In that tourist-ridden city, bag-stealing offered much profit. In
the rare chance of detection when he was at work, the boy had
only to plead over-zeal in trying to earn an honest dime by
helping lift the luggage to the sidewalk.
It was a pretty bit of theft; and it betokened long and careful
practice. Thus,--from the thief's standpoint,--it was almost a
pity the brilliant effort was wasted. For wasted it was.
This young negro prided himself on his powers of speed and of
silence, in plying his trade. And, today, though he proceeded to
excel in the first of these qualities, he disgraced himself most
woefully as regarded the second.
For he jerked his hand out of the tonneau far faster than he had
thrust it in. As he did so, he woke the echoes with the most
blood-curdling screech his leathern lungs could compass.
As his dusky fingers had closed on the bag, something viselike
and relentless had fastened upon those same expert fingers;
breaking two of them, and rending the flesh of the lower hand.
Lad, in rising to his feet, after his pleasant nap, at the
slowing of the car, had been aware of that predatory hand; as it
groped for the bag.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165