The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-30

IN m HhoO4uNp MMkLuR 70 0DaI on Nun =
battery Of guns. The man struggled 70 his
feet and tore the mask from his face. II
was a good face, that Of m honest, hard
working man, and there were Inca OF recent
trouble scanning II.
know things look ag'n' me. gents,
trace Of whining or entreaty, an the gold
that's In that bag makes EN- look more so;
but amt no regular Nurglar, only JUS a
ordinary miner, with a wife and children.
~ did crack Kimball 4 Painters safe
tonight, but was after my " money
more, though ] did git a little over, AUS
ther night Waterman s'prised me, and |
JUS made sure OF ernuf and lit out. I'll
tell yer Their true fac's. n then ef yer wants
ter give me up, Why I'll go without no
Then Collins, for that was his name,
told his story:
He had been developing a prospect.
putting IN al hss spare cash and time and
about a year previous had struck II rich.
ing shape, and Kimball a Painter, bankers,
had approached him suggesting a partner
ship, they to put up the money and Collins
the mine.
He didn't know much about business
and relying on their plate glass front and
brass mounted name, had surrendered him
self wholly into their clutches. Lately they
had sold h mine at a large figure. When
Collins asked for his share they informed
him he was no longer in IL and investigation
by a lawyer proved that he had been neatly
chiselled out OF his SOS 900.
Collins had no money to fight aw suits;
he had no patience either. But he was the
most skilful miner with explosives in the
camp and il was both an interesting expert
ment in the use OF a new blasting powder
and a profound personal pleasure to him.
self TO see the neat manner in which the
doors OF the bankers new safe kick g
themselves open without disturbing the
slumbers of the night Waterman.
while carefully counting out his $25 200 he
had been CHANGED upon by the watchman,
whom something had later disturbed, and
in the latter's astonishment at his employers
being compelled to play the role OF the
robbed Collins shot up the stairs and gain
ing the roof softly slipped down Bob Ship
ley's trap door, next building.
As Collins finished his hurried tale we
heard the hue and cry Of pursuit and over
head the tramp Of steps approaching the
scuttle.
We'll help you. old sox!' said Bob, the
host. in a stage whisper.
Then we chucked Collins and the loot in
the closet with instructions to sit tight and
admitted the Waterman through the trap
door. Finding that worthy had no fixed
ideas as 10 the road the burglar had taken
we lied like gentlemen and declared no one
had passed our way-which was true, az
Collins was still with US.
W then derided the theory Of the pur-
sued taking to the roof and sent the man
on his way, convinced he was barking on a
cold trail. Then after we'd unearthed
Collins and the swag and sent the GROWER
on a round trip to the Dirty Devil bar we
discussed the situation.
Collins had already sent his family East
and designed to follow at once, knowing
he would be SUSPECTED, but expecting to get
away before the bank opened Monday.
The cat was out now, however, and the
Bob, who did nothing by halves, sug-
gested that he drive Collins to Fairplay
as soon as il was dark Sunday night; from
there he could take the train unsupported.
Then the question Of finances arose; cash
was scarce with all OF us-put Collins; =.
Let's see the swag, said Kelly, and a
mass Of gold and notes was dumped on the
There was $3.50 more than Collins's
SIS. 900. For a long space OF silence We
looked sheepishly in n another's faces;
at length Bob blazed the trail.
-'Kimball 4 Painter have compelled
Collins to 90 TO the expense in the collec-
ton Of his Just claim he exclaimed. It's
right they should stand the costs.
Right we all chorused.
Nov continued Bob, treasured by our
hearty Endorsement, he ought to be landed
safe in the bosom Of his family; thatn take
SIS. and Of course the expense Of looking
after hin while here is properly a part Of
these costs. He's got to stav in this room
properly protected until he leaves to-mor-
row, or rather tonight.
And there's another thing, boys. We
owe it to a higher law to take every pre-
caution against any n OF us ever making
this matter public, to the danger OF Collins.
Now, then, If it was possible for each man
to get so tangled in 1t, l mean II We could--
er-that is. il there ~was-er-.
sRoh lOoked around hplDlesSly,
-'Td like to be amused some while I'm
stayin' here suggested Collins blandly.
And, though l don't know much about
poker, I'd like TO learn ef you fellers'd
~We could have Rugged that man then
and there. At his own suggestion he was
made banker: we bought largely Of chips.
settlement being deferred until the end OF
the game. and an hour after that d in
%terruption we resumed plav.
That was a genial, a jovial game! AS
our poet Cy Warman saws. a very Yorick
Of games. whose like we'll never see for
keeping the table in high feather.
collins knew his business, and for
curiosity about looking at our big hands
he'd have made a cage Of monkeys look
blase. His knowledge OF the game was in
spots, delightful spots with financial re-
suits highly pleasing TO PLAYERS so lately
and thoroughly scalped as we'd been.
when at times we thirsted Tor a hand
OF redhot poker ne a place. IdIRc layers
O! fat on The ribs Of a Jackpot. c~ourteoIsly
20 TO TIE disSWAds with his hand n leave
lis to fight il gleefully out. II occasionally
he did give us a tap IL was a playful little
love tap.
-His consideration for the tagging ones
was beyond reproaCh. and his interest in
calling them, especially when thew were
loaded for bear. did not abate until their
tall stacks stood level with the tops OF the
leading winners. .
"AI during that Sunday Of peace and
good will TO men that happy game held the
board undisturbed except by casual excur-
sions OF Bob to the outer world, whence he
returned laden with victuals and drink
when darkness fell and the game closed
Collins, apart from those travelling ex-
penses, had lost all az the $3.50 except 81.
" That to the humpback, deCreed Bob,
and il was 40. We had each won prac-
tically the same amount, about $50 apiece.
Collins was a fair minded burglar!
It's true. said Bob, who had fortified
himself against the cold ride to Fairplay.
that these winnings come. after our hor-
rible butchery by Gregg and Hogan. like
gifts from our guardian angels; vet we
accept them simply az a favor to Collins.
more completely to protect him by sealing
our lips. Therefore. it's me for the win
nings: amt that so. boys7'
we agreed that our unselfshness was
the moving cause-and pocketed the cash.
Needless to av. we held or peace.
Our conRciences disturbed us little. We
felt that Kimball a Painter were still in
dabtad IN ia for not stirring I'm the miners