The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-04-30
AN INTRODUCTION
BY A. W. PEACOCK.

crowded west-bound car and planning
what he would do for the evening He
was not conscious of his neighbors ex-
cept that close beside him as he locked
down from his six feet he could see
under small chic hat the curve of
girlish' cheek.
Suddenly he was stung into action.
Something had been thrust into his
trousers pocket and withdrawn. One
plunge of his hand and he knew that
his pocketbook with clear weeks
salary had been stolen.
Somebody has sneaked my pocket
hook he said sharply to the conduc-
tor Someone on this car. Don't let
a soul off until | get a copl"
Excitement filed the ear Tired as
they were, all viewed the turn of events
with interest.
At the same time man in n gray
suit came crowdng forward and
voice spoke up sharply: 81 think that
young lady next to you did the trick,
sir"
The man In gray caught her shoul-
der. 81 am on the force, my friend,
and will take charge" he said to
Eliot Young lady, have you that
pockethook?" Even As he spoke he
yanked a wallet from the pocket of
her suit He held it out to Eliot. "That
yours?'
Eliot nodded.
well, ! guess we have another one
of Them" the gray man said. Get off
here at the station and can let you
90 soon" he said again TO Eliot.
Not until the slight girl had been
led from the car and the car had gone
did she seem to recover from the shock
of the charge.
"What are you going to do with
me? I did not take that wallet" she
cried in n half-gasping, sobhing voice,
trying TO draw her arm away.
you better go with us without n
fuss, Young lady, for go you will
whether you want to or not!' the
plain clothes man said sharply.
The light from the street lamp fell
upon her face, and Eliot saw that she
was nothing more than n mere girl,
badly frightened, and looking weary
beyond any wearinesS he knew Un-
der the small hat her girlish face, Win
some in spite Of the strain upon it,
| touched him.
cant we fix 1t up here?' he asked.
"Don't let her get away with ary
such stuff young man. They're old
hands M thp sob stuff
They went in ana found themselves
newspaper. lie looked up with
scowl as he saw them.
"Well, Edwards, what is it?" he
asked of the detective.
Edwards explained and handed over
the pocketbook. The lieutenant at the
desk turned it over in his hand.
"Found on her eh? Wen, let's finish
II up. l suppose you know what's in
| IT." he asked Eliot.
Eliot had been watching the girl.
she stood whlte-faced, fearless, her
dark. wide eyes staring.
Quietly he named off articles and
money-that were not in the wallet.
The man at the desk looked at him
with cold, shrewd eyes. This wallet
does not contain the stuff you men
ton"
The girl stifrened as If with shock.
Her stricken eyes turned to Eliot.
"Then | disown It. Some mistake
has been made" Eliot said easily. "Td
suggest the pocketbook be returned to
the lady. Somebody else got away
with nine This looked like mine, but
mine is a common type. The mistake
Is mine My wallet has disappeared,
no doubt"
"No doubt" the officer said dryly.
"You two leave your names and adj
dresses and then you may go. Here is
your wallet, young lady" He handed
1t to her with a polite gesture.
She took it with fumhling fingers
and they went out together.
She walked unsteadily. and he aided
her with one hand under her small,
round wrist. They reached the corner
in silence; then she turned with
quick, indrawn breath.
at is your pocketbook You know
It You did it just to save mel" She
held the wallet out to him. "YOu must
not think did it. But here is the
wallet. Take it-please, pleasei"
He quieted her mo- have hunch
that the chap who did pinch it saw he
was caught when we held everybody
in the car and he slipped the wallet
into your pocket and then called atten-
tion to you. The more think about
It the more certain l am"
"Do you really think SOP" she qua
vered.
"Now look here, little girl" he an
swered soothingly. 81 am sure of it.
Say, we have both missed our supper.
There's a restaurant over there. Let's
10 over and forget our troubles. Come
on!"
"But-"
"There are no 'buts,'" he answered.
'You are tired out, and you need a bit
of rest anyway; aHd besides want to
see more of your
It was a girls tired voice but in
some way hidden and faint with pleas
ure. that answered him. "Dp you,
really? I wonder if am worth see