Strong and Steady
By HORATIO
CHAPTER XV. (Continued.)
The boy, who had made sure of a 'ale,
took back the fruit reluctantly, and pass
ed on, crying out: "Here's your oranges
and apples!"
Walter set about thinking what had
become of bis money. The more be
thought, the more certain he felt that he
had put his pojcketbook in the pocket in
which he bad first felt for it. Why was
It not there now? That was a question
which be felt utterly incompetent to an
ewer. "Have you lost anything?" Inquired a
gentleman who sat just behind Walter.
Looking back, he found that it was a
gentleman of fifty who addressed him.
"Yes, sir," be said, "I have lost my
pocketbook."
''Was there much money in It?"
"About forty dollars, sir."
"Who was that young man who was
fitting with you a few minutes since?"
"I don't know, sir.",
"He was a stranger, then?"
"Yes, sir; I never met him till this
morning."
"Then I think I can tell you where
your money has gone."
"Where, sir?" demanded Walter, be
ginning to understand him.
"I tlimk your iuie cuuipituioii was a
pickpocket, and relieved you of It, while
be pretended to be reading. I didn't like
bis appearance much."
"I don't see how ho could have done it
without my feeling his hand in my
pocket."
"They understand their business and
can easily relieve one of his pure unde
tected. 1 once had my watch stolen with
out being conscious of it. Your pockett
took was in the pocket toward the man,
and you were looking from the window.
It was a very simple thing to relieve you
f it."
CHAPTER XVI.
Walter went through two cars, looking
about him on either side, thinking it pos
sible that the thief might have taken his
seat in one of them. There was very
little chance of this, however. Next he
passed into the smoking car, where, to
las joy no less than his surprise, he found
the man of whom he was in search play
ing cards with three other passengers.
He looked up carelessly as Walter ap
proached, but did not betray the sllght
st confusion or sign of guilt. To let the
reader into a secret, he had actually taken
"Walter's pocketbook, but was too cunning
to keep it pbout him. He had taken out
the money, and thrown the pocketbook
Itself from the car platform, taking an
opportunity when he thought himself un
observed. As the money consisted of
bills, which could not be identified as Wal
ter's, he felt that he was in no danger
of detection. He thought that he could
afford to be indifferent.
"Did you get tired of waiting?" he
asked, addressing our hero.
"May I speak to you a moment?" ask
d Walter.
"Certainly."
"I mean alone."
"Then, gentlemen, I must beg to be ex
cused for five minutes," said the pick
pocket, shrugging his shoulders, as if to
express good-natured annoyance. "Now,
my young friend, I am at your service."
Walter proceeded to the other end of
the car, which chanced to be unoccupied.
Now that the moment bad come, he hard
ly knew how to introduce the subject.
Suppose that the person he addressed
were innocent, it would be rather an awk
ward matter to charge him with the ihoft.
"Did jou see anything of my pocket
Oook?" lie said, at length.
"Your pocketbook !" returned the pick
pocket, arching his brows. "Why, have
jou lost it?"
"Yes."
"When did you discover its loss?"
"Shortly after you left me," said Wal
ter, significantly.
"I'm very sorry indeed. I did not see
it. Have you searched on the floor?"
"Yes; but it isn't there."
"That's awkward. Was your ticket in
the pocketbook?"
"No, I had that in my vest pocket."
"That's fortunate. On my honor, I'm
orry for you. I haven't much money
"with me, but I'll lend you a dollar or two
with the greatest of pleasure.''
This offer quite bewildered Walter. He
felt confident that the other had stolen
Ms money, and now here he was offering
to lend him some of it. He did not care
to make such a compromise, or to be
bought off so cheap ; so, though quite pen
niless, he determined to reject the offer.
"I won't borro-n-," he said, coldly. "I
was hoping you had seen my money."
The pickpocket turned and went back
to his game, and Walter slowly left the
cur. He had inttnded to ask him point
blank whether h had taken the money,
but couldn't sumi jon the accessary cour
age. He went buk to bin old seat.
"Well," said i;ie old ( mtlcmun who
sat behind him, I suppoj you did not
find your man?" -
"Yes, I did." -
"You didn't get your money?" he added,
in surprise.
"No, he was perfectly cool. Still, I
think he took it. He offered to lend ma
dollar or two. What would you ad
vise me to do?"
"Speak to the conductor."
Just at that moment the conductor en
tered the car. As he came up the aisle
Walter stopped him, and explained his
om, and the suspicions he had formed.
You say the man is in th smoking
1
ALGER, JR.
ear?" said the conductor, who had list
ened attentively. "Could you point him
out?"
"Yes."
"I am glad of it. I have received
warning by telegraph that one of the New
York well-mob is on the train, probably
intent on mischief, but no description
came with it, and I had no clew to the
person. I have no doubt that the man
you speak of is the party. If so, he is
familiarly known as 'Slippery Dick."-
"Do you think you can get back my
money?" asked Walter, anxiously.
"I think there is a chance of it. Come
with me and point out your man."
Walter gladly accompanied the conduc
tor to the smoking car. His old acquaint
ance was busily engaged as before in a,
game, end laughing heartily at some fa
vorable turn.
"There he is," said Walter, indicating
him with his finger.
The conductor walked up to him and
tapped him on the shoulder.
"What's wanted" he asked, looking up.
"You've looked at my ticket."
'I wish to speak to you a moment."
He rose without making any opposi
tion, and walked to the other end of the
-ar.
"Well," be said, and there was a slight
nervousness in bis tone, "what's the mat
ter? Wasn't my ticket all right?"
"No trouble about that. The thing is,
will you restore this boy's pocketbook"
"Sir," said the pickpocket, blustering,
'do you mean to insult me? What nave
.1 to do with his pocketbook?"
"Y'ou sat beside him, and he missed It
directly after you left him."
"What is that to me? You. may search
me if you life. You will find only one
pocketbook upon me, and that is my
own."
"I am aware of that," saidfche conduc
tor, coolly. "I saw you take the money
out and throw it from the car platform."
The pickpocket turned pale.
"You are mistaken in the person," he
said.
"No, I am not. I advise you to re
store the money forthwith."
Without a word the thief, finding him
self cornered, took from his pocket a roll
of bills, which he banded to Walter.
"Is that right?" asked the conductor.
"Yes," said our hero, after counting
his money.
"So far, so good. And now, Slippery
Dick," he continued, turning to the thief.
"I advise you to leave the cars at the next
station or I will have you arrested. Take
your choice."
The detected rogue was not long in
making bis choice. Already the cars had
slackened their speed, and a short dis
tance ahead appeared a small station. The
place seemed to be of very little impor
tance. One man, however, appeared to
have business there. Walter saw hf
quondam acquaintance jump on the plat
form, and congratulated himself that his
only loss was a pocketbook whose value
did not exceed one dollm.
The conductor on seeing the pocketbook
thrown away had thought nothing of i-",
supposing it to be an old one, but as soon
as he heard of the robbery suspected at
once the thief and his motive.
I
CHAPTER XVII.
Walter stopped long enough at Buffalo
to visit Niagara Falls, as be had intend
ed. Though he enjoyed the visit, and
found the famous cataract fully up to lin
expectations, no incident occurred during
the visit which deserves to be chronicled
here. He resumed his journey, and arriv
ed in due time at Cleveland.
He had no difficulty in finding the office
of .Mr. Greene, the agent of Messrs. Flint
& Pusher. He found that this gentlemau,
besides' his agency, had a book and sta
tionery business of his own.
"I don't go out myself," he said to
Walter; "but I keep a supply of Flint's
books on hand, and forward them to his
agents as called for. Have you done
much in the business?"
"No, sir ; I am only a beginner. I have
done nothing yet."
"I thought not. You look too young."
"Mr. Pusher told me I had better be
guided by your advice."
"You had better go fifty miles off at
least. Tbe immediate neighborhood has
been pretty well canvassed. There'
Earle, now, a flourishing and wealthy
town. Suppose you go there first?"
"I'll go this afternoon."
"You are prompt."
Walter arrived in Earla In time for
supper. He went to a small public house,
where he found that he coald board for
a dollar and a half a day, or seven dol
lars by the week. He engaged a week's
board, reflecting that 'he could probably
work to advantage a week in so large a
place, or, if not, that fivo days at the
daily rate would amount to more ihao
the weekly terms.
He did not nt first prope to do any
thing that evenirg, until lit .occurred to
him that he mig' t perhaps dispose of u
copy of his book to the landlord in part
payment for hts board. He went into the
public room after supper.
"Are you traveling alone?" asked the
landlord, who had his share of curiosity.
"Yes," said-'Walter. "I am a book
agent."
"Meeting with pretty good success?"
"I'm just beginning," said Walter, smil
ing. "If you'll be my first cutomer, I'll
stop with you a week."
"What kind of a book hava you got?"
Walter showed It It waa got up la the
usual style of subscrlntinn
i , fwnv. will
abundance of illustrations.
"It's one of the best books evef
sent out," snid Walter, In a professional
way. Just look at the number of pic
tures. If you've got any children, they'll
like it; and, if you haven't, it will be
just the book for your center table."
i you Know now to talk," said the
landlord, amiling. "What is the price?"
"Three dollars and a half."
"That's considerable."
"But you know I'm going to take it
out in board."
"Well, that's a consideration, to bo
sure. A man doesn't feel it so much a.i
if he took the money out of his pocket
and paid cash down. What do you say,
Mrs. Burton?" addressing his wife, who
just then entered the room. "This young
man want to stay here a week, and pay
partly in a book he is agent for. Shall I
agree?"
"Let m see the book, saia Mrs. bur
ton, who was a comely, pleasant looking
woman of middle age. "What's the namo
of it?"
, " 'Scenes in Bible Lands,' " said Trai
ler. lie opened it, taking care to display
and point out the pictures. So Walter
made the first sale, on which he realized
a profit of one dollar and a quarter.
"It's a pretty easy way to earn money."
he reflected, with satisfaction. "If I can
only sell copies enough. One copy sold
will pay for a day's board."
He went to bed early, and enjoyed a
sound and refreshing sleep. He wai
cheered with hopes of success on tlv
morrow. If he could sell four copies a
day, that would give him a profit of five
dollars, and five dollars would leave him
a handsome profit after paying expense?.
The next morning ofter breakfast he
started out, carrying with !i!m threw
books. Knowing nothing of the residents
of the village, he could only judge by
the outward appearance of their houses.
Seeing a large and handsome house stand
ing back from the street, he decided to
call.
"The people living here must be rich,"
he thought. "They won't mind paying
three dollars and a half for a nice book."
Accordingly he walked up the graveled
path and rang the front door bell. The
door was opened by a housemaid.
"Is the lady of the house at home?"
asked Walter.
"Do you want to see her?"
"Yes."
"Then wait here, and I'll tell her."
A tall woman, with a thin face and a
pinched expression, presented herself af
ter five minutes.
"Well, young man," she asked, after s
sharp glance, "what is your business?"
Her expression was not very encourag
ing, but Walter was bound not to lose an
opportunity.
"I should like to show you" a new book,
madam," he commenced, "a book of great
value, beautifully illustrated, which is
selling like wildfire."
"How many copies have you sold?" in
quired the lady, sharply.
"One," answered Walter, rather con
fused. "Do you call that selling like wildfire?"
she demanded, with sarcasm.
"I only commenced last evening," said
Walter, "I referred to the sales of other
agents."
"What's the name of the book?"
" 'Scenes in Bible Lands.'"
"Let me see it."
Walter displayed the book.
"Look at the beautiful pictures," h
said.
"I don't see anything remarkable about
them. The binding isn't very strong.
Shouldn't wonder if the book would go
to pieces in a week."
"I don't think there'll be any trouble
that way," said Walter.
"If it does, you'll be gone, so it won't
trouble you."
"With ordinary care it will bold long
enough."
"Oh, yes, of course you'd say so. I
expected it. How much do you charge
for the book?"
"Three dollars and a half."
"Three dollars and a half!" repeateci
the woman. "You seem to think peopiv
are made of money."
"I don't fix the price, madam," saia
Walter, rather provoked ; "the publisher!
do that."
"I warrant they make two-thirds profit.
Don't they, now?"
"I don't know," said Walter. "I don't
know anything about the cost of publish
ing books. But this is a large one, and
there are a great many pictures in it.
They must have cost considerable."
"Seems to me it's ridiculous to ask
such a price for a book. Why, it's enough
to buy a nice dress pattern 1"
"The book will last longer than the
dress," said Walter.
"But It Is not so necessary. I'll tell
you what I'll do. I'd like the book well
enough to put on my parlor table. I'll
give you two dollars for it."
"Two dollars!" ejaculated Waiter,
scarcely crediting the testimony of his
ears.
."Yes, two dollars; and I warrant you'll
make money enough, then."
"I should lose money," said Walter. "1
couldn't think of accepting such an offer."
"In my opinion there it n't any book
worth even two dollnrs."
"I see we can't trade," said Waiter,
disgusted at such meanness In a lady who
occupied so large a house, and might bo
supposed to have plenty of money,
(To be continusflj
II I Colled lo).
Gunner The Ultra-v tin Tassels
moved to-day. There were seven Vans
for the furniture nnd six extra vans.-
Guyer Indeed I And what were th
extra vnns for?
Gunner Why, to remove their fam
ily skeletons.
The elephant beetle of Venezuela If
the world's largest Insect It welghlf
a half pound.
Editor (in dully office) Say, Buck,
nave you read my lust editorial? "I
i hope so," was the crusty reply. Minne
haha.
The Indignant One The idea of m
a-telling me W children ought to be
fed ! Why, I've burled ten o my own I
The Tatler.
Boy Sixpen'orth o' cod liver oil,
please, sir. Au I say, don't give me
too much, 'cos it's me what's got to
drink It Punch.
Smawley Do you believe that money
talks? Ardupp You bet I do. I no
sooner get my hands on a dollar than
It says "Good-by."
Pat Are ye engaged to Mike Dooley? '
muuy i'aitn, an' I'm not. Are ye
nfter wantln' me? Tat Not unless I
ian't git ye. Peola Advocate.
Dick Money doesn't always bring
happiness and peace of mind." Bob
(anxiously) You are right; some
times it tempts you to buy automobiles,
biles.
Visitor Well, Carrie, what do you
think of your new baby brother? Car
rie (aged four) Oh, I don't think
much of him. Why, he cun't even speak
English yet.
"Did you say the prisoner hit the
plaintiff between the court house nnd
the postofflee?" "No, I didn't. I said
be hit him between the eyes." Balti
more American.
Nell She admits that she Is terribly
disappointed in her husband. Belle
How is that? Nell She married him
to reform hliu, and now she finds he
doesn't need it Philadelphia Record.
"My hnlr is falling out," admitted
the timid man in a drug store. "Can
you recommend something to keep it
in?" "Certainly," replied the obliging
clerk. "Get a box." Llppiucott's Mag
azine. Teacher You have named all domes
tic animals save one. it has bristly
hair, it Is grimy, likes dirt, and is
fond of mud. Well, Tom? Tom 1 bridges, and a Bavarian firm Is bulld
(shamefacedly) That's me. Chicago , ing a bridge entirely of military con.
Tribune. utructlon.
"Do you know that your chickens. in the battle which has been waged
come over into my garden?" "I against the water hyacinth wuicu
thought they must be doing thnt." j chokes up many of the rivers in the
Why did you think so." "Because
they never
corue back." Cleveland
'.leader.
"You should never take
anything
thnt doesn't agree with you,"
the phy-
Biclan told Mr. Marks. "If I had al-
ways followed that rule, Marie," he
remarked to his wife, "where would
rou be?"
Ascum How on earth did you evet
Set a messenger boy to deliver your
note and bring back the answer so
qulck? Wise I took his dime novel
-away from him and held It as security.
Philadelphia Press.
Mrs. Jones Good gracious, Mrs.
Brown, why Is your husband going
through nil thoso strange actions? Is
he training for a prize-fight? Mrs.
Brown Not ut all ; he's merely getting
In form to bent tho carpets. Harper's-;
Weekly.
New Clerk I notice some of these j
barrels of apples are marked X nnd
i some Z. Are they different kinusjtors of introduction, a card of photo
I Dealer No ; enme kind, but differently graphic Identification Invented by a
packed. Some customers want n bar- j Pittsburg man has become popular hi
I rel opened at the bottom nnd some at that city. Now when the Plttsburger's
the top.
Wife I'm actually ashamed to go
to church with tills old hat on. It Isn't
up-to-date at nil. Husband Is tho
cook going to church this morning?
Wife No; I think not. Husband ,
Then why- not borrow hers? Phila-
delphhi Inquirer.
Miss Rattle Yes, that's a photo oi
my maiden aunt. Perhaps you saw
her name in the papers last winter? j
She frightened away a burglar. Mrs. :
Winkler (closely Inspecting the por
trait) Did she? Well, I don't won
der at It. Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Mr. Justcott Why, what are you
crying about, dear? Mrs. Justcott
Oh, George! mice have 'got Into the ,,L U,,"'B w,'re systematic,
pantry nnd eaten up a beautiful ens-1 Krrors of thl ningnltude are of Im
tard pie I made myself! Mr. Justcott Titmice In nrnetlcnl navigation, where
There, there! Don't cry over a few
little mice! Western Christian Advo
cate. "But," cried Miss Woodby, Indig
nantly, "since I declare to you that
the Joke Is original with me, Isn't it
Impudent of you to doubt it?" "Not
at all," replied Mr.. Chesterfield; "I
should be still more Impudent and un-
gallant to believe you that old." Phil
adelphia Press.
I "Physical culture, father, Is perfect
ly lovely. To develop the arms I grasp
! this rod by one end and move It slow
' ly' from right to left" "Well, well,"
! exclaimed her father, "what won't
science discover? If that rod had
straw at the other end you'd be sweep
lng." Louisv'" fVmrlor-Juurnal.
SOMETHING FOB EVEEYBODY
Irrigation is enlarging the oases o.'
the Sahara desert
The Nile contains a greater variety
Of fish than any other body of water.
There are upward of seventy species
f ediblo seaweeds growing on the
coasts of Hawaii, nnd nbout forty of
these ure iu common use by the na
tives. There are in Europe 10,000 women
aid girls who earn a living 'as artists'
iiodols. It Is strange to suy that there
ire not ten among them who possess
i perfect face and figure.
Sleeplessness is often caused by the
head being exposed to the cold, while
the rest of the body Is warm. In nine
cases out of ten, if the head Is covered
with a silk handkerchief it will induce
l.eep.
Take water in which walnut hulls
have soaked overnight and pour It on
a spot of ground. In a very few hours
. the flshlngworms will come to the sur
face and cam easily be secured for your
"xpedltlon.
The vessel movement on the Great
Lnkes last season aggregated 73,709 .
vessel of 00,100,409 net tons register,
cleared from the various lake ports,
compared with 70,007 vessels of 04,094,-
j 510 net tons register cleared during
the preceding senson.
The Express mentions a case of a
pritule who for fulling to recognize
and salute his officer was condemned
to march past and salute a barrack
pump for two hours each day for a
week. The choice of the substitute
anyhow showed modesty on the part of
the officer. London ' Punch.
Messrs. Palerno nnd Clnngolanl, the
inventors of "tnchyol" (fluoride of
silver), an antiseptic employed lu sur
gery, have found that a solution of one
part in 500,000 of water will destroy
oil germs, Including B. snbtllis, its
germicidal effect being much greater
than that of chlorine, bromine or ozone
Great nctlvlty Is being displayed by
the Turkish government lu building
bridges along the Iniiwrtant strategic
routes In Macedonia and eastern Rou
niella. In tho vilayet of Salonlca a
Belgian firm is building three great.
, southern nnrt of the United States, the
matter bus been complicated to a serl-
dub degree by the fondness which cat
tle exhibit for this plant. It Is almost
Without food value, but there Is some-
: thing about It which attracts the nnl-
Inals and they have been known to be
hired to death In the efforts to secure
'ie hyacinth.
The typical American Is popularly
supposed to be a shrewd, hard, level
headed man of business, and that esti-
i matlon Is right, ns far as It goes. But
beneath these salient characteristics
lies a fund of sheer sentimentality and
emotionalism which can not be beaten
j my other country. You will find
' It In American fiction, and you will get
j It In the archaic melodramas that still
t draw tears and cheers, sighs and
smiles from American audiences.
ladles' Field.
Owing to many swindles perpetrated
recently through forged and stolen let-
friend asks him for a letter of Intro
duction, he takes the friend to the
nearest photographer and Is photo
graphed with him In an nttltudo of
presentation. Then he writes his note
011 the picture. And when It is pre-
seated the recipient has,. no doubts as
to the Identity of bis caller.
The great practical utility of ttu,
magnetic survey mudo In the Pacific
ocean by the yn;ht Galilee since 1905
Is shown by n new magnetic chart,
from which It appears thnt the charts
previously used by navigators in the
Pacific ocean were erroneous along
some much-traversed routes to the ex
tent of from three to five degrees, and
,lie Indications of the compass should
Ve ns accurate ns possible. Youth's
Companion.
An organization has recently been et
ected with tho object of conducting a
complete scientific Investigation and
exploration of the Pacific ocean and Its
Islands. While the chief energies of
the Institution will he devoted to
ethnology, the geology nnd conrtgura
tlon of the region will also be Investi
gated, and studies In zoology and bot
any will be carried out, as also of
winds and ocean currents, with a view
to throwing light on the distribution of
aniuinls, plants nnd of the human race.
Expeditions are to be dispatched In a
specially equipped vessel, and It Is ex
pected that fifteen years may be need
ed for the work.