Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-02-01

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saiu I'd try. l wouldn't prOmise-nC
I'd only say I'd try.
tried. His offense was nothing
merely what is commonly called
Railway Plant" 1t succeeded
though, and my gentleman was want
ed"
| made grand hit when | nabbet
his companion. lie told me his haunts
and his habits, but he wouldn't aid me
In catching him. | determined to do II
myself. ! was green hand then. Nc
matter; | had the will. | found the
way. He was to be at tea party Oh
that Thursday night. | was invited
Shall take two policemen in disguise
and arrest him. No; all his friends
would rescue him. | will go alone. |
went. | left my little house-a four
roomed dwelling-at g. | locked the
front door, and off | went to Mrs.
Jones tea party.
1t was in the month of December.
h"h SlNdl Iull at llldl ltd DdElA.
There was a gentleman there that |
believed to be my man, despite the fact
that, when | was introduced, was in
formed he had just come from the con-
tinent. We fell into conversation. He
began to pump me. Tnls was what
wanted. | was determined to play the
simple, and tell him all he asked.
He stared hard at me. Perhaps he
knew me-perhaps he did not. He was
peculiar man, with short black hair,
n clean-shaved face parish priests and
pickpockets are alike clean-shaved-
strange coincidenceD, dressed in a suit
OF very light gray. He appeared smart.
l might safely have shouted, "All hands
to pump ship" for he pumped in a
most bare-faced manner.
He asked me where | lived. | told
him. l saw no use in deceiving him:
besides. ! had little plan in yiew-I
might invite him to my house, and pin
him.
Had | any company? None. ANY
one else in the house? No. was n
bachelor; preferred to live alone. And
then, in the most quiet and insinuating
way, he asked me did / shoot? | did:
he had been shooting lately-last week
he was shooting in Suffolk. He went
down there for day or two. All, and
| remarked, in very innocent way.
looking UP benignly at him, that
thought-that was, understood
had just come from the continent.
lie started. / pretended to be sur
prised, and he assured me, in fact, he
had been to the continent since! But
about the shooting? No, didn't shoot:
l was timid about firearms; the sight
only, | assured him, of n loaded gun
made me tremble pass me here, read
er; there is loaded gun always hang
ing over my chimneypiece in the par
lori. Had | no firearms? He had n
beautiful gun. No, | had none. Then
he returned to the house in question.
Did sleep on the ground floor? No.
Where then! At the top of the house
1t was two stories high. Oh! back or
front? Back. He was very inquisitive.
l thought; but | seemed to enjoy tell
ing him all | could. He thought he
was doping poor devil, Then he asked
me, as If casually, did | approve of
keeping money at home, or did | send
1T to the bankf l started. | began TO
think this was too good. No matter.
! would go through with it. l had told
him lies enough, why not tell another
ay, why not? l kept my money at
home. Banks were unsafe; but | as
sured him felt uneasy "just then" be.
cauce happened to have more than
usual, and 1t wasn't mine. Five hun
dred pounds ready money, l think |
told him. No; it was $500 ''in notes.
ha! ha! ha! Five pence in coppers
world have been nearer the mark. But
no matter; poverty is no sin.
Yes, kept 1t in the house; and he
thought 1t strange | had no arms.
Here | stopped him, and begged his
pardon; had. What were they. might
he ask? He might. My arm was n
boiler stick, with two ounces of lead
let Into the top of 1t. Oh! he seemed
greatly relieved.
l told him the doors and windows had
bolts on them, and were all barred-all
but one. He pricked up his ears, and
n faintly murmured "Whlch?" led me
on, and gave me hope. l thought It
best to encourage hlm-all but one.
The front window on the ground floor,
said, had no bar on the shutter. They
had all bells, l told him. 1t had bell.
1t was very safe. Thieves never think
OF getting into a house by the front,
you know. And there was no area or
garden. The door opened on the pave.
ment. Yes, 1t was very safe-wasn't