Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1902-12-02
A Wonlan's
UnreASon
By MARTHA
M'CULLOCH-WILLTAMS

q When occasion ClIered- III his native
village he had been known as Jack Bel
loo until he left the country. decidedly
for the country's good.
1t was his forehead, round and bulg-
ing, that had gained him his nickname
with the gang.
All told, the gang numbered perhaps
fifty-men and women and few pitt
full waits that could rot be called chill
dren, though they were small and
young. Phe most part engaged in light
work shoplifting, palming tickers,
snatching purses from timid hands or
jostling, to their loss, the wearers of
| 1amJoyant fobs and scarfpins.
Since the Bun had become a 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 at. but what with wit
| and grit and the ightest 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 master
full with her-often to the point of bru-
tality. But he gave her 10 rivals until
4 Long Lou came into the gang and
openly set snares for him. She was
young. still in her teens handsome
4 and strapping, with level head and n
/ free, peppery tongue. The Bun did not
go wholly over TO her. but he did spend
at least half his abundant leisure and
very much mere than half his rather
scanty cash in her company and for
her pleasure.
To 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 is not dug in a day, even
when there are bank vault and a
half million at the further end Of it.
The Bun was waiting upon the tun-
nelers. After they were through he
would 90 at the chilled steel. A very
prince of craftsmen, he Knew he
would have it open in three hours.
Then he would take all the swag-
money, bonds, plate. whatever was
worth moying-home to his fiat, three
miles away, and lie quiet there, while
4 others of the gang scuttled Off to take
| the hue and cry upon false scent.
Meantime there was spare and lenten
living at the fat. Because it must be
kept from the shadow of suspicion
Lie did nothing in the way of bush
ness. but stayed at home, busying her.
self to make the place tidy and home
| like 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 scowling
| at all he met. the ether tenants set 1t
| down that he was either English and
living upon his income or else that he
4
full always to be home for dinner,
though he went out again almost inn
mediately afterward. Inevitably Lie
! had much time for brcoGing. She had
also plenty of food for it.
The Bun came in always smelling of
tuberosc, 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 lie meant to dine later.
She would not have grudged him the
daintiest fare while she ate bread and
water, if she had thought he ate II
alone or only in masculine company.
But where it touches a man. women
are kittIe cattle. particularly women Of
Lies order. Carefully, methodieally,
she laid her plans
Long Lou was wantcn spendthrift.
always eager TO fling 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-
cion of it all
Lie indeed was the only woman
trusted in that way. Torture would
not have made her betray the trust. nor
was there enough money in the world
to have bribed her In the face of all
that she sat through many nights, with
her hands clfnched, staring at the light
and occasionally smiling hard, des
perate smile and waiting for that other
night when the Bun would bring home
fortune.
1t came at last. rainy and cold. with
a raw east wind. and snothers 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 see-the Bun overrunning Will
joyous concait- He had the swag neat
" slowed in an immaculate and very
English suitcase. As he swung 1t upor
the bed he called huslzily to her: @Givs
us beer. old gal. I'm dry as char
coal. but haven't dared wet my throat
since came out Of that beastly hole"
s.There Is no beer" Lie said, not stir
ring from her seat.
The Bun almost gasped. when
told you to have ito have everything
comfortable he snarled- ~Are yor
out o. your mindgs
no. Seems to me you've been out o
yours this long time Lie dung baeI
at hiJa. He caught her BY both shout