The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-22
E0ening Story
The Green Coat.
BY CLARISSA MACKIE.

BY CLARISSA MACKIE.
Eleanor saw the broken chain of
her shopping bag dangling from the
pocket of smartIy tailored green top
coat. Buttoned inside the topcoat was
a tall man. who seemed in a hurry.
She did not cry out-that was not
the Bradley way She simply left the
the green coat. He walked rapidly,
and the girl was ready to cry with
vexation and alarm. Eleanor's quick,
pattering feet stopped short as the
man suddenly paused under a lamp
post and whirled about. His right
hand thrust into his pocket as if in
search of a weapon, and then re-
manned there. His other hand awk-
wardly went up to remove his hat at
sight of the girl lingering timidly
near by.
You were following me?" he asked
shortly.
Il was pursuing you," she said in
an uncertain tone
"Well?" AS he waited for answer
to this inquiry. Eleanor had the i'm
preston that he was surprised about
something else. His rather cookbook
ing young face wore an amazed look.
Il want my handbag, if you please"
she said, just as Grandmother Brad
ley would have done under like cir
cunstances.
What have I got to do with it ?"
You should be ashamed of your
se1f!' she cried in sudden indignation.
You know it is in your coat pocket
this very moment
Then his right hand came out of his
pocket and with it came Eleanor's
pretty beaded bag with the cut and
broken chain dangling. His face was
study in angry establishment. She
saw that his gray eyes flashed like
steel as he faced her
Il don't know who you are, mad
am, he said slowly, "but from what
you say you seem to be the owner of
this bag Have you formed any idea
OF how it came to be in my pocket? ''
Eleanor a u g h e d sarcastically.
Grandmother Bradley would have
done that with just that little dip of
| the pretty dark head. THE car was
| crowded, she murmured reminis-
Gently, land it was easy for anyone
who wanted to-a pickpOcket, I
mean--to cut the handle of the bag
and put it into the side pocket of his
| coat. And when the owner discov-
cred the loss of the bag, the car was
stopping and she saw a man in green
| overcoat, alighting, and she saw the
handle OF her bag hanging from his
pocket-that is alI.'
THAT is only the beginningg he
laughed shortly, sfor I did not know
the bag was in my pocket until l
heard footsteps behind me and turned
to see who it was-putting my hand
into my pocket as did so-and VOLTA!
The bag: He put it in her out
stretched hand with a little bow AZ
hope you will believe me-
Thank you," murmured Eleanor,
longing TO flee and very mach afraid
to in the presence of thiHi Cool VnaaIs
| criminal. She wondered what Grand
mother Bradley would have done now
that the Bradley spirit had led her
thus far. 81
He stood aside so that she could
pass on They were near the corner,
and just around the corner was the
brother lived. If she could only reach
there in safety. -
He saw her hesitation and spoke
in a perfunctory tone: II am afraid
you did not believe my story after
all.''
at was a very-a very nice story
indeed" she assured him, in a qualing
voice. as she hurried away. She did
not &C far Before she reached the
corner there was the sound of running
feet, and she turned with a cry upon
her lips
The man in the green overcoat was
still standing under the lamp post, and
coming swiftly upon him from the rear
was another man, also in an overcoat
that looked green under the strong
light. There was something in his
outstretched Misunderstanding that he
pointed at the first man, as he cried
hoarse1y:
"Give up that bag, see? Where is
it? Come across!"
What bag" replied the first youth
1.-THE dinky handbag-it's mine-it
wasn't meant for you-no foolin'.
The hand that held the weapon lifted
and then descended upon the head of
the victim.
The indomitable spirit of Grand
mother Bradley 1eaped up again with
in Eleanor. Then she remembered
that there was a police whistle in the
pretty bag in her hand, and she step
ped back in the shadow of a tree and
| blew it shrilly.
The man bending over the PROSTATE
form of the man in the green overcoat
lifted his head, uttered an oath and
dashed across the street and straight
into the arms of a policeman, who
greeted him cordially as a well-knoWn
offender, and carried him away to jail.
| Eleanor told her story in a shaky tone,
but she did not mention the matter of
the beaded bag, and the prisoner was
hailed into court on a charge of as
sault.
The police whistle had summoned
all the residents of Green terrace, and
among the foremost was Eleanor
brother. who uttered a sigh of relief.
I'VE have been worrying about you,
Nellie he said, and then leaving her
he went into the crowd gatheked about
the unknown man. He helped bring
him to consciousness, and when he
was once more on his feet and smiling
grimly and rubbing his fair head, the
man in the green overcoat suddenly
gripped John Bradley'S arm.
Hello, John Bradley, was on my
way to see you!"
THE dickens you were-is it Roger
Lewis? I am glad to see you again.
Here. Nellie, this is Capt Lewis. You
remember how he saved my life in
France? Nellie is my sister, DR..
John hustled his belated and damaged
guest toward home, and Eleanor how
cred demurefy near by Her thoughts
were chaotic. That heroic friend of
John sand she had insulted him
called him a pickp ocket!