The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18

StOUplES uOWH, saw tnat ne nau trOu-
den on the dead cat.
:.
At ten O'Clock that night the pawn
broker sat with his friend discussing
bottle of champagne, which the OPEN
eyed assistant had procured from the
public house opposite.
You're a lucky man." said his
| friend as he raised his glass to his lips.
Thirty thousand pounds! It's for
tune. small fortune" he added, cor
rectively. ....
Il shall give this place up" said the
pawnbroker. "and go away for a time.
I'm not safe here" a.-
Safe" queried his friend, raising
his eyebrows. ,
The pawnbroker related his adven-
lures with his visitors.
Il can't understand that cat busi-
ness said his friend, when he had fin
ished. It's quite farcical; he must
have poisoned it,
He wasn't near it, said the pawn
broker; 1T was at the other end of the
counter" -i.,t ...0.
"Oh, hang it," said his friend. the
more irrftably because he could not
think of any solution to the mystery.
You don't believe in occult powers and
neighborhood of the Commercial Road:
time. Nineteenth century. The things
got on your nerves. Keep your eyes
open and stay indoors; they can't hurt
You here. Why not tell the police?"
Il don't want any questions" said
the pawnbroker.
Il mean just tell them that one or
two suspicious characters have bean
hanging round lately" said the other.
IF this precious couple see that they
are watched. they'll probably Dolt.
There's nothing like uniform to scare
the guilty."
Il won't have anything to do with
the police said the pawnbroker, firm
We'll, let Bob sleep on the prem
ises.' suggested his friend.
II think l will tomorrow" said the
other. I'll have bed fixed up for
him"
Why not tonight?" asked his friend.
:. Hes gone" said the pawnbrOker,
briefly. Didn't you hear him shut
up?"
He was in the shop five minutes
ago. said his friend.
He left at ten," said the pawn
broker.
'I'll swear heard somebody only a
minute or two ago." said his friend
staring.
Nerves. as you remarked a little
while ago. said the proprietor, with a
grin.
We'll. l thought heard him." said
his friend. you might just secure the
door, anyway"
The Dawnbroker went to the door
and made it fast. giving careless
glance round the dimly lighted shop
as he did so.
Perhaps you could stay tonight,
Yourself" he said. as he returned to
the sitting room.
II can't possibly, tonight" said the
\other. by the way, you might lend
\ne a pistol Of some kind. with all
these cutthroats hanging round visit
ing you Is somewhat perilous pleas /
ure. They might take it into their
heads to kill me. to see whether I have
got the stone"
Take your pick" said the pawn
broker, going to the shop and return
ing with two or three. secondhand re-
volvers and some cartridges.
Il never fired one in my life." said
his friend, dubiously, but believe
the chief thing is to make a bang.
Which'll make the loudest?'
On his friends Recommendation, he
selected a revolver Of the service pat
tern, and, after one or two suggestions
from the pawnbroker, expressed him
self as. qualified to shoot anything be-
tween a chimney pot and a paving
stone. ~ p, .''" -
Make your room door. fast tonight,
and tomorrow let Bob have bed
there" he said earnestly, as he rose
to go. by the way, why not make
those chalks marks on the door just i
for the night? Youican laugh at them
tomorrow" i u 'S' iH1Il -
20 I'm not going to'mark my door for
all the assassins that ever breathed,"
said the other, fiercelv. as he rose to
see the other out. ~
We'll, Ithink you're safe enough in
the house," said his friend: s.beastlv
dreary the shop looks. ITO d man; 81 4
like myself It's quite easy