The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-09-23

light their lanterns and search every
thing thoroughly. They obeyed, and
after twenty minute investigation
during which they employed every
device that their ingenuity and expe
rience could suggest, op the cart,
clothing and person of Salter (who
submitted like a lamb), and even on
the horses, they were forced to con-
fess tnat they had drawn a blank.
"Waal. boss. are you satisfied that
amt sellin' you pup this timer"
said Salter, as he finished remaking
his toilet for he had stripped to the
buff, with the true hardihood of man
who is playing for big stake. and
means to win.
Not so much as a schlenter had been
found, and Inspector Lipinzki felt
that he had got himself into very
nasty place. He had stepped seem
ingly honest traveller. shot one of his
horses and submitted him to the in
dignity of a personal search. Visions
OF his lost bet, of civil action for da-
images before jury that might prob
ably be the I. d. BIS to a man, of
heavy damages, and of the storm of
ridicule that would overwhelm him at
the end, flashed in quick succession
past his mental gaze, and. being only
human after all, he decided to tempo
rize.
I'm out, MIR. Salter!' he said, with
the best assumption of cordiality that
he could muster. I'm dead out, and
it's for you to call the game. Pm not
satisfied, but 1 know when I'm licked.
and Am this time. What's it to be-"
WAL drawled the Yankee, "see-
in's how you've pulled nee up here.
shot horse, cut up the tit out, and
made me undress in this almighty
cold, / think that the least you and
your fellows can do is to come across
to Mike MaSuire's shanty yonder and
take drink. You bet l want one
pretty bad. What do you say?"
Under the peculiar circumstances
there appeared to be only one thing
to say, and that was Yes" In fact
Inspector Lipinzky thought it a re-
markably good get out. Besides, a
miracle might happen even yet, so he
said yes, and followed it up with
really handsome apology.
The result was that within a very few
minutes the dead horse was unhar-
messed and pulled out of the road, the
other leader hitched on to the end of
the pole, and the whole party trotted
across the border toward Mike Ma
guire's store and shanty. On the way
Salter roasted the Cape boy unmerci-
fully, and than not only consoled but
mystifed him by telling HIM he should
have his money after all.
In spite of the wrong that had been
done him Salter insisted on standing
the first round of drinks when the
party at length stood up against Ma
CURES bar. The drinks were duly
raised and lowered, and while Ii
pinzki was ordering the next round
be said very quietly:
by the way, boss, about those
stones. P'raps, as you've come all
this way, you might like to see them.
Here they are
While he was speaking he had pull.
ed the Cape boy toward him and
thrust his hand in his trouser pocket
He pulled cut the identical envelope
which he had asked for in the bar of
the Queens hotel. with the inspectors
signature still written across the flap.
He handed it over to the barkeeper
and said:
"When the chief of the department
in Kimberly does do it, he does it to
rights. Just open that, Mike, and
tell me if you ever saw a prettier lot y
Mr. Mcguire looked at the sigma
ture, glanced curiously atithe astound-
ed inspector, then opened the enve-
lope, upfolded the bulky packet that
was in it, and disclosed about fifty
rough diamonds, the sight of which
made even his accustomed eyes wa
ter. Orange and blue, green. rose and
pure white, they glittered almost tan
talizingly in the light of the paraffin Q
lamp which hung above the bar coun-
ter.
Mother av Moses, what a lot!
Shure, they're the pick of the miIes,
and worth a kings ransom any dayr'
said MIR. Mcguire in somewhat awe
stricken tone as he glngerly turned
the priceless stones over and over
with the end of his thick forefnger.
Here, take them back, mister, be
fore Pm tempted beyond the endu-
rance of common flesh and blood by
the sight av the darlins, God bless
| their pretty sparklesw
So saying, honest Mike, knowing
that his own reward was to come,
handed them back to Salter, who
pocketed them in a handful as he
turned to the almost paralyzed inspec
tor and his men, and said:
"No, boss, they're not schlenters
this time-a little steam and a little
skill, you know. Waal, here's to you
and now I'll just take your good -fors
for that thousand pounds, Mr. Lipinz
ki, and then we'll say good night. I'm
not coming back to Kimberly till I've
done my business down in Port Eli
zabeth. Chin chin!'
1t took all the inspectors self f-con-
troll to enable him to rise to the occa-
sion, but he did it. He took his lick
ing like a man and sportsman, anC
his subordinates and the Cape boy
just gr1nned and drank their liquors
for, after all, l. d. B. is but a gamble
sThe South African form Of l. O.U.