FURTHER FOOLISHNESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 17

FURTHER FOOLISHNESS.

"And we come along and lifted it right under their no; . One minute it were there; the next it had gone. Quarter of an hour later, when they was just waking up to the fact that it weren't there, it was being melted down so as no one wouldn't recognise it 110 more." "That was pretty smart work." applauded Dawson. "How was it taken?" For a moment he was afraid his informant was about to dry up, but the spirit he had consumed was having its effect, undermining all sense of caution. "It was the slickest bit of work you ever saw." he went on after another pull at bis glass. "Like every other success in life it were based on the failings of liooman nature. There was three on 'em in the enclosure at the time, all toffed up lit to kill —two fellows and a girl. "Ten minutes or so before the big race were to be run one of the fellows and the girl got into conversation with the flatties who were guarding the eup. Talking and arguing about what chances the favourite had, and such like. You see the idea? Each of the cops had a bit on hisself, most likely, it being liooman nature to back your fancy. Well, our two was still talking when the cry come, 'They're off!' "Now that was all part of the plan. A 'orse race holds everyone'; attention; cops are no exception. / ! < es were fixed on the course. In audition, both our two was tapping 'is particular flattie 011 the shoulder and pointing out the horses what they'd been arguing about.

"That were the very identical moment it were done. The third of our party had a bag with a bottom like a scoop, worked with a spring. The moment he > e everybody straining to see who was leading, he slips inside the ropes, pops his bag over the gold cup, presses the spring, and hops ' lit again. "When the leader passed the post he was walking out of the enclosure gate carrying his bag as innercent as you please. The other two simply melts into the crowd, and there you arc. Simple, weren't it?" "I should think it was," agreed Dawson, who had listened to the recital with breathless interest. "Fancy having the nerve to do a thing like- that. And to think that it went off like clockwork with never a slip up. It was blinking-" well miraculous." "It ain't quite right to say it went off Without any sort of 'itch at all." amended Joe, squinting into the bottom of his empty glass. "There was just one little h'accident what made them feel a bit uneasy. The girl what was there went and dropped her blooming powder box right in the middle of the enclosure." "Whew! I suppose the cops traced it to her and . . . ." "No," chuckled Joe. "They didn't. The luck held good and. even if they found it which 1 don t suppose they did. there's never been any mention of it in any of the papers. Anyway, nothings ever come if it." "Fortune favours the bold," misquoted Dawson. "But have another drink, Mr. Higgins. I reckon you deserve it after that." Joe smiled complacently. "Well, I don't mind if I do," he accepted. "It's thirsty work talking.

We had a. few that night, though, and no error. Champagne, cocktails and all the blooming lot. Here, what yer doing':" In turning from the bar after paying Dawson had once more encountered the quizzical stare of the girl near the door. Thinking to ask Joe who she was, he laid his hand on his companion's arm. Joe angrily shook him off. "You mustn't never do that," he protested. "It's quire all right," he graciously accepted Dawson's abject apology. "I know you didn't mean nothing, but I don't never let anyone lay a. linger on me—not while I've fifty pun in me pocket, anyhow. Letting people touch you's the way to get it pinched. Didn't yer know that!" "I'm afraid I didn't" admitted Dawson. "I don't know much about picking pockets." Joe nodded sagely. "No, I suppose you don't. Well, I'll tell how it's done, it's the easiest thing in (lie world. All you have to do is to engage a chap in conversation. Then raise a bit of an ■h'argument like and keep tapping him on the shoulder to emphasise yer points; he gets used to vou touching him that way. Then all you have to do is to slip your fingers in and whip out his pocket hook." "Do vou mean —do you mean you could have taken my pocket book whilst I was standing here talking to you? asked Dawson in an awed voice. "Bless yer heart; I could have taken your collar and tie and you'd never have known." "My word." exclaimed Dawson in wonderment "Will vou do me a favour, Mr. Higgins?" he begged eagerly. Will you —er—will you lift my pocket book from me so that I dont know you re doing it? Will you—please?" At first reluctant, Joe at length allowed himself to be persuaded to give an v xhibition of his skill. He began an argument about the merits of a certain horse due to run on the following day, ostentatiously tapping his proposed victim's shoulder as he deliveied his opinion. In tile height of the discussion Dawson felt a gentle tug in the region of the heart, which he was much too loyal to acknowledge, and a moment later Joe produced the wallet in triumph. "There v'are me lad; that 9 how it s done. I could take anything else just

as easy." . "You couldn't take the skin off a rice pudding. Joe Higgins," broke in % scornful vpice. "You're nothing but a great big sbftie. Fancy stuffing this gentleman up with your lying tales! She had come up to them unnoticed whilst Joe was doing his stuff. Now, despite her sex and the smallness of her stature, she dominated the two of

them. Dawson looked keenly from one to the other, waiting for Joe to give her what she deserved. Instead the pseudo hero collapsed like a pricked balloon. "I didn't know you were in the bar, Nora," Joe muttered sheepishly. Then, with a sly look at Dawson, he buttoned his coat. "I had no idea it was so late; I must bo off." he excused himself, and shuffled rapidly towards the door. It was slammed behind him before Dawson mentioned his loss. "lie's gone off with my wallet!" he exclaimed suddenly. Nora chuckled. "You're green and no mistake. How nuicli was there in it?" "Two pound 11. . find two ten shilling notes." The girl held out her hand. _ "Here vou are. babv, here it is. He got the wallet, but I got the money. I'm going to keep it too. It'll teach you a lesson not to play with bigger boys than yourself. Now run along home and tell your mother you've been naughty." She turned away with a laugh of derision, but Dawson called her back. "Just a minute, my sweet. How's this for a lucky dip?" In his turn he displayed a dirty envelope which vas fairly bulging with crisp pound notes. _ "Joe wasn't lying when he said he had had a good day at Kempton," he remarked smoothly. Nora stared at him incredulously. "You took that off him? Then you're not a mug after all!" "Not such a mug as he was for carrying this," he declared, and held out a woman's powder box. At sight of it she uttered a sharp excli i mat ion and attempted to snatch it from him. "You give that to me," she demanded. "It's mine." He held it away from her, pretendin". to be surprised. -How could it be yours? Joe said it v-s dropped at Seven Queen's Park ! i.-e-t rack the day the gold cup was ua ken." "Joe doesn't know what he's talking . alio; 1 '; lie wasn't anywhere near there." "Wei:, he seemed to know all about it; he had the story off pat." "If he says I was in that, he's a blooming liar. Here, Bill!" Her appeal was to Dawson's earlier acquaintance, Smithers, who had just re-entered the bar.

In a few shrill trenchant sentences Nora told him what had happened. When she mentioned the powder case Smithers rounded on Dawson with a snarl of fury. "Are you sure you got it out of Joe Higgins' pocket?" he snapped. Dawson looked towards the door. "Ask him yourself," he suggested. "Here he comes now looking for it." Joe. his face livid with anxiety, came shambling towards the group. "Have you seen my money, pal; I lost my money," he cried plaintively. "Never mind your dough," cried Smithers roughly. "How did you get hold of Nora's powder box?"^ Joe's jaw dropped in surprise. "I never saw it before, so help me." he denied. "Why, you told me all about it being dropped at Seven Queen's,' put in Dawson. "Yes. how did you know about that?" screeched Nora, beside herself with fear and rage. "Who told you?'' Joe swallowed painfully. "You did. Bill," he accused in desperation. "Don't you remember? You and me and Steve Rogers and Bert Lawlev were having a game of rummy. ..." _ I "Shut nip!" shouted Smithers, but it was too late. "So that was the way of it," murmured Dawson quietly. He seemed to have increased suddenly in stature and importance. "I'm Detective Inspector Dawson of the County Police." he announced ominously. * "I arrest you, William Smithers" and you, Nora Beasley, for being concerned in the theft of a gold vase at Seven Queen's racecourse." lie- raised his arm and suddenly the bar was swarming with purposeful looking constables.