The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-02-27
BY MARY BOWMAN


There remained only the five women,
who, with the excited complainant,
comprised the passengers. Four Of
them stepped forward.
"Fll let any woman in the crowd
search me-" she said The woman who
had lost her purse bounced 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
'Nextp 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
to do so, and it is absurd to suppose
that could have taken your purse. I
have sat in this corner ever since en-
tered the car, and have not been near
you. l refuse to permit you to touch
me-"
you see," exclaimed the complain
ant triumphantly, 81 knew 1t would
not be difficult to locate the guilty
one"
Il never saw your pursel" cried the
girl in the corner II 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 hereF' cried Douglas. "stop
this thing. l took the purse"
The others turned with one accord
toward him. 81 took it." he repeated
dehantly. 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 pursev she cried.
Il will not let you take him away I'M
til get my purse"
"Have to keep it to use as evidence"
was the short explanation. "Come
around to the Fifty-ninth street sta
ton to make complaint / can't wait
here any longer. Come onI He re-
newed his hold upon Douglas, but his
way was blocked by the woman.
"At least l insist that you count the
money i'll my presence" she demanded.
Il have that right
"All right" said the policeman in a
tired voice "Give it up, young fell
low.
Il haven't got it," stammered Doug
las, to whom this was very unexpect-
ed turn. IL dropped it,"
'Where did you drop it?' asked the
officer. I'm your pocket?'
Where the window drops down." ex-
planned Douglas more glibly. you
can find it when the car gets to the
stables"
Il want it now" persisted the vic
tim. 81 insist that it 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 if l 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 car all
day." he announced. "You 60 on to the
stables and come over to the station
house with it."
"Thats 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, and the chain
caught on the braid 1t must have been
there all the time"
"Then why did this man cause me all
Of this excitement?" demanded the vic
tim, turning in her majesty to con-
front Douglas.
He went red for a moment, and the
policeman took a firmer hold upon his
club. Il thought it might stop all this
fooling," confessed Douglas. and,
you see, Pm a story writer, and l
wanted to see how it felt to be ar
rested
1--WE a good mind to let you see how
1t feels to be pinched for disorderly
conduct" began the policeman, but
there was a quick, unseen transfer of
something from Douglas pocket to the
officers palm, and the threat died
away in benign, let this be lesson
to you," as the officer climbed off the
ear
There were many curious glances d.
rected toward Douglas, but he met
them calmly and stared politely but
placidly at the girl in the far corner.
He rose when she did and left the
car at the far crossing, but he fingered
at drug store window, and it was not
until the girl was halfway down the
block that he caught up with her.
Bessie" he cried, won't you speak
to me? l only got in last night and
was on my way up here when you got
on the car. Is there still no hope for
meY
''Do you think you deserve forgive
ness" she asked, when you make
yourself so conspicuous on the carr"
at was for your sake" he said softly.
1.-THE idea of telling people" she went
on, ignoring his last remark, shat you
were an author looking for expert
encesi''
II had to have some sort of excuse"
he defended, land that was the best /
could do on the spur of the moment"
what did you want to do it for, any
how?" she demanded.
ITO prevent you from being search
ed" he explained. 81 was afraid that
some one in the crowd might have slip
ped the purse to you in the excitement.
They do that sometimes"
"Dan Douglas" she demanded, Gem
ing to stop and facing him, do you
mean to tell me that was why you
took the blame?"
"Yes," he said quietly.
"After the horrid way treated your"
''That made no difference"
But told you would never speak
to you again"
II know it. was afraid you meant