The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-16
A TRANSACTION IN GAS.
BY CAsPER $, YOsT.

BY CASPER S. YOST.
 T never could understan' why peo- pie i'll pay quarter fur patent cast iron window fastener when a cent gimiet beats 'em mile.' said Red Ike softly to himself. as he slipped the end of his Jimmy between the upper and the lower sash and with a quick move ment broke the fiimsy lock.
 T bet I've smashed a thousan of them window locks in my time" he continued. "all of 'em different, an never found one yet as much use as bent hair pin; but when I butt into gimlet I know I'm up again hard proposition. Now. here's house full of money an the people ain't got sense enough--
 Great Snakesr'
 That wasn't what Red Ike said, but for purposes of publication something less expressive has to be substituted.
 He had just raised the sash when his soliloquoy was interrupted and at the same time he staggered back ar If struck by club. For moment ne was speechless and then
 "Gasy' hewhispered. "Gasi Infe-naf house full of it. Who ever heard of such run. luck. Here I've been spyin' this house fur a week to git the lay. and just as I've got things fixed nice an pleasant, with nobody at home but the woman and the baby. the gas fac- tory cuts me out. It's sure death to go in there. But-but-but-
 Another thought had struck hlm
 "rhe woman--au the baby--are in there All alone. Deadr'
 He stood staring at the house through the blackness of the night. In all his experience had nsyer been so diseon- certed.
 .Mebby they're not" he muttered, as the possibility entered his mind. 'Meb- by they're still alive. But-but if they aint they will be mighty soon,an' there's nobody but me to help em. If I raise q rumpus tho cops I'll get me; besides. they'd make a mess of It. If sneak thereTl be a funeral here, sure. It's not our funeral though, key" he went on assuming the dual role habitual with him when he beca ne quite confidential with himself; ''an' 1t ain't none of our business. If it was a man in there but it's a woman-an' baby. It's up to us. Ikey. we've jus got to make try"
 Filling his lungs with pure afr he plunged though the open window, hastily raised the others In the sane apartment, which he knew to be the dining room, and then made his way as rapidly as possible to the hall He had in his mind the floor plan of the resi- dence, obtained by careful professicn- al inspection of the exterior. He knew that the dining room opened into the reception hall and that the door to the upper rooms he sought must be near the head of the stairs. 'S'pose 1t Is locked" he thought 'Tll be up against 1t fur sure if it Is. But no use to wor- ry about that now. I'll find out when I git there--if I ever do."
 He had almost reached the hall be- fore he permitted himself to breathe, and now his lungs forced action and the deadly vapor began to affect him Ha was growing iignt-headed and his gegs seemed to be disappearing beneath him, as he staggered to the stairway and fell at its foot. But up he crept step by step, panting, gasping. Would he never reach the top? Was ever stairway so long? His chest felt as though 1t carried load ot a hundred tons and a whimsical thought of the strong mans trick at the vaudeville passed through his mind-his mind' which seemed to belong to some one else and to be floating on somewhere ahead just out of his reach.
 He was at the landing. How pleas ant 1t would be to stop right here and let everything go. Why not give up the struggle? There was nothing in 1t for him. He had come to rob tnem Why should be make greater efrort to save their lives than he would to get their silver They would find him there in the morning. Perhaps they'd blame him. Ahl Come back here, you old mutton head. Quit chasin' aroun' on your own hook. Settle down on my neck and get busy. I need you, He didn't give this command with his lips He was past that. He could not rise, but he could yet crawl.
 He found the door by instinct It was ajar. He entered and noticed that the air seemed to be less heavy. The escape was evidently below. The Iwo- man and child lay on the bed, uncon- scious He reached up and shook them feebly but they made no sound. TO the window he crawled, slowly, pain fully, a thousand deaths In every inch of the way. He raised one hand to the sash and pushed. It did not move. Ills arms seemed limp as strings. What g the use? Brace up, 1key. It's oacK bone you need" Gripping the ledge ne drew himself to his knees and-drop- ped back. He tried again. Life was just outside the window. Life for him may be life for the forms on the bed. He had come this far and he must see it through" This time he got hold with both hands and raised the sash few inches. A--a-ah Was anything ever half so sweet as that drauent or air? He leaned against the sill and sucked 1t in. feeling strength return with every inspiration. Raising the sash to the top he thrust his head and shoulders out and reveled for a mo- ment in the luxury regardless or the danger of discovery Then he "ecov- cred his voice.
 "Ikey-my boy" he gasped. this beats-em all. You've-hao-som close caIls-but this is-sure-the linn it. Lord. how my-ribs hurt. Why didnt-you stay-home tonight-wltn the ole woman an the kid7 They need you more-than-than-"
 ''No, Ikey. you're wrong. Get back and fnish-the job
 His legs were still too weak to serve as supports, but he dragged himself again to the bed. feeling anew the tor lures of opposed respiration. But he was stronger than before. He could not lift them from the couch but II moved easily on It's rollers, ana witR his shoulders he pushed It inch oy inch | up close to the opened window It was hard work At every move he Ielt ar almost irresistible desire to give uI ] and rest; and when he knew that the I a