Year: 1877

Inever could be harsh with any one hay
ing a real love for his mother: more. tn,
moment | saw that his case was dcserv
ing one. was ready to exert myself to thu
utmost to help him out of the mire. NJ,
own mother had a hard struggle to kecl
her har,m-scarum boy in order; but soon
er than cause tear 20 gather in her eye,
would have chopped off my right hand
She was my idol whom used to worship
in secret; and many a time when she
thought me fast asleep, | have been peep
ing out from under the blankets. watching
her sewing. ard wishing l was strong
enough and big enough 10 work for hel
myself. But let me explain. l received
the following note one morning as l en-.
tered the office:


Il missed my purse when l reached
home, so my pockets must have been pick
ed somewhere between the Mansion House
and Fansbury Square,


This brief communication was signed by
well-known banker, a jolly old bachelor
living in Fansbury Square. He was a little
man and inclined to be fat. but he had a
large. warm heart-as l had discovered
long beforehand seemed to live in a kind
of genial atmosphere, liked by everybody.
and envied by none. even felt mOmen-
tary surprise that a thief had found it in
his heart to victimize such man.


Calling at his house, the following con-
versation ensued:


ut is not so much the money that con-
would be serious to a poor man, but in the
Germs me-" he said, ''thoush the loss of that
inner pocket had slowed away some pa
pers and an old memorandum which l
shal! miss very much. If you just get me
them you can let the poor wretch keep the
money"


This proposal was against all law and or
der, and he must have known it; but l had
to remind him of the fact.


''Ah, yes, know" he said in his quiet
way, with merry smile. ''It's against
the law. of course, but you detectives can
easily stretch point when you have a
mind to; and, besides, | only throw out
the hint. Get the contents of the inner
pocket-the rest also, if you can.''


''You did not feel yourself tuggcd or
jostled anywhere on your way home, did
your


mo, felt nothing, and did not miss the
purse till came here.''


After eliciting all the facts could in con-
nectiOn with the matter, l returned to the
Office, determined to work with will to
trace his purse and its contents. But did
not even hear of it. No one among nu-
merous acquaintances seemed particularly
flush of money. The empty purse was
not picked up anywhere, or brought in ;
and began to fear had left London and
the thief with it.


In this, however, l was mistaken.


A little before ten o'clock next morning,
while we were chatting away, a slim NOR
sci Of boy made his appearance, with his
eyes red and swollen with crying, and ask
ed if this was the detectives office. We
all stared around and gazed at the little in
truder. The si.angest thing about the boy
was his shyness-he was a mere shadow of
a boy, though he had a prepossessing little
face. in spite of the blearing effect of the
crying.


Being answered in the affirmative, he re
manned moment silent, during which /
could see, by the quavering Of his lips that
he was struggling hard to appear manly
and firm while making his next speech.
He then suddenly produced the purse of
Mr.. s., the banker, and hastily got out
the words: ..e .-s.ratr


IF you please, I'm thief-and mother
Is dead, and I've come to you to put me IN
ail.' .5-


He was choking and shaking all over as
he got the words out, but it was no use.
A binding rush OF tears came to his
yes, and the heavy purse dropped at his
eet.
There was a strange silence in the room.
Nobody rushed forward with pair of