Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-02-13
CHAPTER XIX.
Birds of Prey.

zist in out-of-way places-at the cor
1er Of a news, in private street.
where they do not seem to belong;
nd they are generally kept by ex-
buffers, who have taken wives, joined
heir savings, and gone into business
18th the brewers help.
In the parlor Of the "Four-in-Hand,"
Lower Maybush Street, party of gen
lemen's servants were playing baga-
ellie upon a bad board in a very
;1noky atmosphere, while knot of
,hree men sat at one of the old, mar
CIV, battered mahogany tables in j
sorner, drinking cold gin-and-water,
md smoking bad cigars.
One was a little sharp-eyed, round
headed man, smartly dressed, and
evidently rather proud of large gilt
pin in his figured silk tie Another
was tall and not Unlocking; he might
have been a valet, for there was a
certain imitation gentility about his
:ut-a valet whose master had been
ather addicted to the turf; and this
had been reflected on his man to the
extent of trousers rather too tight
short hair, and horseshoe pin with
pearl nails. The third was rather a
shabby-looking man of forty I'M
doubtedly a gentleman's servant out
Of place, carrying the sign in the
front of the reason why, in the shape
of a nose unduly ripened by being
bathed in glasses of alcoholic drink.
"Knew him how long, did you say?''
said the tall man, tapping his chin
with an ivory handled rattan cane.
'Ten years, poor chap" said the ex-
servant 1T was very horrid.''
Here, never mind that, said the
brisk little man. 1--WE don't want
horrors. Touch the bell, Dick. Come.
old fellow, sip up your lotion, and
we'll have them filled again. That
cigar don't draw. Try one of these.
Here! three tours Of gin cold, he cried
to the landlord; and as soon as the
glasses were reflled, and cigars
lighted, the conversation went on, to
the accompaniment of rafting balls
and laughter from the bagatelle-
players.
well" said the tall man, in low
voice, ''you can do as you like, my
lad, but l should have thought that
hard up as you are, and I should say
without much chance Of getting an
other crib-say at present-you'd have
been glad to earn honest quid or
two"
The shabby-looking man shook his
head.
Here, you're always putting on the
pace too much, Dick" said the little
man. "a fellow wants little time.
He's on, you see if he isn't. My re-
spects to you, Mr.. Barnes. Ha! nice
favored drop of gin that"
'sYou see, you know that house
WE'LL" continued the tall man. "Often
been there of course?"
ooh, yes; had many a glass OF wine
there, when poor Charles was alive"
Rather bit of mystery, that" said
the little man. Il put that and that
together, and I set it down that he
was trying the job on his own account
and muffied il"
The shabby man shuddered, and
took a hearty draught of his gin-and
water.
'There would be only us three in the
game" said the tall man, softly, "and
would be share and share alike.
Why, if we worked it right, it would
set you up Might take a pub on it"
"Eh?" said the shabby man.
81 say you might take pub-and
drink yourself to death" was added,
aside.
The little man winked at his tall
companion, unobserved by the other,
who looked dreamy.
"Bars at all the lower windows, eh?"
eyes, yes. You couldn't get in there"
was the quick reply.
"More ways Of killing cat than by
hanging it. Look here, my lads, there's
stable to Lee in the news at the
back"
The shabby man looked up quickly.
81 had look at it today. Any one
could easily get to that window look
ing on the leads"
"But that's the window where"
"Well, dead men tell no tales, and
they don't get in the way. That's the
place"
ooh, no." said the shabby man.
"Bah! you're afraid. I tell you it
would be as easy as easy. You can
give me a plan of the place, and all
about it, and-why, it's child's play,
my lad, and won't hurt anybody. Take
everything out to that stable, and have
cart in the coach-house. I say
touch that bell again, old man-you
are not going to let fortune slip
through your fingers, know"
The three occupants Of the corner
soon after rose to go, hating half
way down the street, where the tall
man said:
ssThere's half a SOY. to keep the cold
out till then. Twelve o'clock, mind,
punctual."
The shabby man slouched away,
while the little fellow rubbed his
hands.