Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1907-05-30


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 "Hunch" Bugan, and yet |
ii 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
scene 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
4 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 even
up the score. But the spectacle of
"Hunch" sober and evidently intent
on business eliminated all thoughts of
vengeance for the moment, and it was
only as the sweater threatened TO be
lost in turning a corner that Mr.. Bilks
remembered and quickly logged the
soft-footed renegade until the chase
ended in 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 | done that dip, but 'Hunch.' l
has long mem'ry tank heavens An
Yves 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
fat lay, an l reckon he'll stand fer
pipe
A casual mingling in Steinheimers
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 Bits determination, and as he
had no immediate job in sight he en-
gagged room in 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
l Island shore, he decided some game
was on, whereby summer home was
B. scheduled to wake up and find the
t larger portion of its furnishings miss
ing. One day "Hunch' drove out
t among the back alleys and kitchen ap
proaches on a meat cart after toast
~
insensibility, and it needed no SECOND
sight to tell Mr. Bilks that the lane
; was being spied out in the old ap
:, proved style.
Once "Hunch's" hunting grounds
= had been located Slinky Bill was con
:, tent to remain unseen but where h
could observe his enemy's coming
- and goings, knowing instinctively tn
- hour of the killing had not yet arrived
- The long, spring-night vigils reminde
II Slinky of his youth and his trust i
"Hunch;" of the time when he though
- it the correct thing TO hunt in pair
- and have abiding trust in his mate
l. The belief of those days had been de.
| troyed by the one act of the erin
one up in Monroe county, and no.
q Slnky followed the moonlit trail
alone, with no one 10 call on him fo
a share of the loot. with none to pla
II him double. If the memories sal
dened the old cracksman il in no wa
weakened his purpose TO have an a
'or counting with his false comrade.
1T anything, ii intensified his desire, a
ne belt. he had grace to regret that III
" honorable calling in which he Wa
on numbered bright light should
ny disrupted by private hate. He Apr
Ter ciated that "Hunch' was playing q
,ne amiuently legitimate game in warrir
90 oS,, lpon organized society, yet those fol-
A years in Auburn prison could not
his cried down for the good of the orde
ian So he watched, and one night
:. Knew "Hunch' was TO make his strik
w., No sooner had the traitor left his hi
Nv ng place and made for Long Islal
ON than Slinky Bill was at his heels, wi
so aing his sobriquet anew by the sile
un- manner in which he kept pace al
MY logged his quarry.
olo First "Hunch" entered SUNNI
nth house, occupied by a few domestic
en- md after rambling over the structu
my It his leisure, reappeared. carryi1
ind something in a small canvas bag tn
SO occasionally gave forth mellC
link. Then another house was {
al,ht cred and the same fruitful exit W
ines observed by the lone watcher.
ms Fer de love of-Say. beau, b
hey rouse certainly maxim a real clean
l SO lis time" muttered Slinky Bill und
GO lis breath, forced to admire the wol
ick- nanlike way in which "Hunch" W
Vii. covering the circuit
erve At last even "Hunch" grew wes
If well doing and paused undecid
long whether to take in the big house W
onlo he gable roof. or to go home. AT
sand linking 1t over under a shade Il
aned or some minutes he evidently &C
k of promised with himself by steali
also lway TO less pretertious section
ring he town and hating back of a NJ