"Let me pass!" cried Lettie, white with terror. "Certainly, miss," said he gruffly, "in one minute; just as soon as you give me those beads on your neck, and that watch; and if you hand 'em over quietly yourself you'll save me the trouble of gagging you with this,"--dragging a filthy handkerchief from his pocket,--"and taking them off myself; 'n I ain't no lady's maid, either," he added grimly, "'n I might possibly hurt you!" Frightened half out of her wits, Lettie raised her hand to unclasp her necklace, when the flash of the diamonds on her finger caught the sharp eye of the thief. "Golly," he said, "better 'n I thought! I'll trouble you to slip off that ring, too." "Oh, no!" cried Lettie, "I can't!" "Oh, well! I can take it off myself," he said. "If it's tight I'll just take finger and all," and he took out and opened a great clasp knife. Then Lettie saw the uselessness of protest, and with despair in her heart she drew off the ring and dropped it into the dirty hand extended to receive it. Instantly it followed the beads and watch into his pocket, and he stood aside, leaving the path open for her to pass, saying, with a horrid grin, "Now you may go, miss, and thank you kindly for your generosity." Along that path Lettie flew till she reached one of the main avenues where people were constantly passing, when she fell into a seat, wild-eyed, and almost fainting. "What's the matter?" asked a gruff policeman who came near. "What you been doing, miss?" "Oh, go after the thief!" she cried; "I've been robbed." "Which way did he go?" asked the man, evidently not believing her, the idea of being robbed in broad daylight, here in the park, appearing to seem absurd to him. "Down that path," cried Lettie excitedly, "a great rough man with a big stick! Oh! do go! he has my gold beads and my diamond ring and"-- Whether the policeman did not care to encounter a rough thief with a big stick, or whether he really did not believe her, he here interrupted with:-- "I guess he has your sense, too! I think I better run you in--you'll do fine for the crazy ward!" "Oh, for Heaven's sake, no!" cried Lettie, this new danger filling her with terror. "Never mind; let him go, but don't arrest me. It would kill my mother, and me too!" "Well, then, don't talk so crazy," said he gruffly. "I don't believe your story--nor nobody won't, an' if it's true, 'n I should get him, I'd have to lock you up for a witness. Tell me where you live, 'n I'll see you safe home." "Oh, no!" she cried, tears running down her face, "I'll go right home. My mother is sick, and it would kill her!" The man was evidently touched by her distress. "Well, miss, you just walk along, and I'll keep you in sight to see that no more robbers get after you."