rge sums of money, and whose persecutions were actually killing
him. It appears that she always came to his counting-house on particular
days, and, watching until he was alone, went boldly into his private
office. In police parlance, they 'put up a job on her.' Captain Thorne
was secreted in the office the next time she called, and the gentleman
talked to her as previously arranged. He began by asking her why she
persisted in her demands upon him, for, said he, 'you know I never had
anything to do with you, never said an improper word to you.' The young
analyst of human nature answered, unabashed, 'I know that; but who'll
believe you if I say you did?' Captain Thorne, dressed in full police
uniform, stepped from the closet with, 'I will for one, Mary.' The girl,
young as she was, had experience enough in devious ways to see that her
game had escaped, and readily, although sullenly, promised to cease
exacting tribute in that particular quarter. The gentleman would go no
further, and to the earnest entreaties of Captain Thorne to prosecute the
girl, both for her own good and that of society, returned an absolute
refusal. Captain Thorne was, therefore, obliged to let her go with a
warning not to attempt her operations again anywhere. He also
remonstrated with her upon her way of living, and asked her why she did
such things. The hardened girl morosely answered that all the other
girls did them, and thus gave a clue which was followed until it
developed a gang of feminine blackmailers of tender years, working in
concert. Although the band was then dispersed, the method of robbery it
employed survived, and is yet extensively used by scores of girls, under
the cover of selling not only flowers, but apples and other fruits."

LV. FEMALE SHARPERS.

I. FORTUNE-TELLERS AND CLAIRVOYANTS.

The city journals frequently contain such advertisements as the
following:

A TEST MEDIUM.--THE ORIGINAL MADAME F--- tells everything, traces absent
friends, losses, causes speedy marriages, gives lucky numbers. Ladies,
fifty cents; gentlemen, one dollar. 464 ---th Avenue.

A FACT--NO IMPOSITION. THE GREAT EUROPEAN Clairvoyant. She consults you
on all affairs of life. Born with a natural gift, she tells past,
present, and future; she brings together those long separated; causes
speedy marriages; shows you a correct likeness of your future husband or
friends in love affairs. She was never known to fail. She tells