Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-29

what l sezl--some perfeccions Is easy,
and some Is 'ard--like mine"
And what is yoursY'
I'm Professional Sambo"
"a what?" ...'..|,
''well-s 'nlggerhoad' then-biacks my
taoe-stcks my cad through a ole and
lets EN- shy at meA-three shies a penny
them as Its me gets a cigar-a big 'un--
them as don't-don'tl" .sa'...
said I.
"A man must liver
But" said I, "supposing you get hit?''
Them as Its me gets a cigar!'
Doesn't It hurt you9''
"Ohl YOU gets used to it-though, to be
sure, they don't II me very often. or Il
would be loss; cigars is expensive
leastways. they costs money! f,
But surely a wooden image would serve
your turn Just as we'll"
"a wooden imaEev' exclaimed the man
disgustedly. "James!-you must be fool.
you must! Who wants to throw at n
wooden image-you can't 'urt wooden
Image, can you--if you throwed 'eavens
ard at a wooden image, that there. wood
en- Image wouldn't finch, would it7 When
a man throws at anything e likes to 1t
tt-thats 'uman-and when e Its IL q
likes to see II finch--that's 'uman, too,
and when Il fiinches, why--'e rubs rs
'ands, and takes another shetland that's
the 'umanest of ALL So you see, young
cove, you're a fool with your wooden
image"
Now, as he ended. stopped very sud
denly, and caught hold OF his wrist
and then 1 saw that he held my purse I'm
his hand. 1t was a large hand with bony
knuckles and very long fingers, upon
one of which was battered ring He
attempted at first, to free himself of
my grip, but, finding this useless, stood
glowering at me with one eye and leering
with the other
"Hal" said I. f.'.s
"Hallo!' said he.
"A purse!' said l. .'
why. so 1t is" he nodded; '1eastways,
It looks uncommonly like one, don't it7''
whats more, II looks like mine!
docs it?"
,'I could swear to 1t anywhere"
Gould your"
81 could"
"Then pr'aps you'd better take IT..
young cove. and very welcome, I'm sure
$50 you've been picking my pocketr'
said l.
Never picked a pocket in my life
should scorn to-
put away by recovered property. and
straighway shifted my grip to the fell
lows collar. ..e, Ga ... o..
Now" said I, come on"
why "hdN dl0 gOu d-hOihb VI
What does one generally do with a
plckpocket?"
But l had hardly uttered the words
when, with sudden cunning twist he
broke my hold and, my foot catching In
q guy-rope, ! tripped and fell heavily
and ere could rise he had made good
his escape. I got to my feet, somewhat
shaken by the fall, yet oongratulating
myself on the recovery of my purse, anc
threading my way among the tents, was
| soon back among the crowd.
| I had noticed a venerable man in fine
| blue surtout and a wide-brimmed hat
| who sat upon the shaft of cart ant
| puffed slowly Mt a great pipe. And as h'
| puffed. he listened intently to quack
| salver's address, and from time to tim'
! his eyes would twinkle and his lips curve
| in an ironic smile. The cart upon th'
| shaft of which he sat, stood close to
very small dirty and disreputable-look
ing tent. toward which the old gentle
| mans back was turned Now, as
watched, 1 saw the point of a knit
| CLEAN through the dirty canvas, which
vanishing, gave place to a hand pro
/ truding through the slit thus made-i
very large hand with bony knuekles ant
| long fingers, upon one of which was
battered ring. For an instant the hant
hovered undecidedly. then darted forward
the long skirts OF the old gentleman'i
coat hardly stirred. yet, even as
watched, / saw the hand vanish with
fat purse in its clutches.
Sxirting the tent. l came round to tn
| opening, and STOPPING, peered cautiousl!
| inside. There. sure enough, was my pick
! pocket gazing intently into the opel
purse, and chuckling as he gazed. Thei
| he slipped It into his pocket, and out n
came-where 1 Immediately pinned hin
| by the neckerchief. ."
And, after awhile. finding he could no
again break my hold. he lay STILL beneatl
me, painting, and. as he lay, his one ey
glared more balefully and his othe
leered more wagglshly than ever as
thrusting my hand into his pocket tool
/ thence the purse and transferred It to m,
own. ...
HALVES. mater he painted. 'halves
and we'll cry quits 90
"By no MEANS" said. I. rising to m
feet. but keeping my grip upon him.
Then what's your gamer
'I intend to hand you over as pick
'.That means 'Transportation'r' said he
wiping the blood from his face, for tn
struggle. though short, had been shsrl
| enough.
| "Well?" said I.
''Itn go ard with the babby."
"Baby" / exclaimed. '-.
"Ahl-or the hinfant, II you like
better-one as / found In shawl alay
ing on the steps o. my van one night
sleeping like an alderman-ands II wer
showing, too"
"Yet you are thief''
| I'VE calls II taking"
"And ought to be given up to the au
| thorities."
"And who's to look arter the babbyf'
"Are you marriedG"
| mo" .-S
"Whore is the babyH" .-.+
TN my van"
"And where Is thatY''S
'Yonder!" and he pointed to gaily
nainted caravan that stood nearby " 81
asleep now, but II you'd like to take
peep at i'm" -,
81 should, ,"said I. Whereupon the fel
Low led me 10 his van, and, following hin
up the steps, I entered a, place when
though confined, was wonderfully nea
ana clean, with curtains ct the open win
dows a rug upon the floor and an orna
mental brass lamp pendant from the TOOL
Al the FAR end was bed, or rather
herth curtained with ohintE, and upoi
mis- he'd. his chubby face pillowed upon
dinnled ast, lay q very small man ~
deed And, looking up from him 20 N
verv large. bony man, bending over him
s,rnrised a look upon the hardene
u tenderness that seemed YER
| much out OF place.
,pJIoe ana fat, amt 'ef' said tue mar
touehing the baby's appie-like cheek VII
srimy anger o., - .ss.
| Eyes" , -,