The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-07-19
A Suspicious
Character
n
By WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE
OF The TfgHontes

and Stripes swept by. During the
parade everybody did it.
Standing on the curbstone was an
unkempt individual. with straggly hair,
and 4 wild, desperate eye, who kept
looking about him uneasily, when the
crowd pressed against him he hitched
himself away, but he must have seen
the hats come off as the colors swept
down the thoroughfare. When the flag
was only half block away, this man
lifted his hand but instead of remov-
ing his hat he drew it farther down
upon his head. His action was no
ticed.
"Uncoverw yelled somebody in the
crowd. The crowd, like lot of chill
dren, forgot all about the flag passing,
and turned its attention to the man
who hadn't taken off his hat.
where Is he-where is hep" people
asked.
Uncover there-uncover," cried
stentorian voices.
The man turned about and his hand
strayed to his hat again. 1t seemed
as though he was about to remove it.
But three men pressed close to him
threateningly.
"You take your hat off, do you
hear!" they shouted at him.
He drew away from them and pulled
it more firmly down upon his head.
''Take that hat off--or I'll knock it
off," cried one of the three men.
The wild-eyed man shook his head
and kept drawing away.
ssUncover," cried the crowd, surging
against the four principals, make him
uncover there"
Stacker" yelled somebody.
TRAITOR" cried somebody else.
The three men seized the offender
and laid violent hands upon his hat.
The man chung to it desperately,
throwing all his strength into his
grasp. Then a police officer forced
his way through the crowd.
"Officer," said one of the three men,
stake this man in charge. Wen come
with you. Wen make complaint"
The officer seized the man by the
arm.
IT will go-with you," gasped the
man, "but not with them-not with
them"
The three men followed the officer.
The crowd trailed on behind, until
they reached the nearest precinct sta
ton.
The culprit was led before the mag
istrate. As the man entered the court
room, he took off his hat and bowed.
The police officer stated his case-the
three men made their complaint.
''Well," demanded the judge fiercely,
ais this true?"
The offender bowed. "What they say
is true" he admitted.
''Well," demanded the magistrate,
impatently, ''what have you got to
say fer yourselfT'
The man bowed. Judge" he be-
gan, 81 live all alone-and I am afraid
of burglars"
The crowd that had trailed in
laughed. The judge looked sternly at
the man.
"Afraid of burglars" sneered the
as that the reason you
didn't take your hat off to the flag?"
mo-" the man returned, "but am
afraid of pickpockets."
whats that GOT to do with itf'
demanded the court.
'This," returned the man, "at my
room hide away my securities. But
am afraid if leave them there they
will be stolen, so l put them in my
pocket
'sWhat's that got to do with it?"
snapped the magistrate.
when 1 saw the crowd" went on |
the wild-eyed man, 81 was afraid my |
pocket would be picked. So stepped |
into a corner and took all my secur-
ties and put them in my hat. And |
hen these three men-these three, who
look so much like pickpockets, they
close to me. And took them |
20 be pickpockets. And, though / saw
The flag coming, I knew what would
happen If removed my hat. knew
.hese three men would snatch 1t from
ne, and take all / have"
The magistrate eyed the wild-eyed
nan with a cold eye.
Good story" he said to the officer.
See what he's got in his hat"
The officer ierked the hat away from
he offender and turned its contents
nut on the bench before the. judge.
The inside rim was stuffed with pa
,ers Then he separated these papers |.
md spread them out upon the desk.
This is what he found:
One certificate of membership in the
Ted Cross.
One Red Cross receipt for contri-
'ution of 500 marked 'Thanks"
cross the bottom.
A letter from the mans boy at the
ront, saying that he had been pretty
ably wounded and was not expected
0 live.
A newspaper clipping sent out by
he war department, announcing his
cath.
"A war department letter confirm
1g it.
A funeral notice, published three
lonths later. announcing the death of !
y 49,