put me out because / had paid
only half a dollar for the tickets be-
cause
Half dollar" exclaimed the young
man.
THE man said it was so late he
would sell it to me cheap. There Is
Epeculator there but he didn't have any
for this theater, and n man who was
buying a cigar said he would sell one
to me cheap because it was so late, and
he did not think he could get the mon
ey back at the box office"
"NYhat sort of Il man" demanded the
detective eagerly.
Marion described him rs well as she
could
Have scar on the right side of his
rhin?"
Eyes" assented Marion, remember
Ing this detail.
The detective turned to the other
Its Chi. Charlie Mr.. Temple. think
| can get him in half an hour. Will
you take this girl over to the sta
tion?"
Certainly" said the other, rising,
"lf she will accept my escort"
Marion glanced at the officer. "Must
l go?" she demanded.
ut Is only to sit in the captains
room until this officer can make an
arrest" saiG Temple reassurngly.
They made their way through the
brilliantly lighted streets, at last turn
| ing down a side street where two
points of green glowed in the middle of
the block In few minutes she even
found herself chatting with her COM
panion in the captains room, learning
how he had been robbed that afternoon
Of wallet containing many valuable
| papers. There was theater ticket In
one of the pockets, and he had gone to
the theater in the hope that the dcke,