Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-01-09
The Stolen
POrtemOnnaie
She Forgave the Thief
Twice
BY LILLIAN SHARPE


A young lady sat In a waiting room
at a railway station watching the
clock as its hands moved slowly to.
ward the time of departure Of her
train. Presently she turned to q satchel
on the seat beside her, placed 1t on her
lap, opened 1t and took out her porte
monnaie, which she laid in the place
where her satchel had been.
A young man with curly auburn haii
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 1t until sud
denly railroad official called.
"Train for Hampton
The young lady started, glanced al
the clock, saw that the hands stood al
fifteen minutes before her train time
remembered that trains are opened tc
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 to provide her
self with a ticket and, turning aside
took position at the end of line OF
several persons.
"If that isn't just like woman
said the young man with auburn hall
to himself, and, reaching for the porte
monnaie, he put 1t in his pocket and
followed her, taking position next to
her in the line. When 1t came her turn
to purchase a ticket she asked for one
to Hampton, at the same time opening
her satchel First there was n quick
movement of the top articles, then a
plunge of the hand down into the bag
after this convulsive stirring up of
everything.
"Oh, heavens, I've been robbedp
Permit me to pay your fare" said
the young man behind her, and, taking
out his wallet, he bought ticket for
her and one for himself. Then they
both made room for those behind them
"What shall 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 IL you
had Was there much in it,"
Only 1888, four postage stamps and
some samples"
What exactnessl wish could re
taember things like that Never mind
have advanced the amount for your
ticket. You haven't lost very much
Good morning" And he lifted his hal
deferentially.
Now, the young man knew very well
the girl would not let him go without
asking his address that she might re
turn his loan. She asked him for 1t
and he said that It would be more con
venient for him to give 1t to her in the
train, so the two went on. He handed
her on to the car, took seat beside
her and, producing a card bearing his
name, Nathaniel Meriweather, wrote
his address on It and handed IL to her.
why, you live in Hamptonp she
exclaimed.
II don't live there, but | am going
there"
That he was going there was perfect
ly true, but when he had entered the
station he had Just left he had no such
intention. He was going to his home
fifty miles beyond.
But you have given your street and
number there"
That's the address OF a friend"
The girl put the card In her satchel,
and Mr.. Meriweather took up the mat
ter Of the lost portemonnaie.
WAS any one" he asked, near you
while you were in the stationT
mo one near enough TO get posses
SION Of anything that belonged to me.
fSw, think Of 1t, some one was sit
avg on the other end OF tho bench
Z shlle I was waiting for the train"
Man or womnnT
II think It was n man"
Did you take out your portemonnaio
while he was thereT
Yes, did tired Of waiting and
took out this magazine" She still held
/ In her hand. "To do so | was obllg-
ed TO remove the portemonnaie and
some other things which laid beside
me. After getting out the magazine
put them all back again into the bag"
Are you sure you put them all
back2"
Perfectly"
"Then there can be no doubt about
the matter. The man who sat beside
you must have been an expert at
sleight Of hand and contrlved to get
your pocketbook away from you. I
was in the station and saw a man sit
ting beside you"
How careless OF mel Could you
identify the manT
II think could"
what was he llker'
well, he was not a very attractive
looking person, but I wouldn't have
taken him for a thief"
did you notice his featuresT
"I noticed one feature. He was
red headed chap"
The young lady cast a side glance al
her companions hair.
Anything elseT she asked
Nothing especial Ho was looking
at you admiringly wonder that he
stole from you"
A girl can't help being pleased at ad-
mirntion even from thief. The young
lady instinctively put her hand to hei
back hair.
Not long nfter this, when the train
was nearing Hampton, Mr. Meriweathei
thought It better that he should have
the young lndy's address; he night