Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-11-15
A Woman's
UnreaSon
By MARTHA
M'CULLOCH.WILLIAMS
Copyright. 1901, bv A. S. Richardson

had Il cho, ee assortment Of names. He
was Mr.. Ralph Montgomery or George
Warren Paget, Esq. or ever so many
other equally well sounding persons
when occasion offered. In his native
village he had been known as Jack Bel
loo until he left the country. decidedly
for the cOuntry's good.
1t was his forehead, round and bulg-
Ing, that had gained him his nickname
with the gang.
All told, the gang numbered perhaps
fifty-men and women and few pitt
full waits that could not be called chill
dren, though they were small and
young The most part engaged in light
work shOplifting. palming tickers,
snatching purses from timid hands or
jostling, to their loss. the wearers OF
hamboyant fobs and scarfpins.
Since the Bun had become leader
he felt himself estopped from the small
things, though often his fingers itched
as he let slip an especially tempting op-
portunity The itching was perhaps the
first root Of his grievance against Lie.
Until her day he had been quite con-
tent to work under orders, although he
was rapacious enough to be full of sour
envy over missing chance ut the big
things Lie had made leadership a
condition precedent to herself. She was
not much to look mt. but what with wit
and grit and the lightest fingers In all
the gang she easily came to be a sort
of queen in 1t.
For three years she had been the
Buns girl. or course he was master
full with her-Oftcn to the point Of bru-
tality But he gave her no rivals until
Long Lou came into the gang and
openly set snares for him. She was
young. still in her teens, handsome
and strapping. with n level head and
free. peppery tongue. The Bun did not
70 wholly over to her but he did spend
at least half his abundant leisure and
very much more than half his rather
scanty cash in her company and for
her pleasure.
To speak truth he was living mainly
upon hope. A big thing-tne biggest in
gang history--was in hand. but as yet
all outlay and no return. A hundred
-Srds tunnel is not dug in day. even
when there nre a bank vault and a
half million ut the farther end Of 1t.
The Bun was waiting upon the tun-
nelers After they were through he
would 20 at the chilled steel. A very
prince of crackSmen. he knew he
would have it open In three hours.
Then he would take all the swag-
money bonds. plate. whatever was
worth moving-hOme to his fiat. three
miles away. and lie quiet there, while
others of the gang scuttled Off to take
the hue and cry upon n false scent.
Meantime there was spare and lenten
living at the fiat Because II must be
kept from the shadow of suspicion
Lie did nothing in the way Of bust
ness. but stayed at home. busyins her
self to make the place tidy and home
like. She never went out save upon
housewifcly crrands. Nobody came to
see her The Bun went away regularly
every morning toward 10 o'clock. Since
he wore excellent clothes. paid his rent
in advance and had a way of scOwling
ut all he met. the other tenants set IL
down that he was either English and
living upon his income or else that he
belonged in Wall street. He was care
full always to be home for dinner.
though he went out again almost I'M
mediately afterward. Inevitably Lie
had much time for broOding. She had
also plenty of food for it.
The Bun came In always smelling OF
tuberose. which Long Lou had adopted
as her special perfume. Further. he
made but II pretense Of eating the poor
meals Lie set before him. Therefore
she was certain he meant to dine later.
She would not have grudged him the
daintiest fare while she ate bread and
water. II she had thought he ate 1t
alone or only In masculine company.
But where It touches man, women
are kittle cattle, particularly women Of
Lies order. Carefully. methOdically.
she laid her plans
Long Lou was a wantOn spendthrift,
always eager to fling away money with
both hands Though she did not know
the game that was on nor the Buns
part in it. she had very shrewd suspi-
cion Of 1t all.
Lie indeed was the only woman
trusted In that way. Torture would
not have made her betray the trust. nor
was there enough money in the world
to have bribed her. In the face OF all
that she sat through many nights. with
her hands clinched. staring at the light
and occa asiOnally smiling hard. des-
perate smile and waiting for that other
night when the Bun would bring home
Il fortune.
1t came at last. rainy and cold. with
a raw east wind, and smothcrs of fog
coming up from the river. Lie. listen
ing with every nerve tense, heard foot
falls, deliberate. yet exultant. Before
the door opened she knew what she
would see-the Bun overrunning with
Joyous conceit. He had the swag neat
ly slowed In an immaculate and very
English suitcase. AS he swung 1t upon
the bed he called huskily to her: give
us a beer. old gal! I'm dry as char
coal, but haven't dared wet my throat
since came out OF that beastly hole"
"There is no beer" Lie said. not stir
ring from her seat.
The Bun almost gasped. when l
told you to have ito have everything
comfortableT" he snarled. Are you
out o. your mind?"