Middletown transcript., 1907-04-13
ANNABEL'S POCKET
BY ELLA RANDALL PEAReE

Andfor the first time since she
had left Greenfield other eyes
than Annabel's rested on the
pictured face of Linwell Hoyt.
A frank, handsome face it was,
with firm, unshaded lips. kindly
eyes, and thick masses of dark
hair tossed back from broad
forehead.
It's a fine face, com mented
Mrs. Mallock. Annabel I'd like
to scold you.
Don't, said Annabel, with some
thing like a sob.
She put the picture away,
bathed her face and smoothed
her hair.
I'm going out to- answer that
she said.
While fastening the belt of the
blue skirt around her waist, she
gave little exclamation.
Oh, you've forgotten the
pocket!
No, l didn't; I put it in the last
thing. Here - why! and the
woman began to laugh heartily.
Annabel, put it on the wrong
side!
So you have. I'll have to be
Ieft-handed. Well, never mind;
I'll manage.
But it's so awkward. l don't
know what possessed me-put-
ting pocket on that side. III
change it some time.
It's all right, Annabel pro-
tested. | just carry my purse
and handkerchief in it.
The ideaof my putting pocket
on the left side! muttered Mrs.
Mallock, as Annabel went out
the door. Bless her heart, what
a pretty, trim little thing she is
with her neat figure and her
brown curls, and her big blue
eyes like a baby's. The poor
dear, silly child!
Annabel applied for the posi-
tion in a downtown store, but
received little encouragement
A small army of experienced
workers were there to offer their
services, and with a sinking
heart the young girl turned
away.
She boarded a car bound for
home, and sat down beside a
stout woman whose silks and
furs and diamonds offered a |
striking contrast to the shabby |
attire of the slender girl who |
was overshadowed by her avoir-
dupois and her snowy elegance.
AS the car filled they were
wedged closely together, and the
folds of garnet silk forced over
the blue serge.
Annabel, with a faint smile, as
She thought of Mrs. Mallock's
slipped her left hand
down by her side in order to pro-
cure her handkerchief from her
pocket.
1t was rather awkward for her
and required some little effort.
but at last she succeeded in find
ing the opening, and, at that in
slant, Ihs stout woman beside
her, who had been growing red
der and redder in the face,
turned abruptly toward her, and
something closed about the girls
wrist.
I've caught you! exclaimed the
woman. Picking my pocket, eh?
I'll teach you a lesson. Conduc-
5or, conductor, stop the car!
By this time every one had
realized the situation, and was
staring at the couple.
Annabel looked down in con-
while a burning flush
swept over her face, realized
'nly one fact-her hand was act
tally in the pocket of the garnet
'ilk dress, and the stout woman
vas holdingit there in a vise-like
grip.
Too bewildered to clearly un-
terstand the matter, the young
sirl began to stammer something,
'ut the woman silenced her with
Ter noisy. yoluble denunciations.
I'll show you what it means to
ry to steal from me. I lost my
,urse only last week. A nice
;irl you are; a nice face you've
'ot for pick-pocket, but l dare j.
ay you're acting for somebody
lse. I won't encourage crime.
IL have you arrested at once.
}ome along, miss.
The car had stopped. Despite
Annabel's incoherent protests
nd resistance, the woman still
ripping her wrist, led her i