Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-10-20

Ear 4 miIe, then struck Z side h1l
covered with a wood. I alighted and,
walking in the cover, Swallowed my
man til; near the open again. when /
met the cab and re-entered 1t.
In this way kept track Of the man
while he neared the place where bis
hat had been knocked out through the
window. l knew he would recognize
It, for when he had looked out after
It he had doubtless done 80 to note the
place where 1t fell. To tell the truth.
I had marked the place myself by tax
ing in a certain knoll with a single
tree on its crest.
Seeing this knoll q short distance
ahead and that 1t separated the road
from the track, when / reached 1t l
left my cab, directing the cabman to
remain where he was. I walked up
the knoll till I neared the top, then
crawled the rest Of the way. Fortu-
nately for me the grass was long, and
when l reached the summit / could
see through 1t without being seen.
There was the man about 300 yards
below me hunting for his hat.
There were bushes and long grass
and stumps beside the rails, and he
was having q hard hunt. l was SUI
ficiently sympathetic to help him and
intended to do so provided he made
failure Of 1t, but preferred that he
should find the hat himself. There
was little likelihood that 1t had been
picked up, for there were no houses
near, and the only person In sight was
q man working in field half mile
from the track.
l felt like calling to the fellow that
the suction of the train would carry
the hat in the direction we were NOV
ing when 1t was lost, matter that ne
didn't seem to consider, and kept look
ing hundred yards or more eastward
of where l believed the article would
cease bounding after the cars. But
at last, having hunted thoroughly over
the ground to the eastward. he turned
his attention to an open space covered
by long grass to the westward. Sud-
denly he pounced upon 1t in depres'
sion within few yards Of the track.
snatching 1t up, he looked about him
TO assure himself that he was not OBJ
served. then thrust his hand into and
about the crown. Having done this,
he brushed the dust away with MS
sleeve, then put the hat on his head.
For q few moments he stood looking
first eastward, then westward, as II IN
doubt as to which way to 90. then
started eastward. I went back to my
cab and saw him coming on to the
road a short distance ahead OF me.
When came up with him called out:
"Get in and I'll give you lift"
"How far is 1t to the next stationF
he asked, hesitating.
"Too far to walk. Get In
He did 80, and We drove on.
I asked the cabman the distance to
the station and something about the
town. He said it was three miles
away and was considerable Of town.
l chatted with my quarry as we RODE
along. but asked him no questions.
When we rode into the town, seeing q
sign, "Police Station" l directed the
driver to stop and, getting out OF the
cab. called on the man to follow me.
He looked hurried, but obeyed. He
had no sooner struck the sidewalk than
I clapped my hand On his shoulder and
said:
II want you"
He started, feigned surprise and
asked:
what for?"
Lifting a pearl necklace. Come IN
here"
took him into the police station
and, snatching his hat from his head
from under the lining. around which II
was circled, l drew beautiful pearl
necklace.
I clapped q pair Of bracelets on him
and took him to the station, where
was obliged to wait for the next east
bound train. l telegraphed the result
| Of nv expedition to the Office, and In
about two hours after we had been no,
titled of the loss the lady who had
made 1t was Informed that her brace,
let had been recovered.
In time lodged my man in jail and
returned the necklace to its owner.
The fellow proved to be one OF the
slickest thieves on the criminal record
he was no housebreaker, but prac'
ticed ingenious devices to enter houses
and get away with plumber.