Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-07-04

10 be hard on a poor chap, are YOU
now? Give me kiss and I'll give YOU
twenty-five"
She fired up.
You don't have no kiss, mister" she
says, and if you want me to help you
you must hand over the coin. You
kent do better anyway"
l tell You she fairly surprised me. I
assure you, to look at her, you'd think
she was as quiet a girl as ever wore
shoes. She kept her eyes-bright,
black eyes She had-fXed ON my face,
and seemed almost to enjoy the corner
she got me in.
| turned the matter over quickly in
my mind. After all, knew needn't
really trouble about the second paw
ment. l should be clear away before
she had chance to see whether | ont
it there or not.
''All right, MISS" I says, don't 'agle
and don't bite a fellows 'ead half OFF.
Here's the thirty pound. What time
shall l come up?''
She told me that at half-past eight
the duke would be having dinner and
that she would leave the window of
the duchess dressing room open. /
might find a ladder in such a place.
and, when l got in, | should find the
jewels in such a place, and some loose
notes and gold in such a place, and ]
was to leave the thirty pound for her
on ledge in the chimney. And if any
of the servants caught me, why, so
much the worse for me, and if they did
not so much the worse for them.
She shook hands pleasantly and went
off toward the court.
| felt inclined to shake hands with
myself, too. l knew that there was
good twenty thousand pounds worth
of stuff for me if | could only get a
quiet quarter of an hour there
You may believe me when l say |
was there that evening to the minute.
Just as l neared the mansion l had a
nasty feeling that the maid might have
given me away. You can never be
sure of woman. But when saw the
window open of the duchess dressing
room, and found the ladder and every
thing ready, | knew it was all right
"She's q girl after my own heart" |
said to myself when 1 got into the
room. "And III be after her when it's
all over"
It's risky work, you know. No mat
ter how easy things are you always
have queer sort of nervousness I'M
less you're drunk, and then, of course,
you're liable to make mistakes. None
of the servants were about; they might
have been dead for all the trouble
they gave me.
I don't think 1 ever had quite such
an easy job in all my life.
There was a swish of skirts near the
bed. | turned my lantern on the place,
my heart in my mouth, my revolver in
my hand. I can tell you / was we'll
pleased to see that it was only my girl.
She was smartly dressed and looked
quite the lady.
Got everything, mister?" she in
quired. Got anything?"
''Well. not absolutely everything" 1
whispered, ''but as much as | can
carry. I'm just off,
''Have you put my thirty sovereigns
in the chimney?' she asked. Lord, she
had ! head for business. that girl!
Reckon I'll take them now" she
said, holding out her hand. 81 guessed
you'd go and forget"
l counted out the money and handed
it over, and shouldered my bag.
"Good-by, miss l whispers. "See
each other again soon, hope"
lawful good of you to say that" she
said.
Peel as though I kent let you go
now" Her hand went to the side of
the wall. "We're getting on so sociable
and plea SAINT and friendly like"
l can't tell you how it made me feel
when l heard her talk like that.
would have proposed to that girl on
the spot if I hadn't been so busy. Only
there's a time and a place for every
thing. l always say, and just then
wasn't the time to 60 canoodling about
with girls.
Of course. this is the worst of them
Once they get mashed on you, there's
no getting rid Of them without row.
I went over to give her a kiss and
good-by She gave little scream.
''Stop right there!'' she cried. "StOp
right there, mister. or you're dead
man."
She levelIed a shining little pocket
pistol at my head. the other hand still
pressing against the wall. There was
a sound Of hurried footsteps on the
landing; the door opened and a mus
cular young fellow in evening dress
rushed in. He was followed by sew
eral servants.
"My dearest Deborah" he cried.
Then he sprang upon me and nearly
choked me.
"Here, let me gon' I screamed
"Where's the duchess? Where's the
duchess? Lemme go, can't ye. I want
to tell her something. l want to tell
her all about that beauty of lady's
maid She got my EGO"
"And she jest about means to keep
it." she answered, laughing. It'll
make a good start for my village blan-
ket club" She turned to the duke.
'tNow, you see, Tunbridge, how Heron
Court is protected"
'My dearest" said the duke, you're
! quite right. You shall make your own
arrangements now"
She spoke to one Of the footmen.
'Gfve him a good sousing, Barker,
with the garden hose, and let him
slide