Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-03-14
CHAPTER XVI.

man one evening In the coming twi-,
i,rht: d towering, gaunt skeleton,
.rI,ose remarkably long arms and legs
looked little more than skin and bone.
The arms were fully exposed to view.
a,nce their owner, though he possessed
ana wore a waistcoat, dispensed with
! the use Of a shirt. An article, once
cont. lay. on the floor. to be donned
4 Wilt; it could be got into for
tia holes. The man sat on the floor
- : corner, his head finding resting
,laca against the wall, and he had
dropped into a light sleep, but II ever
famine was depleted In face. It was
n his Unwashed. unshaven. with
matted hair and feverish lips; the
cheeks we're hollow, the nostrils
| white and pinched, and the skin
around the mouth had blue tinge.
some one tried and shook the door; it
aroused him, and he started up, but
only to cover in bending attitude
and listen.
II hear you cried voice. How
are ycu tonight. Joe? Open the door"
The voice was not one he knew; not
one that might be responded to:
"Do you call this politeness, Joe
Nfchclls? II you don't open the door,
shall take the liberty OF opening 1t for
myself. which will put you to the
trouble of mending the fastenings
afterwards.
"Who are you?" cried Nichols. read
ing determination in the voice. I'm
gone to bed, and can't admit folks
tonight"
"Gone to bed at o'clock?''
eyes; I'm ILL.,"
II will give you one minute. and
then come in. You will open 1t II
you want to save trouble.
Nichols yielded to his fate and
opened the door.
The gentleman-he looked like one
east his keen eyes around the room.
/ There was not a vestige OF furniture
In it: nothing but the bare, dirty
walls. from which the mortar crum-
bled. and the bare, dirty boards.
What did you mean by saying you
were gone to bed, eh?''
80 / was: was asleep there"
pointing to the corner, land there's
my bed. What do you want?" added
&N1CAOllS, pCClll6 at IAO az oA5SA -
face In the gloom Of the evening, but
seeing 1t imperfectly, for his hat was
drawn low over 1t.
"A little talk with you. The last
,sweepstake you got into"
The man lifted his face and burst
forth with such eagerness that the
stranger could only arrest his own
words and listen.
1T was a swindle from beginning to
end. had scraped together the ten
,shilNngs to put in it. and drew the
right horse and was shufaed out OF
the gains and ! have never had my
dues, not farthing Of 'em. Since then
have been i'll, and can't get about
to better myself. Are you come, sir,
to make it right? %
''Some"--the stranger coughed-
friends Of mine were in it, Also said
he; "and they lost their money"
Everybody lost it; the getters-up
bolted with all they had drawn into
their fingers. Have they been took,
do you known
'tAll in good time; they have left
their trail. So you have been i'll, have
your
I'll! Just take sight Of me-!
There's an arm for big man.
He stretched out his naked arm for
inspection; it appeared as IL touch
would snap It. The stranger laid his
hand upon its fingers, and his other
hand appeared to be stealing furtively
1 toward his own pocket.
II should say this looks like starva-
ton, Joe"
"Some'at nigh akin to 1t"
pause OF unsuspicion and the
handouts were clapped on the aston
ished man. He started up with an
oath.
No need to make noise, Nichols. :"
said the detective with a careless air.
I have got two men waiting outside. "
II swear l wasn't in the plate rob
berry" passionatelv uttered the man.
II knew OF it, but l didn't join 'em,
and never had the worth OF a salt
spoon after it was melted down. And
they call me a~coward, and they leave
me here to starve and die! ! swear
wasn't in It,
well, we'll talk about the plate
J, robbery another time said the officer,
as he raised his hat; you have got
those bracelets on, my man, for an
other sort OF bracelet. A diamond one.
Don't you remember me?"
The prisoners mouth fell.
II thought that was over and done
with all this time-I don't know what
You mean" he added. correcting him
self.
NO" said the officer, cts just be-
ginning. The bracelet is found and
has been traced to you. You were q
clever fellow, and had my doubts OF
You at the time; thought you were
too -lever to go on long.
II should be ashamed to play the
sneak and catch fellow in this way.
N .Whv nn,,ldr,f xrnl, come nnenly in