The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-19
n cracksman's Ruse.


thieves Latin. speaking with the utmos
Yes"
=. rerd about II In the papers" he calm-
YOU weren't IA Il. were you?r
NO.
This answer meant nothing. Whether In
II or not OF course. never dreamt OF MIN
saving Yes"
We eyed each other Tor moment or
two steadily. like two skilled fenccrs.
each wonfp ring what ruse or fcint the
other would next attempt.
Those papers are wanted badly" at
iensth suggestiveiy remarked. y dare
say money might h. given for them. II
we could set the craftsman along with
thcm who did the lob2"
- never hctray pal" said Tom with
virtuous severity, after thoughtful
pause. $50 even II I could spot the cove.
10 be the last 20 do it But the papcrs
| might be got" he hasiqne 70 add. with
some eagcrness; but then I had 10 check
him.
They are OF no use without the thief"
} coolly remarked; "at least cannot
treat Tor them, and what's more. the law
yer Mr. Graham VIII nor treat for them
either. We've taken care 10 bind him to
that"
slight shade Of disappointment. il
| struck me, crossed the facc OF the wary
criminal as J spoke, but ne affected the
utmost Indifference. cooily beginning To
cut some tobacco Tor his pipe. ard say
ing
In that case, J should say they'll go In
10 the IRE very quick. AT least IL IL was
me- ! should DO that; but one can never
tell what some coves will try.'
NO. one can never tell" echoed, with
an unmoved countenance; "but II you
should hear of them. you know the way
the wind blows-money for them, and the
man who did the job"
! did not know IL then. but | had given
"Fitty-two" Tom subject-matter for deep
thought One more effort / made TO get
at him.
What a hungling stupid he must have
been that did it," | observed ito go End
pass over 500 i'm bank notes"
"Very stupid, he said. with fierce en-
ergy and a much stronger word for the
adjective
We parted there and Tom went up the
High stret. pondering and planning and
scheming over what | had said II never
betray pal meant about as much with
him as the mo" had meant when | ask
ed II he had been in the robbery. It's real
Interpretation was. "As long as I'm all
right with my chums and likely TO mako
something out of them, they're safe:
when I'm not, let them look out"
Now Tom had grievance. and he had
at that very moment a friend. to betray
whom would have given him the sincerest
and most unqualified satisfaction. The
only difficulty in the way was that Toms
friend did not happen TO be the burglar,
while he himself did happen TO be that
very individual Volumes might be writ
ten on the ruptures and quarrels-e between
thieves and fences; each Is necessary TO
the existence of the other; but when it
=, comes to a question of risk. the thief
! bears nearly all. and so places himself
| sadly at the mercy OF his more cautious
! ally.
The name OF Toms friend and fence
was MGuire. otherwise Swapping
| Andy" Andy had earned this name from
| playful habit he had. when in q. cult
, les with the police, of dropping on the
ground and swapping at their calves with
his teeth. He was well known I'm consc-
quence. A knock or a bruise soon heals
and is forgotten; but an inch or two out
or ones leg is a more lasting souvenir.
The cause of the rupture was simple on
the night Of the robbery, and long before
IL was known TO the police, 'tIfty-two
Tom" had called on Swapping Andy" at
his home and place of business I'm Leith
Wynd, and offered him gold watch.
wanting the glass. for sale. 1t wus val
liable watch-worth at least eco second
hand-and they both knew 1t, and could
| paid fer Ii. After much argument on both
sides Andy paid down SO declaring that
| he had no more ready cash about him.
but that he would pay the difference next
! day. ON the following day 'Fifty-two'
/ called for the money, but by this time
| the news OF the robbery had got abroad.
/ and "Snsp piping Andy" having his client
| absolutely in his power, insisted on Tom
| showing him the stolen papers, that he
might estimate their value and perhaps
! buy them. This proposal did not meet with
| Toms approval, and they thereupon quar-
| relied hotly; and as matter of course
"Fifty-two" got no more money. but, on
the contrary. was plainly told to be of.
| or he would find himself In my hands
| All this was very CALLING, and the moro
| so as Tom found himself helpless to re-
| taliate. He brooded over his wrongs and
| turned things up in every possible way:
| but though ne had no lack of cunning,
| there is limit to the Inventive powers
| even of such a rascal. and he could hit on
| no feasible scheme until my suggestive
! remarks gave him the clue to his course
| Of action.
Dropping in at Swapping Andy'sr shop,
| he once more asked II that gentleman
! meant TO stump up" adding. by way OF
| casual news
81 saw M'Govan Just now, and he SAYS
! there's to be a big sum given for them
| pa spers."
Il knew there would be-" returned An
dy. with interest and some excitement.
| "lf you had let me manage that business
| IL would have been done by this time, and
| the money paid. Every man to his own
| line. YOU know"
I'D be sure TO trust you after the
| watch business" said Tom, with q scowl.
~ will pay you the rest of the price
! agreed on honor bright, as soon as l get
| the money" said Andy, with great grav-
! fly. what more would you havsf''
'Nothlng-if you do that, It's all ask
said Tom sceptically: but you don't
touch the papers for all that. have them
put away in a safe hide. and I'm keeping
an eve on the spot. just 10 make sure no
body taps my mine. They'll stand lying
| by for bit--the price is not likely to get
less by holding on 90 them for a WHILE"
Many protestations OF honor and integ-
rity were shOwered or him by the eager
Swapping Andy" and offers the most
tempting added If Tom would but indicate
the hidinE-place OF the papers, md leave
Andy 10 conduct tho delicate negotiation
with the owner; but TO all "Fifty-two"
turned n deaf car.
UT ,bipk I Lnow NlorC yolfr hide is I"