The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-12-14

bean an hour and more since nAo
watched the twelve rIby flashes from
the topmost peak of the Metropolitan
tower signal an unheeding world that an
other of its days had gone. =
I knew, even as I wandered drearily
out of my Gramercy square house door
and paced as drearily round and round
the iron-fenced park Enclosure, that I
was about to face another sleepless night.
I flung myself YEARLY down on
bench in Madison Square, facing the
slowly squirting fountain that had 90
often seemed TO me sort Of visible pulse
of the sleeping city. Then INpeered at
the sleepers all about me, the happy
sleepers huddled and sprawled along the
park bsnches. I envied them, every
mortal OF that ragged and homeless
army! almost hated them. For they
were drinking deep Of the one thing 1
had been denied.
Then, as gazed idly northward. I sud-
denly caught sight Of q figure turning
quietly into the quietness Of the square
It attracted and held my eye because 1t
seemed the only movement in that place
of utter stiffness, where even the verdi
Eris-tinted tree leaves hung as notion
less as though they had been cut from
rusty plates of copper.
I watched the figure as it drew nearer
ana nearer. The lonely midnight seemed
to convert the casual stroller into an
emissary OF mystery, into something
compelling and momentous.
I watched the stranger as closely as
G traveller in midocean watches the ap-
proach of a lonely steamer. I did not
move as he stood for a moment oesioe
the fountain. gave no sign OF life as
he looked slowly about, hesitated. and
then crossed over to the end Of the very
bench on which sat There was some
thing military-Hke about the slim young
figure in its untimely and incongruous
cape overcoat. There was also some
thing alert and guardedly observant IN
the mans movements as he settled him
self back In the bench. He sat there lis
teninE to the purr and splash OF the
water. Then, in an incredibly short
space of time. he was fast asleep.
still sat beside him. was still idly
bordering who and what the newcomer
couId be. when another movement at
tracted my attention. 1t was the almost
silent approach of a second and larger
figure, the figure Of a wide-shoutdereo
man in navy-blue serge, passing quietly
in between the double line Of bench
sIeepers. He circled once about the gran
fte-bovted ring Of the fountain airniessly-S
Then he dropped difhdently into the seat
next to the man in the cape overcoat'
not 1--WE feet from where 1 sat
Something about him. from the mo-
want he took I'D that position, challenged
INV attention. I watched him from un-
der my hat brim as he looked guardedly
about.
Then I saw a hand creep out from his
side There was something quick and
rsntiIious in its movements I saw 1t feel
and pad about the sleeping mans breast
Then I saw it slip, snakelike' in under
the cloth of the coat
If moved about there, for second or
two, as though busily exploring the re-
cess of every possible pocket
Than saw the stealthy hand quietly
hut quickly withdrawn. AS it came away
II brought with it a packet that flashed
white in the lamplight, plainly packet
- nsners. This was thrust hurriedly
aovvn into the coat pocket Of the new
conner next to me. There was not
sound. There was no more movement
The wide-shouIdered man sat there
for what must have been full minute
~ time Then he rose quietly to his feet
and started as quietly away.
II wasn't until then that the full realty
nj what he had done came home to me-
He had deliberately robbed a sleeping
and unprotected man.
In three quick steps I had crossed to
the sleeping mans side and was shaking
him. still kept my eyes on the slowly
retreating figure Of the thief as he made
his slow and apparently difident way up
through the square
~ouick, Wake up" cried, with des-
nerate shake at the sleepers shoulder.
you've been robbed"
The next move of that little midnight
drama was an unexpected and startling
me Instead Of being confronted by the
maunderings Of a half
,vakened sleeper, I was suddenly and
ermIv caught by the arm and jerked
bodily into the seat beside him.
..you'ye been robbedr' repeated, as
felt that firm grip haul me seatward.
"shut upr' said q calm and very wide
awake voice, quite close to my ear:
But you've been roobed?' expostu-
lated.
How do you know that?" he demanded.
'swhy, saw 1t with my own eyes! And |
there goes the man who did it!' told
him, pointing northward. =
He jerked down my hand and swung |
around on me. .
.eWatch that mani he said almost
5arcely. But for heavens sake keep |
stin"'
.eWhat does this mean?" I naturally
demanded.
He swept me with one quick glance
Yet he looked more at my clothes, I
'ancy. than at my face. Ny tailor seemed
% be quite satisfactory to him.
''who are your he asked. I took my
.ima in answering, for / was beginning