The National tribune., 1902-07-17

eral fragrant offenders in the act, and
made them carry back the things to where
they got them, bat the moment the boys
backs were turned they We've gone again.
| They noticed a lean, mean old white
man, with sharp face and keen eyes, and
the general look of miser. who was quiet
ly moving about among the thieves. and
snatching from them any bit of silver. or
other desirable object that they had pur-
! loined. The thieves did not resist. They
seemed to think that they were lucky
enough in escaping without punishment,
and rushed back toward the houses to re-
coup themselves as best they could. The
old miser would convey his spoils to an
old stone house. with slate roof, which
stood apart from the other buildings, in a
large yard. filled with more or less broken
down vehicles of all descriptions, mill
irons, boilers, engines, and old junk gen.
orally. He would throw his captures in
side the house, and carefully lock the door
on them before starting on another col
lecting tour.
THAT old skinflint is getting rich at the
rate Of about S100 a minute" remarked
| 81. calling his partners attention to him.
TOO bad. He's probably spent his life in
| skinning his neighbOrs in some way or an
other. and he has never got an honest dol
| lar. The biggest part of the truck he's got
in there he's encouraged others to steal,
| and what hasn't been stolen he's taken on
some rack mortgage. Now he's stealing
outright, and'll turn all that silver into
good money. He's likely to get very rich
out Of the misfortunes of others, for he'll
be the only man in this business portion to
get through with his building.
Il guess he won't" said his partner,
ominously, as Alf Russell came running
back from the hospital, where he had
snatched up some bandages and cotton and
a bottle of peanut oil. The building was
on fire, and the attention of the attendants
taken up with getting the inmates out.
Alf began bathing Shorty's hands and face
with the soothing oil, and then wrapped
his hands with poultices of cotton soaked
in the oil, and held in place by the ban
dages. The relief was immediate. tom
Abe and WASH" said Shorty. while this
was going on, ''see what that old, thieving
dime-squeeZer is doing? Better roll up
three or four bales of that cotton against
his front door. and leave it to catch.
Twont be long in doing it, and his house
can't stand it,
No. no; that won't do, Shorty" inter
posed 81. as the others sprang to do as he
suggested ''Thatd be just what he'd
want. If his housed burn down it'd melt
all that silver into one mass. which nobody
could recognize. Pete, go and tell Kramer
to come here at once"
BY the time Kramer arrived. 81 had
kicked the door in. and found lying on the
floor mass of silver spoons, cups. punch
bowls, ladies, loving cups, salvers, and
similar heirloom silver.
Kramer, here is a chance for you to
be of use, and help the cause of honesty
Go back and get that uncle-preacher. and
some more of the men and women you can
trust, and carry that stuff down to our
boat. We may get it back to its owners.
What Ne don't Wen turn over to the hos
pital fund, or make it useful somehow.
hat al
his stealings, anyhow"
The old miser came back with another
and still richer load of plunder. The gleam
of gratifed avarice in his eyes changed to
look Of dismay as he saw Kramer load
ing up the negroes.
"You Abolition scoundrels. you're rob |
bling me-" he shrieked. You're scoun-
drels"
We're likely to do something to you
you won't like" calmly remarked 81. re-
lieving him of his load. "We're not down |
here for the entertainment and pleasure
of gents of your kidney. You look as if |
you deserved hanging, but Wen only make |
sure that your old thieves fence shall go |
with the rest. You might roll those bales |
up here, now, boys. They'll catch about |
the time we've got all the stuff OUT
A one-armed rebel soldier came runuinsi
down the street leading a squad of negroes |,
drawing hand fire-engine. Other rebel |,
soldiers, more or less disabled. ran along
with it. striking at the negroes to make
them run faster. and forcing other negroes
to stop their jumping and yelling. and join
in helping put out the fire which had at
tackled the Court House. The sight of the
ire-engine excited Shorty, who had for
merly run wild de masheen."
There were other ex-fremen among
some of the troops that were coming. and
they rushed for the engine with yell. 1t
would be great lark to man the brakes
and pint the squirt" once more All the
Did rallying yells of the firemen of dozen
different cities pealed on the air as the
men took their places with old-time skill
and certainty about the engine, spun out