The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-30

that had long black hair; that wore rag
Of dress begrimed and plasterod with
mud; that ran like rabbit and never could
be caught. Several park cops saw hel
at night and gave chase, but park cops
like their fellows, are mostly fat and the
weather has been hot Therefore the chase
was fruitless.
Grass cutters and gardeners have been
telling each other up In the big garden
Of the city about a very dirty young girl
who grubbed on the ground for crusts
and half eaten sandwich e. left by picnic
parties and ran like deer when they got
near her. The circumstance didn't seem
especially remarkable to them, for there are
living things hungry In the park besides
the gray squirrels and the birds. They
wouldn't bother her, but they thought 1t
queer that she fed Like frightened animal
when they approached. Some OF them
told the cops about II.
Good Lord" said the oops, what Of Ill
II any human soul wants to eat scraps
and sorapings, let him. It's no sin. There's
no city ordinance against 1t.
But even the cops began to scrat oh their
heads and wonder what on earth tia str ange
creature was when they cav her very. In
frequently after dark, lodging behind . big
tree or sprinting for thicket or snatching
the supper out Of the very mouth OF an
offended squirrel. There have been times
within the last few weeks when good Catho-
lies on the force crossed themselves as .
streak OF black hair and rag Of girl
I, vhisked out Of sight. But there was no
order to arrest this queer creature. They
never saw her in the same place twice. When
they chased her they might as well have
tried to catch an antelope, and 20 they
didn't pay much attention.
There are two varieties Of cop In Central
Park; the kind that stick to tho roads and
60 afoot, and the kind that stick to the roads
and ride horse. There are places IN the big
greenery, thickets and wooded spots that
neither Of the varieties knows much about,
that the girl had slept in the Park most Of
the time for three months although they
scratched their heads again and doubted,
like old Wouter Van Twiller.
But here Is the girls story e she told
1t herself. Last April Isabel Cowan was
living at 7sa Columbus avenue With MT;
her when her father died. twelve yea.
ago. Cowan was q newspaper man who
spent much and saved nothing, according
to Mrs Reilly. She took the girl into
her home, sent her TO- school and tried
to do yell yell, BY i her, she sS Say, n,...v .u
developed and attractive, got to going
out at night, giving all sorts Of excuses
to Mrs. Reilly. She went to dance hall,
met a man there who bought drinks for
her, and the worst kind Of trouble followed
back home and told her u she wouldpromise
to be good that everything would be all
right; but the taste Of dance halls fingered
with Isabel, and it wasn't long before she
was clipping out again. One night Mrs
Reilly followed her to q resort, and when
That was the last Mrs; Reilly saw Of her
until Isabel was arrested in Central Park
The police Of the West Tooth street sta
ton had been looking for her for weeks at
Mrs. Reilly's request. They hadn't an
lie ei IN . the big park until detective MoManas
who was assigned to the case, heard some
Of the talk among the park employees about
tie ragged wild thing that ran from them.
MoManus began to watch the park.
Friday afternoon he was at Ninety fifth
saw her at a fruit stand: She was thin and
haggard and her clothing was unspeak-
ably dirty. She was trying to get the fruit
dealer to let her have some bananas and
charge them to Mrs. Reilly, when she saw
the detective making for her She turned
Nlnsty-fifth street to Central Park West,
with McManus after her. He chased her
to the Tooth street entrance to the park and
there got hand on her shoulder. She was
80 tired and weak from want Of food that
she couldn't go another step, or she would
McManus took her to the West Tooth
street station, where the sergeant and him
self fed her, buying her a very filing meal
out Of their own pockets. She ate and ate
until the kindly policemen thought she
would burst.
Honest, this is tho first square meal
I've had for months" she said, and the
police found no trouble In believing ct least
that part OF her story. Then the matron
put her In tub and when she came out
and the matron put q new Bingham dress
o. ~ Won't oS 20 home, said isabsl. It amt
no place for me. I'd rather 20 anywhere
Say, she said, Il haven't talked to
many people lately. About the only
friends I've got are the squirrels and the
tRs ete foo .eemed to b s af ee1 Of in ms
You see, when I fell out with Mrs. Reilly
and acted 60 bad toward her there was no
place for me to 60. I didn't want to be
pinched, 50 l took to the park. where /
Z ,Ss could d.; scraps Tying Iss e.sy
parties that. eat on the grass and leave
things, nice things. grabbed them be-
fore the smart cops got around and be-
fore the cleaners came. But say. I'm sick
Of pickles and chicken bones. / wonder
Why, tioniekers always, take pickles and
to turn up their noses at that grub.
4Of course I didn't spend all my time
in that place, I'd have gone crazy II had.
l used to slip out at night and swipe bottles
Of milk from fiathoues windows. I got 80
could time the milkman to the second
every morning. That was a cinch. Then
lota Of people used to give me bread, and
would mako a raise OF few
cents and have feast. But when I had
to I alwaysfell back on the park
= BUT where on earth did you sleeps
said McManus.
sIn the park said Isabel. there amt
nothing strange about that, 10 there7 That
park Is big. as all out doors, and there's
huncrcds OF places I'll bet the cops have
never been In. had different place
about every night, In thiokets and where