Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-12-21

knew about IL. looked az Mrs. Law
son. and there were tears In Der eyes
THAT old woman" began the man
said a moment ago that she had y
her pocket the tags taken from thers
clothes. Show me the tags, and FN
talk fast enough. for the iaw can't
touch me for what did"
I handed the tags 10 the officer. and
he let the proprietor look at them. be
ing careful 10 keep one hand on them
all the time.
YES" he said. denant-llke. II did
sell this suit 10 a young man a matter
OF three or -four weeks ago. But before
that and on the same night sold them
20 another man, who never lived 70 put
them on"
Mercy" said I. "wby didn't he live
TO put them ONT"
"All Ia good time. old woman" was
the lmpudent reply. "Youll soon know
all about Il II you'li give me a chance.
+ This first customer bought this suit
and paid Tor It. Then he went 70 the
back end Of the store 10 put u on. 1
saw him shift some articles. such a.
a knife. a bunch 81 keys and a little
change. from the pockets 81 The pants
be had on 20 the pockets of the new
ones. but be seemed 90 change bis
mind. for be- took them out again ana
asked 20 have the new suit done up.
saying that he'd wear the old clothes
home. but noticed that be put little
slip Of printed paper into the watch
pocket OF the new pants and didn't
take IL out again when hesshlfted the
other things. I remember thinking
about Il az the time and intending 10
call his attention 10 Il. but another
customer came in just then. and for
got ali about Il. From that day up 10
week or so ago ] never once thought
OF the matter, though I've been sorry
enough FOR my forgetting that little
slip Of paper"
THAT must have been the lottery
ticketr' gasped Mrs. Lawson. And
VIII has been telling the gospel truth
all the time we've been doubling his
word. poor boyr'
"Yes." said the man. Il guess II was
the lottery ticket I've been reading
about In the papers-NO. aS.JG7-that
drew $1,000. I was a fool not 20 have
my mind about me and take Il out Of
the watch pocket when got the clothes
back on the shelf again. They wouldn't
have traced Il 10 me. I can tell you. and
ia have been $1,000 better on now"
Il wish you hadr' said Mrs. Lawson.
with sob. Il wish 90 goodness you
. hadr'
The rascal glared and went on with
! his story.
About two minutes after the man
went away with the clothes there was
a hue and cry IN the street. and went
out 20 see what was up. leaving clerk
20 wait on customers. When got out
side I heard people saying that a man
had iust been murdered az the mouth
OF an alley not far up the street, and
went there, curious 10 see who II was
I As soon as | came up 10 the place
where the crowd was I saw that Il was
my customer that had been murdered.
lie lay upon the stones Of the ailey.
with a knife wound in his breast and
the blood all about him on the frosty
ground. This suit OF clothes that had
just sold him lay there by his side Just
as I had tied IL up for him. Then the
thought came 10 me that might take
the mans clothes and no one would
lose by H. for yeu can't rob a dead
man. he having no use for clothes. So
| I picked them up and hid them under
| my coat. and no one saw me. 10 great
was the excitement I got back 10 the
store as quick as my feet could carry
me and put the clothes on the shelf
again. never once thinking OF the little
printed slip IN the watch pocket Of the
pants. worse luckI"
The officer laughed AZ the shameless
scoundreIs changed tone and manner.
but didn't feel much like laughing.
can tell you. with poor Will lying there
In prison. his neck almost into the
hangman's moose.
Then In half an hour or So" con
tinued the man. this young fellow
that's been arrested FOR murder came
In. and I sold him the clothes | sup
pose the lottery ticket was still In ths
watch pocket. and he must have found
Il after he got home and presented u
for payment"
I'm the one that found the ticket
broke In Mrs. Lawson. the tears OF 10,
running down her face. "and I've al
ways thought he He'd 10 me about how
Il came there. I'm glad he hasn't 80
the sin OF lying 10 answer for even 4
we can't prove that he didn't Kill IN
man."
I'VE can prove that fast cnougl
now" said the officer. Then be tuFne'
b 20 the storekeeper again. why didn'
re you come forward and tell the trutl
when you saw the danger this limo
ia cent boy was lnT' he asked. But 70
he this remarkable woman"-he reall,
le. said remarkable and nodded III
ID. head al me. though | think Mrs. Law
he son deserves most Of the credit 70
10 what was done on account OF be
thinking about the tags-'but for TIL
he remarkable woman be might hav
on been hanged"
M The clothing dealers eyes sparkle
20 with cunning.
va ellis heirs might have claimed N