The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1910-12-30

CLOOOh.
There was but one moment she
said, that it was out of my posses
sion. | was sitting in the waiting
room and candy boy came along. I
had small coins inside my glove, and
laid my bag down on the seat beside
me while paid for some candy"
ga candy boy is the most dangerous
thing a girl can meet" said Mr.. Spark
line dryly. The girl looked up at him,
but as his face was perfectly serious
she continued:
"a man sat in the seat next the ono
in which l had the satchel."
what did he look like?"
81 haven't an idea"
Complimentary"
"What do you mean?'
"You evidently weren't attracted by
the mans appearance"
Again she looked at him.
"Are you sure you wouldn't recog-
nize him again."
"No, l wouldn't"
The couple talked for three hours,
which seemed but one, and when they
were within short distance of their
destination the young man turned to
the girl and said impressively:
did you ever take the first step in
crime?'
'No," she replied In establishment.
81 have"
ooh, heavens! Are you a criminal?"
81 stole your pocketbook.'
"You stole my pocketbook ?"
"Alas. | must confess it,
"But you have loaned me half as
much as it contained
THAT came from remorse."
But it seems to me the remorse
came very quickly"
81 couldn't bear to see you troubled"
she looked at him sidewise.
Il don't believe a word you say"
He took the portemOnnaie from his
pocket and handed it to her.
please don't have me arrested" he
pleaded. Il am the child of poor but
dishonest parents, who taught me to
steal when | was little boy"
Il thought you said something about
81 first crime"
did 1? They taught me to lie too.'
Poor child:'
when saw you lay your bag on
the seat between you and me could
not resist the temptation. oh, why did
you leave it there?"
''I'm so sorry. / didn't know | was
tempting any one Why don't you re-
form?'
81 haven't any one to reform me-"
but is it necessary that you should
have some one for that? Can't you
do it yourself?"
mo; I'm too far gone"
"What do you want any one to do
to help yOu?"
"Why, / think that if l could see
you once a week and you would en-
courage me I might pull through to
permanent reformation"
She thought awhile, then said:
''If you really think / can help you
/ shall be very glad to have you come
every Saturday to tell me that you
haven't picked any ones pocket dur
ing the week."
'.Oh, how / thank you! ! know you
can save me and make an honest man
of me-
1.-THE only thing that troubles me-
she said thoughtfully. 'iS that | must
tell father. and I'm afraid he'll OBJ
ject."
''Tell him to go to Mr.. William
Evans, - Locust street. He is in
terested in me and knows somethin-
to my advantage"
When they reached the station the
penitent handed the girl out to a car
riage, and she drove away, giving him
an encouraging smile and promising
to let him know the decision in his
case. She told her father about it. and
he gave her a scolding. But she
forced him to make the inquiry of Mr..
Evans. When he had done so he said
to his daughter:
isis, the fool killer is coming this
evening to carry you away"
"What do you mean, papa?"
Evans, whom / have long known,
tells me that this man is Jack Spark
line, bis nephew. worth half mil
lion and full Of the Old Nick. I've
given permission for the young rascal
to CALL"
"But he did steal my purse
"Of course he did. and with view
to making your acquaintance"
ooh. my goodness gracious, And /
told him he might come on Saturdays
TO assure me he hadn't picked a pocket
Turing the weekw