Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-01-07

wives and others, for that very rea-
son, will be more eager to find ou,
what the anthorities--confound 'em
want TO know than those idiot,
themselves"
"Right," agreed his companions
soberly and laconically.
81 have.a plan by which we may
be able to get out of this scrape,'
said Snow.
"What is il ?"
"We must find the burglar. Once
found it will not be necessary to
force us or anybody else to tell what
would get us into no end of trou.
ble."
''lt's brilliant idea," commented
Bristow, sarcastically. "How shall
we catch that evasive gentleman ?"
"Hanged if / know! If we don't
find him-here's 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.
$50 l think. There must be at
least one man in town-perhaps two
who for a couple of hundred dol
lars would be willing to acknowledge
himself a thief and serve few
months in prison if convicted"
"Burglary, especially in the night
time, is pretty serious offense," re-
minded White. "Still, the fellow
never actually broke in anywhere"
"We can hire a good, smart lawyer
to defend him and perhaps get him
off," suggested Snow. Gall we want
is to prevent inquiry as to our
whereabouts last Tuesday night"
GA lawyer" grumbled White !;
"more money!"
elise more trouble" observed
Bristow.
"Here comes tramp" cried Snow,
suddenly; "the very chap we want.
A warm cell ought to be welcome
change from the cold barns ssand
colder haystacks that he has proba
bly, had to put up with these cold
nights. Let's sound him"
The Trio were standing in the pub
lie square. The stranger drew near,
ragged, hungry looking fellow.
"Hello, my man |" hailed Snow :;
"don't go that way-it leads to the
lock up. Come here. How would
you like to earn a couple of hundred
dollars without working?"
The tramp opened his eyes in
amazement. Snow was forced to
repeat his question.
"Wot doin' ?" asked the stranger.
"There's been burglar doing no
end of mischief in this town of late,
and one of our friends is wrongfully
suspected. Now, we want you to
act as substituted sort of volun-
tary scapegoat-to save the good
name of our friend. If you will
consent to go to the police station,
give yourself up and admit you are
the thief, we will make you pres
ent of 5000. Good pay; what do
you say ?"
The gentleman of the road smiled,
pondered minute or two, and then
replied:
"Make it tree hundred, gents
den Pm yer man. might halter
go to prison fer year or two, you
see."
"No 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 se-
we're sentence !; that's what we'll pay
him for. You may get off scot Free"
"Lawyer be blowed! Say tree
hundred or shut up"
White, the penurious, nodded
assent.
Gall right" said Snow; "three
hundred is it? 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 Browns hen shed
last Tuesday night-remember the
date land took couple of his
hens"
81 won't forget it. Now wot
about de bribe ?"
"We'll pay you the money just as
soon as you confess and are locked
up"
can have de jail blokes take de
Doodle away from me? Nit!"
"Well, what? Will check, post
dated do ?"
"Naw. l want cash in advance.
1'll send de money by mail to a
feller | kin trust. Den I'll go and
give myself up an take my medi-
cine. You gents can keep yer ewes