The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-08-23
there wasyt nothin but graham crack-


ers and vinegar in the box?''
.sI should say so" exclaimed Gra-
ham, with look of disgust.
etSome people are too mean to live, .
returned Baxter sayagely. Come, shove
! over that decanter, and let's pitch in.
Fingers, gents. cause there amt nothin
but silver knives and forks in this
house, unless take 'em out of the bag,
| which amt doin. Here's luck. !"
Excellent claret, Wilson,, " said the
young barglar, holding his glass up to
the light
stGenuine Medoc, returned Graham,
with the air Of connoisseur. "That's
the worst Of this business. Not one gen
tleman out Of ten is judge of Wine.
Now, the whisky
ssThe whisky;s alright, interrupted
Baxter curtly. Cali whisky's good;
some's better'n others, but it's all good.
Blow claretp'
.sNo style about Jim, y said Harry,
With a smile that was half sneer.
ssNo, you bet there amt" said Bax-
ter stolidly. "You oughter call me Old
Business, cause that's what l sm. Pass
them pickles. .
twas most interesting sight. At
the head of the table sat Graham,
smooth faced, we'll fed man Of 40, who
might have passed for a prosperous
banker or q man living on an annuity;
to his right reclined rather than sat
young Montgomery, a spruce and slen-
der fellow, with soft blue eyes, trem-
ulous lips and light hair, neatly
brushed, while opposite Graham sat
Baxter, a coarse, shaggy, grimy man
Of uncertain age, with small, shifty
eyes, heavy beard and general air OF
brutal strength. Had it not been for the
fact each man wore his hat and that the
bag of stolen goods lay on one corner OF
the table it might have been taken for
small stag party, Graham personating
the host to perfection.
The resemblance was lost, however, a
moment later. The door leading to the
back stairway, directly behind Jim Bax-
ter, opened and revealed a spare man
with long blond whiskers, wearing
gold eyeglasses and fowered dressing
gown.
Graham was the first to see the in
truder, and his exclamation Of astonash-
ment caused Baxter to turn his head.
In an instant that worthy was on his
feet, with pistol in his hand. Graham
was quicker, however, and before his
companion could raise the weapon he
seized his arm and pushed him aside.
mo violence, Jim," he said sternly.
..I warn't goin to shoot, . growled
Jim. II was only goin to give him a
crack on the head. y
1.I won't have it, returned Graham
'authoritatively "Sit down.
Baxter put up his pistol and sat down.
Graham then turned to the spare gen.
tleman, who had not moved from the
doorway during this episode.
ssMr. Braithwait, I presume?''
"That is my name,;' was the reply.
Burglars, I presume?'
t'The presumption is correct. Will
You take seat?''
Mr.. Braithwait sat down opposite
young Montgomery, to whom he bowed
gravely. There was then moment OF
silence, broken by Graham, who had
resumed his place at the head Of the
table.
81 am sorry,'' said he, 'syou have
made your appearance, as we can't very
well apologize for cur intrusion. .
ssNo, suppose not, !" said MIR. Braith-
wait, smiling. "Yet am rather pleased
that did come, since I always enjoy
an unusual experience. y
s9Glad. you enjoy it, - muttered Bax-
ter. Eut no one listened to him.
ssI was aroused by the reflection OF
the gas1ight in the upper hall, - explain
ed Mr.. Braithwait, s'and supposed
that the hcusekeeper had left it burn
ing. She has done so more than once. ]
came down to cxtinguish it. I heard
voices in this room, and I entered. y
eat the risk of your life, - observed
Graham, with a significant glance at
Baxter, who had resumed eating.
ct did not think Of that, said Mr..
Braithwait simply. "My life has-been
threatened so often-you know I am a
railroad man-that give little thought
to risk of an undertaking. Profession
ais, ! suppose?"
He looked at Montgomery. who nod.
ded ncnchalantly and lighted a ciga-
rette.
Mr.. Braithwais coughed.
81 wish you wouldn't he said dep.
recatingly. apart from the looks, ]
can't bear cigarette smoke. There's a
box of very fine Conchas on the side
hoard. Thank you," to Graham, III
you Will join me. Thank you again. %
Graham laughed with genuine enjoy
ment, yet without valgarity.
81 like you, '"he said frankly, land
I am sorry that, in spite of the line Of
business He waved his cigar at the
bag.
"Of course, yes, of course, I know
shat can't be helped" said Mr.. Braitk-
wait, smoking away easily, "and that's