The daily Alaskan., 1911-08-17
He Took Her
 For a Thief By DANIEL WINSTON Copyright by American Press Asso-
 ciation. l9li
By DANIEL WINSTON


 II ciation 1911.
 Perry Atkinson. tmmaculately dressed and with a pearl stlckpin in bis cravat, was waiting on the platform Of sea. side station at the height of the sum mer season. A number of persons were there. some 10 receive friends, some 10 see friends of. all waiting for train. When it rolled up to the station At kinson craned his neck with the rest, like a turkey gobbler hunting for some favorable point to tly over fence,
 While thus looking up he suddenly felt two arms thrown around his neck and a pair of lips pressed to his.
 Now. at this especial resort, situated not far from a large city, were many different classes of persons, from the highest to the lowest, When Atkinson felt himself in the embrace of wo- man who was a stranger to him the first explanation of the situation that entered bis head was that 1t was a game to relieve him of his money. Diseugaging himself as quickly as pos. sIble. he clapped his hand to his hip. where he kept his pucketboOk. He was relieved 10 fnd the wallet there. Then he instlncdvely felt for his pearl scarfpin. and 1t was gone.
 By this time the woman who had embraced hin-a girl of twenty-was standing looking at him with a pug zled expression which. as she gazed, developed into one of horror.
 q greatly fear" she stammered, "that have made a mistake"
 "You certainly have made mistake if you take me for a flat You hand out my shckpln mighty quick or I'll call the police"
 At this the girl put on an expression to describe which language is made quate. Her face was scarlet; her eyes flashed alternate indignation and fear Then suddenly Atkinson made a dive for her skirt, where he saw his scarf pin hanging, and caught it as lt was about to fall to the ground. Putting it in its proper place. he gave the girl a final glance and was about to turn away when she said;
 DO you mean to tell me that you are not Ben Willard
 'T don't know the gentleman"
 ''You are the image of him." the girl added. ready to burst Into tears.
 Atkinson gave her another look as if undecided whether to apologize or say something harsh, then walked away very much disgruntled While he had been thus engaged a friend be had come to the station to receive had es- caped him. As he walked to the sum- mer residence where he was staying he began to see the episode in its true proportions and to become conscious of having made a guy of himself. Be fore the day was over be regretted not having apologized to the girl and long ed for an opportunity to undo what he had done.
 The next time Mir. Atkinson met the young lady whom be had mistaken for a thief he was dancing the cotillion at one of the cottages" A line Of ladies was advancing toward a line of gentlemen, and as the lines met the first gentleman whirled away with the first lady. In the coming line of ladies Atkinson suddenly espied the heroine of the stickpln. This in itself was em- barrassing, but when he counted the men ahead of him and the ladies ahead of the girl in question and dis covered that she would fall to him for a partner bis heart sank down into the heels of his patent leather boots.
 When the couples ahead of them were reduced to three Atkinson saw the girls eyes fixed upon him and shuddered. Be saw by her expression that she was about to take her re- venge. When all those who had pre- ceded them had sailed away in the dance and they stood face to face the girl turned on her heel, presenting her back to Atkinson in sight of all pres ent, and marched out of the room.
 Atkinson made way for the man next behind him. wishing that some of those standing about would shoot him. He made his exit through a door oppo- site the one by which the young lady had passed out and left the house.
 The rest of the evening was given up by those who were not dancing to a discussion of what Atkinson, who was known to be a gentleman and a favor ite socially, had done to draw forth m expression of such contempt
 The next fortnight was one of pro- found suffering to Atkinson. He sent friend after friend to the young lady, Miss Langdon, with explanations and apologies. No reply came from any of them. When he met her on the beach she did not notice him, Had she shown again signs of her contempt he would have liked it better He declined all invitations, fearing that he would meet her But when an intimate friend gave a cotilliou party at which he was obliged to be present be was horror