The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-30

Snow.
What is it?''
I'VE must find the burglar. Once
found. 1t will not be necessary to force
us or anybody else to tell what would
get US into no end of trouble"
Its a brilliant idea," commented
Bristow, sareastically. How shall we
catch that evasive gentleman"
Hanged If l know! If we can't
find him-heres an amendment to the
plan-we must get a substitute for
him. Money will enable us to do So"
There's more sense in that" said
Bristow.
80 / think. There must be at least
one man in town-perhaps two-who
for couple of hundred dollars would
be willing to acknowledge himself a
thief and serve few months in prison
IL convicted"
Burglary. especially in the night
time, is a pretty serious offense.' re-
minded White. still. the fellow never
actually broke in anywhere"
I'VE can hire a good, smart lawyer
to defend him and perhaps get him
off," suggested Snow. "All we want Is
to prevent inquiry as to our where
abouts last Tuesday night"
"A lawyer" grumbled White: more
money!"
ELISE more trouble" observed Bris-
tow.
Here comes a tramp" cried Snow.
suddenly; "the very chap we want
warm cell ought TO be a welcome
change from the cold barns and colder
bay-stacks that he has probably had
to put up with these cold nights. Let's
sound him"
The trio were standing in the public
square. The stranger drew near.
ragged, hungry-looking fellow.
Hello, my mani" hailed Snow:
don't go that way-it leads to the
lookup. Come here. How would you
like to earn a couple of hundred dol
lars without working?"
The tramp opened his eyes in amaze
ment Snow was forced to repeat his
question.
"Wot doin'?" asked the stranger.
There's been a burglar doing no end
of mischief in this town of late, and
one Of our friends is wrongfully sus-
pected. Now, we want you to act as
substitute sort of voluntary scape-
goat-to save the good name of our
friend. II you will consent to go to the
police station, give yourself up and ad-
init you are the thief, we will make
you a present of two hundred dollars.
Good pay: what do you say?'
The gentleman of the road smiled.
pondered a minute or two. and then
replied:
Make 1t tree hundred. gents; den
I'm yer man. l might halter go to
prison fer year or two, yer see."
mo such thing. We don't want to
see you punished too severely. Well
hire lawyer to defend you. He'll
keep you from getting a sever SEN
tence; that's what we'll pay him for.
You may get off scott-free."
"I.awVqr be hlOWedi Saw free hum
dred or shut up.
White, the penurious, nodded assent.
"All right" said Snow; three hun
dred 1t is. Remember. you are the
burglar who has been operating in
town for the past two months. You
needn't admit that, of course You
are simply the fellow that walked
into old Brownies hen-shed last Tues
day night-remember the datel-and
took couple of his hens.
Il won't forget 1t. Now wot about
de bribe?"
Wen pay you the money just as
soon as you confess and are locked
up"
AN have de Jail blokes take de
Doodle away from me? Nit"
We'll, what? Will a check, post
dated do?" ~
Nav. / want cash in advance. I'll
send de money by mail to a Teller I
kin trust. Den I'll go an give my
self up, an take my medicine. You
gents can keep yer eyes on me all de
time. an IL l try to fool yer. yer can
tell de police l confessed to bein' the
thief dey want. Yer word will be
taken all right"
So II came to pass that Lulu Var
den, after receiving and disposing of
the $500 contributed by Snow & Co..
went to the police station and con-
fessed that he was the much-wanted
thief. He had entered Mr.. Browns
hen-house on the previous Tuesday
night and stolen some of that gem
tleman's hens.
Varden's case was sent to higher
court; in due time he was put on trial,
convicted, and sentenced to the peni-
Tertiary for eight months. More than
one person in Benton breathed more
freely.
One day. early in the following sum-
mer, Deacon Snow, who had quite for
gotten all about the burglars substi-
tute, received a letter which caused
him first to swear, then to laugh. He
gave the missive to his brother-in-law.
White read:
'sMr. Thomas Snow and Friends
Gents, desire to thank you again for
the $500 you kindly gave me eight
months ago for acting as substitute
lot the oehlOH DuIStdT. IL inuSt sur
prise you TO hear that / was really
the burglar you gents wanted to catch.
When / met you l was on my way to
the police station to give myself up.
as I had got tired of my line of bus
mess and wanted to be sent away for
the winter. The 300 plunks viii work
In handy for my summer vacation.
Yours, with thanks, Luke Warden"
80 the hundred dollars l won at
poker in Feffer's road-house that
Tuesday night went to that scoundrei
OF a tramp" calculated White.
MY net loss" murmured Snow.
reminiscently, was one hundred and
fifty--one hundred to the substitute
and fifty lost at poker. What will
Bristow say? His net loss was one
hundred and twenty-five
Such being the case. 1t is not very
difficdlt 10 guess what BNstow said.
Mr.. Gotrox," began the nervous