Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1913-12-12
The Stolen
POrtemOnnaie
She ForEave the Thief
Twice
By LILLIAN SHARPE

- - 1--WE 80 W81 49,
clock as is hands moved slowly To-
ward the time OF departure OF her
train. Presently she turned 10 n satchei
on the seat beside her, placed Il Of her
lap. opened Il and took out her porte
monnaie. which she laid IN the place
where her satchel had been.
A young man with Curly auburn hair
and brown eyes was sitting at the 9TH
er end OF the seat and observed that
the girl had forgotten to put her porte
monnaie back into the satchel. He
kept his eyes on her and Il until sud
denly a railroad oficial called.
'Train for HamptonF'
The young lady started, glanced at
the clock, saw that the hands stood at
fifteen minutes before her train time,
remembered that trains are opened %
travellers some time before they leave
and, grasping her satchel, hurried
away. Seeing the words Ticket Of
fee" over a window. she remembered
that she had forgotten 30 provide her
self with a ticket and. turning aside,
took position at the end Of a line OF
several persons.
IF that isnF Just like a womanF'
said the young man with auburn hair
TO himself. and reaching for the porte
monnaie, he put II in his pocket and
followed her, taking position next TO
her In the line. When II came her turn
20 purchase a ticket she asked for ore
to Hampton, at the same time opening
her satchel. First there was q quick
movement OF the top articles. then a
plunge OF the hand down into the bag,
after this a convulsiVe stirring up Of
everything.
"0h. heavens, I've been robbodF'
Permit me to pay your fare" said
the young man behind her. and. taking
out his wallet, he bought a ticket for
her and one for himself. Then they
both made room Cor those behind them.
what shall l dor walled the girl
You had better get aboard the train.
You haven't time to investigate the
loss Of your -pOrtemonnaie, and II
would probably avail nothing II you
had. Was there much In itY'
"Only $T.b3. four postage stamps and
some samples"
what exaetnessl I wish / could re-
member things like that Never mind.
I have advanced the amount for your
ticket. You haven't lost very much.
Good morning" And he lifted his hat
~deferentially.
Now. the young man knew very well
the girl would not let him 80 without
asking his address that she might ~
turn his loan. She asked him for t.
and he said that II would be more con-
venient for him 10 give It to her In the
train. 30 the two wen N. He handed
her On 10 the car, took a seat beside
her and, producing q card bearing his
name. Nathaniel Menweathsr. wrote
MS address on It and handed e to her.
why. you live In HamptonF' she
exclaimed.
II don't live there. but l am going
there"
That he vas going there was perfect
ly true, but when he had entered the
station he had Just left he had no such
intention. BE wa going 10 his home,
fifty miles beyond.
"But you have givOn Jour street and
number there"
'Srhat'S the address Of q friend"
The girl put the card in her satehal,
and Mr. Menweather took up the mat
ter OF the lost pOrtsmonnAie.
WAS any one" he asked. near yOu
while you were in the stationr'
mo ~ near enough to get posses
sion Of anything that belonged 10 me.
Now. I think Of II. some n was sit
ting on the other end OF the bench
while I was waiting for the train"
Man or wOmanT'
II think It was a man"
did you take out your poFtSmonnaie
while he was thereT'
Yes, ! did. tired OF waiting and
took ont this magazine" She stiIi held
II in her hand. ITO DO 3 I was ObliG-
ed 70 remove the pOrtsmonnaie and
some other things which ! laid beside
me. After getting out the mAgREinS I
put them all back again into the bag"
"Aro you sure yOu put them al
backT'
Perfectly"
Then there can bO no doubt about
the matter. The man who sat beside
you must have been an expert at
sleight Of hand and contrived 70 gst
your pocketbOok away from you. l
was In the station and saw q man ait
ting beside you"
"How cnreless OF mel Gould yoa
5dontify the manr'
81 think I could"
"Whnt was he likeP'
well. he was not q cry attractive
looking person. but l wouidnB have
taken him for a thief"
did you notice his featuresF
Il noticed n feature He was q
rcd headed chap"
The young lady cast a sds glance II
her c~ompaniOn's hair.
Anything els6f" she asked
Nothing especial. He RAJ looking
at you adminnsiy. I wonder that be-
stole from you"
A girl can't help being pleased e I'd
miration eve from a thief. The young
1adv fnnfinrtfVeiV mt har hand 70 h.