"I know something of that man," he said, quietly. "I have met him twice this morning."
"Has he robbed you?"
"No; but he asked me to give him a quarter to take him to his sick sister in Yonkers. This was at the Grand Central Depot; an hour or two later I met him on Broadway, and he wanted money to take him to Newark."
"The boy is entirely mistaken," said the adventurer.
At the same instant, under cover of the newspaper, he adroitly let the stolen purse drop to the floor at his feet.
By this time the cars had reached the Brooklyn end of the bridge.
"Why, there is your purse," exclaimed the adventurer, with a sudden glance downward. "You must have dropped it."
"Oh, thank you, sir!" said the poor woman, overjoyed.
"I hope you won't suspect a gentleman again," said the thief, in lofty indignation.
"No, I won't, sir. I was sure you didn't take it."