The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-03-01
POCketbOOkS and
PenitonCe
B, MARY BOWMAN
Copyright. 1895, bg Beatrik Roade

"and the officer says he won't"
Then shall search these people my
self" snapped the old lady. Not ten
minutes ago paid my fare out Of that
purse aud no one has left the car since
It must be here, tell You | insist that
you find it
The policeman looked about the car
hopelessly. Douglas spoke up.
Il think he said quietly that the
quickest way 10 81 rid of this non
sense will De for the resi- OF us u per
NIT ourselves 10 be searched AIN sire
none OF Us will object There IS merely
mistake somewhere. Here. officer. do
your duty
He stepped forward aud with rapid
movements the policeman emptied his
pockets. The other four men in the ear
followed his example. Then an expect
ant hush fell over the passengers
There remained only the five women
who, with the excited complainant,
comprised the passengers. -Four OF
them stepped forward.
I'll let any woman in the crowd
search me, she said. The woman who
had lost her purse pounced upon her
and with eager fingers paved over her
gown. emptied her purse upon the seat
and jumbled the things out Of her hand
satchel
Next she called as she left her vic
tim to replace her belongings as best
she might
Three other women came forward in
turn, submitting with no good grace to
the examination, but the last one sat
quietly in her seat
Il do not propose to be searched. ."
she said quietly You have no right
10 do so, and it is absurd to suppose
that | could have taken your purse.
haye sat in this corner ever since | en-
tered the car. and have not been near
you. refuse to permit you TO touch
me"
You See exclaimed the complain
ant triumpmntly, Il knew it would
not be difficult to locate the gull
one"
Il never saw your purse" cried the
girl in the corner 4 have no need
to steal purses. Officer. here Is my
card. You must know my father by
reputation
Il can't help it. num-" said the Off
Ger "All the others have been search.
ed. and If you refuse to submit
He stopped short. The girl had burst
into tears,
Look herer cried Douglas. stop
this thing. took the purse"
The others turned with one accord
toward him. 81 took it." he repeated
defantly. Officer, do your duty"
The policeman laid his hand upon his
arm, but the owner of the purse burst
out in protest
Give me back my purse" she cried.
Il will not let you take him away IN
til get my purse"
"HGve to keep it to use as evidence"
was the short explanation. Come
around 10 the Fifty-ninth street sta
ton to make complaint. can't walt
here any longer. Come on" He re
newed his hold upon Douglas. but his
way was blocked by the woman.
AT least insist that you count the
money IN my presence she demanded.
Il have that right"
"Al right said the policeman In
tired voice Give 1t up. young fel-
low
u haven't got it." stammered Doug
las, TO whom this was n very unexpect-
ed turn II drOupc41 it"
"Where did you drop it?' asked the
officer In your pocket"
where the window drops down" ex-
planned Douglas more gllbly. You
can find it when the car gets TO the
stables"
81 want it now" persisted the vie
tim. 81 insist that 1t be given me at
once"
One Of the men leaned over the ledge
at the back of the seat There was a
space of about two inches between the
window sill and the back of the seat
where the sash was dropped In pleas
ant weather
This is where you were sitting" he
called, "but I'm hanged II can see it."
The victim made rush for the win
dow and began to poke energetically
into the space with her umbrella, but
without result. The policeman stirred
uneasily 81 can't hold up this ear all
day." he announced. you go ON to the
stables and come over to the station
house with It,"
That's what echoed the inspector
who had come up There's fifty cars
tied up behind. Keep 'em moving
The policeman turned to go, but Just
then one of the women passengers
sprang toward the woman who was
kneeling upon the seat busy with her
fishing. There's your purse now she
cried as she pulled aside the skirts of
the long cloak the victim was wearing
ut slipped down inside. ana the chain
caught on the braid It must hay" been
there all the time"
Then why did this man cause me all
OF this excitement" demanded the vic
tim, turning in her majesty 10 con
front Douglas
He went red for moment and the
policeman took a firmer hold upon his
club 81 thought It might stop all this
fooIing," confessed Douglas. And,
you see. I'm a story writer. and I
wanted to see how 1t felt TO be ar
rested"
I've a good mind to let you see how
1t feels to be pinched for disorderly