The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-10-11
A Woman's
Unreason
By MARTHA
McuLLocH-WnLIANsS
oopprt0AL iool, BY A. S. RteAdrton

OV~.%SSSaS,SSSsSNSs ~S'~'SSNS'N'SNNNES
Outside of strict business the Bun
had a choice assortment OF names. he
was Mr.. Ralph Montgomery or George
Warren Paget, Esq. or ever 50 many
other equally well sounding persons
when occasion offered. In his native
village be had been known as Jack Bel
loo until he left the country, decidedly
for the country's good.
1t was his forehead, round and bulS-
ing, that had gained him his nickname
with the gang.
All told, the gang numbered perhaps
fifty-men and women and few pid-
full waits that could not be called chill
dren, though they were small and
young. The most part engaged in light
work = shoplifting. paIming tickers.
snatching purses from tiInid hands or
1ostllng, to their loss the wearers of
flamboyant 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 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 be full Of sour
envy over missing chance at the big
things Lie had made leadership a
condition precedent to herself. She was
not much to look ut but what with wit
and grit and the llghtest fingers in all
the gang she easily came to be sort
OF queen in it
For three years she had been the
Buns girl. OF course he was muster
full with her-often TO the point Of bru-
tally. 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 Stripping, with a level head and a
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 speah truth, be was living mainly
upon hope. a big thlng-tne biggest in
gang history--was in hand, but as yet
all outlay and no return. A hundred
Eards tunnel is not dug In day, even
when there are bank vault and n
half million at the farther end of it
The Bun was waiting upon the tun-
nelers. After they were through he
would go Mt the chilled steel. A very
prince OF cracksmen, he knew he
would have 1t open in three hours
Then he would take all the swag-
money, bonds. plate, whatever was
worth moving-home to his dat, three
miles away. and lie quiet there, while
others Of the gang scuttled of to take
the hue and cry upon false scent
Meantime there was spare and lenten
living Mt the fat. Because II must be
kept from the shadow of suspicion
Lie did nothing in the way Of bust.
ness, but stayed ut home, busying her
self to make the place tidy and home
ike. She never went out save upon
housewIfely 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 scowlng
at all he met. the other tenants set it
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
medlately nfterward Inevitably Lie
had much time for brooding. She had
also plenty OF food for 1t.
The Bun came in always smelling Of
tuberose, which Long Lou had adopted
as her special perfume. Further, he
made but 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, IL she had thought he ate 1t
alone or only in masculine company
But where it touches a man. wUmqH
are kittle cattle, particularly women Of
Lies order. Carefully, methodically,
she laid her plans.
Long Lou was wanton spendthrlft
always eager 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 susp.
cion of ull.
U,,,ry l,n,,salyeener IShn,lld see the