The Tupelo journal., 1911-04-21
A Reforner
B. SARAH BRIcE VAUGHAN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

Ticket for Buffalo," said a young
lady. opening her satchel and hunting
for her portemonnaie. Then suddenly
she exclaimed: "Oh, heavens! I've
been rubbed!"
1.-TWO tickets to Buffalo," said .
young man next In line.
The tickets were handed out. paid
for and p Of them slipped into the
girls hand before she had time to re-
cover from the effect Of her less.
The young mar caught up a suit
case the girl had set down beside her
and hurried her of to the train. Hav.
Ing found her a seat and racked her
suit case. he was about to leave her
when she made room for him beside
her.
please let me know who you arc
and the price of the ticket" she said.
shat | may send you the amount"
The young man took an old envelope
from his pocket. wrote on 1t John
Sparkline, with his address. and gave
1t to her. Then they fell to talking Of
how the thief could have got the pock-
| etbook.
There was but one moment" she
said, that 1t was out Of my posses.
sion. ! was sitting in the waiting
room and a candy boy came along. l
had small coins inside my glove. and
l laid my bag down on the seat beside
me while l paid for some candy"
"A 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 mar sat in the seat next the one
In which l had the satchel." ;se,,
"What did he look likes"
81 haven't an idea" s.
Complimentary" ~
"what do you meant" sge
.You evidently weren't attracted By
the mans appearance"
Again she looked at him.
Are you sur you wouldn't secog-
nize him again?"
"No, / wouldn't"
The couple talked for three hours.
which seemed but one, and when they
were within a short distance Of their
destination the young man turned to
the girl and said ~impressively:
ibid you ever take the first step in
erime?"
"No," she replied In establishment.
II have"
"Oh. heavens! Are you a criminalT'
II stole your pocketbook."
AYou stole my pocketbook? !" -
sAlas. l must confess it" s
.But you have loaned me half %
uuch is II contained"
THAT came from remorse."
nut II seems to me the remorss
same very quickly"
Y couldn't bear to see you troubled"
she looked at him sidewise.
II don I 5elieve a word you say"
He took the portemonnaie from his
pocket and handed it to her.
.please don't have me arrested" be
pleaded. II am the child of poor but
dishonest parents. who taught me to
steal when l was a little boy"
Il thought you said something about
q first crime"
"Did I? 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 theref"
I'm so sorry. l didn't know I was
tempting any one. Why don't you 70
tormT
II 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?"
"No; I'm too far gone"
"What do you want any to 90
to help you"
"Nhy. I think that If I could see
you once a week and you would en-
courage me l might pull through to q
permanent reformation"
She thought awhile. then said:
III you really think l 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 aud knows something
to my advantage"
When they reached the station tn
penitent handed the girl out to q car
rage, and she drove away, giving hin
an encouraging smile and promising
10 let him know the decision In hi.
case. She told her father about It. AMI
he gave her q scolding. But sne
forced him to make the inquiry OF Mr