The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1906-08-01
By MARY BOlvNlAN
Copyright. 1905. by Beatrix Reade

I'll let any woman In the crowd
search me-" she said. The woman who
had lost her purse pounced upon hel
and with eager fingers paved over hez
gown, emptied her purse upon the seat
and jumbled the things out Of her hand
satchel.
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 sal
quietly In her seat.
II do not propose to be searched, u
she said quietly. "You have no right
to do so, and 1t is absurd to suppose
that could have taken your purse.
have sat In this corner ever since en-
tered the car, and have not been near
you. I refuse to permit you to touch
me-"
"You see," exclaimed the complain
ant triumphantIy, 81 knew 1t would
not be difficult to locate the guilty
one"
81 never saw your purse!" cried the
girl In the corner. "I have no need
to steal purses. Officer, here is my
card. You must know my father by
reputation"
81 can't help it, num-" said the off,
Ger. "An the others have been search
ed, and If you refuse to submit
He stopped short. The girl had burst
into tears.
Look herep' cried Douglas. "stop
this thing. took the purse"
The others turned with one accord
toward him. II 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 purseW she cried.
~ will not let you take him away I'M.
til 1 get my purse"
"Have to keep 1t 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 on" He re-
newed his hold upon Douglas, but his
way was blocked by the woman.
"At least insist that you count the
money i'll my presence" she demanded.
II have that right"
"All right" said the policeman in a
tired voice. "Give it up, young fell
low
81 haven't got it," stammered Doug
las, to whom this was very unexpect-
ed turn. IL dropped it." $50.
'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 1t when the car gets to the
stables"
"I want it now" persisted the VIC
tim. ST 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 II / can see it. %
The victim made a rush for the win
dow and began to poke theoretically
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."
'"That's what" echoed the inspector,
who had come up. There's fifty cars
tied up behind. Keep 'em moving"
The policeman turned to CO. 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.
''It slipped down inside. and the chain
caught on the braid. It must have been
there all the time"
''Then why did this man cause me all
Of this excitementY' demanded the vic
tim, turning in her majesty to con-
front Douglas.
He went red for q moment, and the
policeman took a nrmer 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 It felt to be ar
rested"
1--WE a good mind to let you see how
it 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 a benign, Let this be LESSON
to you" as the officer climbed off the
car.
There were many curious glances di.
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 1t 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? i only got in last night and
was on my way up here when you got
on the car. Is there still no hope for
me?"
"Do you think you deserve forgive
ness" she asked, "when you make
yourself SO conspicuous on the CARP
cit was for your sake" he said softly
'"The idea of telling people," she went
on, ignoring his last remark, ''that you
were an author looking for expert
encesp'
ST had to have some sort of excuse"
he defended, 'and that was the best
could do on the spur of the moment"
"What did you want to do 1t for, any
howY' she demanded.
ITO prevent you from being search
3D." he explained ST was afraid that
some one In the crowd might have slip