Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-07-17
MABEL'S P|CKPOCKET
BY Lucy Montgomery

"Good.by, Mabel: take care Of your.
self" said the fussy woman, kissing
the girl once more.
Il WILL" laughed the girl.
And don't lose your diamonds
| dear" added the woman In a stage
whisper that could have been heard 10
the other end Of the car.
ber."
"Ill not forget, auntie." replied the
girl.
She clutched her handbag apprehen'
| sively at the mention of the diamonds,
and l smiled to myself at the innocent
way she had betrayed their hiding
place.
II there had been a pickpocket on
the train be couldn't have wanted q
better tip,
After the train started I gazed
across the aisle at Mabel and could
scarcely conceal my admiration. sne
had a perfect face and ! thought l
never had seen a more innocent or
charming girl. All the sins and sor'
rows of life had left her untouched. l
thought, and sighed at the reflection
that I knew something Of both.
Before many hours passed I had
managed to pick up a casual travelling
acquaintance with Miss Mabel-in
fact, I may say we had become friends.
as far as was possible without imper'
Thence on my part or too great free
dom on hers. She gave me two or
h three little confidences-it always
having been my good fortune to be
trusted by women-but she said moth
ing about her diamonds. and I pre-
tended not t. know that she had them
in her handbag 1t amused me to 9
how faithfully she chung to 1t. The
only time she let the precious bag
leave her hand for q minute was when
she went into the dining a for sup
per and left it lying on the seat.
THAT would be a pickpocket's
chance-if there was one on the carr"
I said to myself. 1t happened, how.
ever, that at the moment the a was
empty. 80 I followed her into the din.
ing car. It was not my business to
look after the bag.
After supper when I returned to
my seat I saw that she vas searching
through her hand bag feverishly, and
that she was in great distress.
What has happened?" I inquired,
though I suspected the truth.
my diamonds" she gasped. :"
have lost them. I left them hero
when I went into the dining car. And
now they are gone. o, o, what shall
l do? l will call the conductor"
NO." 1 said. firmly, that is not
the best plan. The conductor knows
nothing about them, and II you raise
an alarm you simply will put the
thief on guard. He would be sure
to escape. and you. never would see
your Jewels again."
laying a slender white hand OF my
arm and looking at me 80 con1dingly
that I would have been a brute not to
be touched.
Leave 1t to me-" I said. Il will see
that they are recovered. I an q rail.
road detective"
"Oh. how lucky!" she exclaimed.
oomforted her all I could-which
I found to be q most delightful task.
At Burlington I left the train. tell.
ing her that I would take the next
train back to Chicago in pursuit of
the thief. In fact, I permitted her
to know that I gave up my journey on
purpose to take up the search after
her Jewels, and she was sufficiently
grateful.
She gave me a card with her Omaha
address upon It. and also told me
where I could find her aunt in Chi.
cago. I promised to report twitrin .
week.
She blushed and sighed so prettily
when she babe me good-by at last
that my heart beat with unusual
vigor.
Four days later I sent her diamonds
to her by express. and. though I
never expected to see her again, I
could not forbear expressing a little
of the tenderness I felt in the let.
ter which I sent with the gems.
Really the beautiful and innocent
girl had made q lasting impression on
my heart. Never before had I per.
mitted myself the luxury of a tender
sentiment.
These were the last Jewels I ever
stole.
Taa Cocktail and n Colonial.