can take care of themselves nowadays. I mean to see where
this little path goes; it looks so lovely and cool in there."

She turned into the path. It was charming; birds were singing, flowers
blooming, and she walked on and on, enchanted.

After a little, however, she was struck with the loneliness of the
place, and a thought of her mother's warning made her turn back
towards the more frequented walks. As she turned she found herself
facing the man she had noticed on the bench, and a panic seized her.
She tried to rush past him, but he barred the way. She tried to
scream, but she could not make a sound; and the man spoke.

"No you don't, my fine miss! If you make a noise I'll brain you!" and
he flourished a heavy stick he carried. "If you behave yourself like a
lady," he went on, less roughly, "I'll not hurt you in the least."

"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