Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-07-19
CHAPTER x.

AN UNEASY CONSCIENCE.
A faint smile dawned ON the lip of Lyman
Childer. He looked straight back into his
companions eyes without speaking. 1t was
the latter who began to twist and redden
uncomfortably.
You're a regular gimblet to go through
body" he complained. 'sWhy don't you
say somethin'f don't like folks as takes
it all out in thinkin'.n
''Sfa repeat yol,r own elegant remark
of catch this kid napping.' My friend, you
did not send the message which brought
me to this hole simply to make that PROPOSE
ton to me. Keep yourself to the business
which it will be greatly to my advantage
TO her," the last quoted tri1e scornfully
from an ill-written and ill-spelled message
which had been placed in his hands that
day.
''IIushr' warned the other, with glance
around. "Don't you call names about the
place here. There's no tellin' who might
hear it. You ANT got no word about that
missin' package o. yo1r'n, reckona'
81 have not"
ssWell, it's that sent to see you about
I've got onto the track of the cove what
corr allied it. If you hire me for the job,
I'll fun him inter the ditch-rll corner him
SO light that lies can't save him."
''Anothor detective in the field, ehs'' still
with that slight. Tiocl<ing smile playing up
on his countenaD@3. 1T is upon the prin-
ciple Of set thicf 20 catch thief that you
offer yourself. suppose.'
la Ok Z, boss" said the man, impress
lively ''if you wor'n't with me you couldn't
say things like that here and get off scott
free. Fur your own good, be a leetle quiet
er. An now what do you says'
''When / have any anxiety about that
package, will let you know, Mr.-What
shall call you!"
'sTom Riddle is my name. Red Tom is
Q good enough handle for me.''
swell, then, Red Tom, respectfully in
form you that have no need of your serv-
ices The regular detectives employed are
good enough for ne."
They're thousand miles of from the
truth an goin' furder. You'll never get
them ere goods back through the detectives,
sir, unless somebody blows the scheme that
was worked"
Lyman looked at him inquiringly as if he
expected him to say something more, but
as nothing more came, he answered, quiet
ly:
ssYou should offer your services to the
express company; tt ey might have need of
them, have not. II that IS the end and
aim of your desire to see me, we may as
well close our interview now"
Red Tom leaned toward him and dropped
MS VOICE even lOWcE Ill tlo aSSuISo anu SOu-
fidential tone.
sMebby you'd ruth err hire me not to track
the papers an the thief, boss. Pm as open
to that sort of business as t'other. Think
1t over for mint af,,re you say no."
There was change in Lyman Childer's
face, try as he would to keep 1t impassive.
ssWhat do you mesnr' he asked, sharply.
"Jest this: I've heerd that you've come
into a fortune, boss. Now, s'posen them
'ere papers was meant to keepit away from
you, s'pose it 'ud be a sight better fur you
III they never got to Jou-it 'ud be worth
while payin' Teller to let the business
alone, wouldn't it! Kind of a fortunit
thing, that ERE robbery, in SIGH case.
S'posen again that the Teller who got them
papers was ALFRED mad when he found
what they was-thoaght he was maxim a
big haul and found himself left. Materially,
he wants to know how to turn the thing to
the best account, an we'll s'pose, furder,
that he appints me as go-between to see