Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1907-06-20

pellant OF face, paused at the corner
and loked back after the slouching fig
ure of a man in a red sweater. He
knew it was "EIunch" Bugan, and yet
It puzzled him that "Hunch" should be
sober. He even forgot for the moment
that he ought to be angry with his
former pal, when he remembered the
Rcene up in Monroe county, where
"Hunch' turned states evidence. and
only escaped Auburn prison by send
Ing his mates there for long terms.
Mr.. Bilks had always treasured the re-
membrance in his mind and had sworn
that once free, and wise enough to
keep away from the banks that are
under the protection of the American
Bankers Protective association and
policed by the Pinkertons. he would
find time to locate "Hunch" and V e
UP the score. But the spectacle of
'Hunch" sober and evidently intent
ON business eliminated all thoughts of
vengeance for the mGment, and it was
only as the sweater threatened to be
lost in turning a corner that Mr.. Bilks
remembered and quickly logged the
N~oft-footed renegade until the chase
ended in a tall tenement house.
"Livin' up here, eh?" growled Mr..
Bilks, as he passed the building and
noted the number. It's a long time
since l done that dip, but 'Hunch, l
has a long mem'ry tank heavens! An
ives goin' ter settle dat little account
afore youse leave old New York. Now
wot has that bloke under his hat? So
Der? An in de mornin'? He must have
a fat lay, an l reckon he'll stand fer
a pipe"
A casual mingling in Steinheimer's
saloon on the corner brought forth
the information that "Hunch" had
been hiding up in that vicinity for
several days and incidentally eschew-
ing the strong waters. This settled
Slinky Bills determination, and as he
had no immediate job in sight he en-
gagged a room in a nearby lodging
house and allowed his beard to grow
until he looked like a cross between
an anarchist and a hedge fence. In
this way he came to learn of all the
exits and entrances of his Quondam
pal, and from several trips in his
wake, to a certain section of the Long
Island shore, he decided some game
was On, whereby a summer home was
scheduled to wake up and find the
larger portion of it's furnishings miss
ing. One day "Hunch' drove out
among the back alleys and kitchen ap-
nTnqphaG on a moot oart alton fOarA
ing the driver into an acute state Of
insensibility, and it needed no second
sight to tell Mr.. Bilks that the land
was being spied out in the ola APP
proved style.
Once "Hunch's" hunting grounds
had been located Slinky Bill was con-
tent to remain unseen but where he
could observe his enemy's comings
and goings, knowing instinctively the
hour of the killing had not yet arrived.
The long, spring-night vigils reminded
Slinky of his youth and his trust in
"Hunch;" of the time when he thought
it the correct thing to hunt in pairs
and have abiding trust in his mate.
The belief of those days had been des-
troyed by the one act of the erring
one up in Monroe county, and now
Slinky followed the moonlit trails
alone, with nc one to call on him for
a share of the loot, with none to play
him double. If the memories sad
dened the old cracksman it in no way
weakened his purpose to have an ac-
counting with his false comrade. If
anything, it intensified his desire, al
belt, he had grace to regret that the
honorable calling in which he was
numbered a bright light should be
disrupted by private hate. He appre-
ciated that "Hunch' vas playing an
eminently legitimate game in warning
upon organized society, yet those four
years in Auburn prison could not be
cried down for the good of the order.
So he watched, and one night he
knew "Hunch" was to make his strike.
No soone had the traitor left his hid
ing place and made for Long Island
than Slinky Bill was at his heels, win
ming his sobriquet anew by the silent
manner in which he kept pace and
logged his quarry.
First "Hunch" entered a summer
house, occupied by a few domestics,
and after rambling over the structure
at his leisure, r%eappeared, carrying
something in a small canvas bag that
occasionally gave forth a mellow
clink. Then another house was en-
tered and the same fruitful exit was
observed nv the lone watcher.
Fer de love of-Say, beau. but
youse certainly maxim a real clean up
dis time" muttered Slinky Bill under
his breath, forced to admire the work.
manlike way in which "Hunch" was
covering the circuit.
At last even "Hunch" grew weary
Of well doing and paused undecided
whether to take in the big house with
the gable roof, or to go home. After
thinking it over under a shade tree
for some minutes he evidently com
promised with himself by stealing
away to a less p%retentious section OF
tho town and hating back of a neat
frame house.
"Why, say" gasped Slinky, dis is
Jest cigarette an beer money lie
can't be down so low as ter Zap dat
humble joint"