The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-04

the last side dish, but one day in Au-
gust, Annie--for such was her name
tarried around the table.
why don't you never go on none of
the bOat excursions, Mr.. Brower?" she
shyly asked
BECAUSE l work until II o'clock at
night
why, that's just the time the boat
gets back I'm going on one tonight
How would you like to come down when
the boat gets in and take me homer"
"Oh, pretty WELL" he grinned.
Five minutes past II saw Brewer at
the wharf and five minutes later they
boarded a car for tine little girls home.
There was only one vacant seat, and
that was in the front of the car on the
platform. She climbed in and Brewer
stood on the footstep with his left hand
holding on TO the end of the seat. 1t
was a long ride and it seemed as If no
one wonld get off. The little blonde
squeezed over until her duffy hair
touched the gripman's sleeve.
why don't you sit down, Mr.. Brow
'er?"
"Oh, there amt room for two" said
he.
Anybody but Brewer would have
made room.
say, put my picture in the paper
some time, will you?" she ratified on.
"Oh, [ can't draw girls" said he. Il
can't draw anything very good but
dogs and horses"
We'll. can't you draw it If I give
you my photo? There was a girl used
TO work where l did once, and she took
poison and reporter came to our house
and got photo out Of the album and
next day l seen her picture in the
paper"
Here man got off and Brewer sat
down next to Annie.
IT'S a pretty nice night" said he.
ooh, bother the night" said Annie
Say, won't you please. Mr.. Brower?"
But / told you couldn't draw girls"
We'll, how'll ever get it in if you
don't"
Take poison" said Brewer.
The gripman smiled. Annie squirmed
and Brewer sat impefturable. He had
| evidently meant what he said, and the
| rest of the ride was spent in silence.
! There was no hanging over the gate
for that couple.
Brewer left her at home and hurried
| back to the car line. No cars in sight
and not likely to be. thought he. as he
| looked at his watch, which indicated
| ten minutes past -. He wore a gold
watch with a leather shoestring for a
| chain, which was fastened to his vest
by big brass safety pin.
IT'S a pretty long walk" he unused.
but / guess III have to do it,"
He was in a part of the city he had
| never seen before, so he decided to fol-
low the car tracks until he could get
his bearings and take a short cut for
home.
Block after block I've rapidly covered,
until the houses grew more pretentious,
and he realized that he must be get
! ting into the swell part OF the city.
Suddenly there rang out on the air a
pistol shot. simultaneously n Shrek
| was heard, then a side door of a man.
sion was flung violently open and two
dark figures dashed down the steps
only to be confronted by third, whose
| brass buttons and silver shield glist-
| ened in the moonlight.
The sound of sCufIting feet on the
wide gravel walk fell on Brower's ears
as he crouched peeringly from behind
a tree. Then another pistol shot and
! the brave policeman sank to the ground
dead.
The two dark figures. with a curse on
their lips, bounded down the path al
most brushing the tree behind which
Brewer was concealed. AS they swept
past him he could see that they wore
masks, exposing only the lower part OF
their faces, yet not so swiftly did they
fly but Browers rapid eye caught the
distinctive points in their appearance
The noise of the two shots attracted
several people and a brother officer tC
the scene. Brewer called the officer
aside and told him what he had seer
and heard gave the officer his name
address and occupation, and, after re.
ceiving an injunction to Say nothing
to nobody until called upon" started
again for home.
Brewer was excited. The double mur.
der-for such it afterward proved to bC
was enough to excite the stronges
nerves.
There's no use going to bed in thi.
condition" thought he; II must ge
something to quiet me down"
He walked several squares beyond
his own unpretentlous street and made
his way to an all-night saloon. Tht
whiskey corresponded with the local
ity, and that was bad, which Browel
knew. but Whiskey was whiskey to 6
man in his condition.
Entering the saloon he called for hi!
drink and was in the act of tossing il
down when his attention was suddenly
arrested, for at the other end of the bal
were two dark figures engaged in sub
dued conversation, who shot suspicious
glances at the young man.
Slowly he drank his liquor, while h
cast steady, sidelong glance. He wa,
satisfied that they were tho two mel
who had brushed past him so shortl,
before.
Have you any paper?" asked Browe,
to the man behind the bar. 81 woult
like to write a note
The barkeeper fumbled around, NUT
tering that this weren't no stationer,
store" and finally produced a soilet
sheet.
Pulling out his pencil Brewer delib.
erately wrote his note. He then bought
another drink and entered into con.
versation with the baTkeeper, all the
time striving 10 evolve some feasible
plan to effect the capture of the mur,
derers, as he believed them to be.
Whatever his scheme might have
been it was effectually stopped by tn,
, parties abruptly taking their depart
, ure.
1T will not do to lose sight of them,
thought Brewer "I'll follow them un,
: til run in with an officer and put hin
, on their trail"
Rapidly, and as he fancled unob
served, he glided i'm their footsteps
through dimly lighted streets and darl
allows. never OnCe losing sight Of them