Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-07-12

Of my scrape yet, and between uu we
can help each other good deal. Are
you agreed?"
"You don't mean to get me arrested
for taking your clothes, do you;"
'sNot bit! You won't como to harm.
I'll sec you through and give you money
afterwards"
"I1l have to go you. What am ! to
do?"
'Change clothes with mc"'
The tramp was staggered at this sug-
gestion, but he consented, though he
vainly tried to get Lawrence to unfold
the scheme.
"The only trouble Is" said Lawrence,
II don't know where VIC can do this"
"Well, l do" replied his companion,
and he forthwith led the way 70 de-
serted roohery where they speedily ex-
changed garments. Mr.. Drane put on
tho rags again with some revolt, but he
was confident in the success OF his
scheme, and that nervcd him.
When thcy stepped out again into
the street he asked tho tramp where he
had gone when he first took the clothes
from tho Adams Hotel.
"Oh," he said, II played in great
luck, and I'll be all right II you get me
out of this affair with little money in
hand. You see. pranced around town
for tho day, and tho next day fell in
with an old sweetheart Of mine. She
used to live in Buffalo, and she was
poor enough then, but it seems that
somo time ago she went through q
mock marriage that afterwards turned
out to be binding"
The tramp paused and laughed glee-
fully.
Eyes, yes" exclaimed Mr.. Drane,
eagerly. what then?"
why, you see, tho fellow she married
was laundering rich, and he went of
and got killed just after the ceremony
and left all his money to her. Haw!
haw! haw! And then, you know, ] told
her that had got rich, too. made
good bluff at it with your money and
your clothes and she believed mo. So
VIC got married that very day"
"You married her?" gasped Lawrence.
"Yep. Married her as fast and hard
as q parson could tic the knot. We went
up to New Haven and tho ceremony was
performed there. As soon as it was
over l left her therc to come down to
New York, pretending l had business.
So / had. l intended to work fine
racket on your money, you know, tel
egraph to Kansas City for some more,
but you spoiled that My rich wife is
waiting for me, I suppose, in the Beaver
Hotel where / left her. You just put
mo in the way Of getting to New Haven
and I'll be hunk and don't You forget
it."
Lawrence was overwhelmed with
amazement. He folt rather than saw
tho inconsistencies Of tho story, but it
was circumstantial enough to alarm him
terribly. What! his Bessie, SO good
and purc, marry this fellow so suddenly,
and yet remain in New York, go to
court with Mrs. Bowers-it was impos-
siblo on tho face of it. And yet He
would have pursued the inquiry further,
but that no feared to arouse the tramp's
suspicious. So they walked on talking
of other things until they came to Jcn-
kins' Retreat.
snow I'm going to work big scheme
here" said Mr.. Drane. ''You just keep
your head and don't get frightened bit
and remember that whatever happens
I'll take care of you. I'm rich enough,
as you know"
''Blaze away, Gully, I'm wild yc," re-
sponded the tramp.
Mr.. Drane rang the bell. The door
was opened at once by an attendant
whom Lawrence had not seen before.
"Tcll Mr.. Jenkins friend would like
to see him." said Lawrence, winking
mysteriously at the attendant. The
wink was understood, and both men