Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-11-07
A Woman's
UnreAson
By MARTHA ...al ,.rlst H
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 500.


was Mr.. Ralph Montgomery or George
Warren Paget, ESQ.,. or ever 30 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,
Ii was his forehead, round and bulg-
ing, that had gained him his nickname
with the gang.
All told, the gang numbered perhaps
iifty--men and women and few pitt
full wallis 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
flamDoyant fobs and scarfpins.
Since the Bun had become leader
he felt himself estopped from the small
things, though often his fingers ltched
as he let slip an especially tempting OPP.
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 he full of sour
envy over missing d chance at the big
things Lie had made leadership a
condition precedent to herself. She was
not much to look at, but what with wit
and grit and the lightest fingers In all
the gang she easily came to be a sort
of queen in Il.
For three years she had been the
Buns girl, OF course he was master
full with her often 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 level head and Il
free, pcppery tongue The Bun did not
go wholly over to her. but he did spend
ut least huff his abundant leisure and
very much more than half his rather
scanty cash In her company aud for
her pleasure
10 speak truth, he was living mainly
upon hope. A big thing the biggest In
gang history was In hand, but as yet
all outlay and no return. A hundred
yards tunnel IL not dug In Il day, even
when there are bank vault and a
half million Mt the farther end OF IL.
The Bun was waiting upon the tun-
nelers. After they were through he
would go at the chilled steel. A very
prince Of cracksmen, he knew he
would have II open In three hours.
Then he would take all the swag-
money bonds. plate, whatever was
worth moving home to his hat, three
miles away. and lie quiet there, while
others Of the gang scuttled off to take
the hue and cry upon false scent,
Meantime there was spare and lenten
living at the Hat. Because II must be
kept from the shadow Of suspicion
Lie did nothing I'm the way Of bust
ness. but stayed at home, busying her
self to make the place tidy and home
like. She never went out save upon
housewl4ely errands. 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 way OF scOwling
ut all he met. the other tenants set 1t
down TINT he was either English and
living upon his income or else that lac
belonged In Wall street. He was care
full always to be home for dinner,
though he went out again almost I'm
medinlcly afterward. Inevitably Lie
had mucb time for brOOding. She had
also plenty Of food for 1t.
The Bun came In always smelling OF
tubcrose. which Long Lou had adopted
as her special perfume. Further, he
made but II pretense OF eating the poor
meals Lie vet before him. Therefore
she was certain he meant to dine later.
She would not have grudged him the
daiuiiost fare while she ate bread ana
water. II she had thought he ate II
alone or only la masculine company.
But where II touches II man. women
are kit,lc cattle. particularly women Of
Lies order. Carefully. methodically,
she laid her plans.
Long Lou was n wantOn spendthrift,
always rager to ding 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-
zion " II all.
Lie indeed was the only woman
trusted In that way. Torture would
not have made her bctray the trust. nor
was there enough money In the world
TO have bribcd her. IN the face Of all
that she sat through many nights. with
her hands clincbed. staring at the light
aud occasionally smiling hard Dies
pcratc smile and waiting for that other
night when the Bun would bring home
fortune.
II came at last. rainy and cold, with
raw east wind, and smOthers 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 sce-the Bun oyerrunnlng with
Joyous concelt. He had the swag neat
Iy slowed IN nm immaculate and very
English suitcase. As he swung II upon
the bed he chilled husklly TO her: "Glye
us n beer old gal! Pm dry ~ char
cOal. but haven't dared wet my thrOnt
since came out Of that beastly hole"
"Thrre II no beer" Lie said, not stir.
ring from her seat
The Bun almost gnsped. when
told you to have II to have everything
coinforlnbleT he snarled. Are you
out . your mindT
"NO Seems 10 me you've been out o
yours this long time" Lie hung back
ut him He caught her by both shout
ders aud shook her ~ a terrier shake'
n rat
You get me something to cat 4
drink be growled. mo more fooling
I amt ia the mind 10 stand II. ! hav
got to stay here until the usual time
By the Lord, won't stay hungry
How'll you help itT Lie asked
There Is not No much as crumb'
cheese pairing, In the house,
80! You've tricked me! You thin
that's the way to keep me from anothe
womnn- and better one" the Bu
said IN a Kissing whisper He was mui
/ darntfaIv angry