The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-04

YES, I'D really take II as a p6stiIne ana
rcgalement II you boys would go along
TOO
"Murkison gives II out in Grassdale
that he ia going for a few days with Mr..
Peters and Mr.. Tucker TO look over some
iron ore property in West Virginia. He
wires J. Smith hat he will set foot in tho
spider web on a given date; and the three
~ us lights out for Chicago.
ION the way Murkison amuses himself
with premonitions and advance pleasant
recollections.
-'In n gray suit says he. on the south
west corner Of Wabash avenue and Lake
street. He drops the paper, and / ask
how the water Is. Oh, my. my. myr And
then he laughs all over for five minutes.
Sometimes Murkison was serious n
tried TO talk himself out Of his cogitations,
whatever they was.
Boys says he, L wouldn't " this
10 get out In Grassdale for ten times a
thousand dollars. II would ruin me there.
But ] know you all are all right. think
it's the duty Of every citizen says he, to
try TO do up these robbers that prey upon
he public. I'll show 'em whether tho
waters fine. Five dollars for one-that's
what j.. Smith offers. and he'll have TO
keep his contract IL he does business with
Bill Murkison.'
I'VE got into Chicago about 7 p. M.
Murkison vas to meet the ray man at
half past o. We had dinner at a hotel
and then went up TO Murkison's room to
wait for the time to come.
NOW, boys says Murkison. let's get our
gumption together and i~noculate a plan
for defeating the enemy. Suppose while
I'm exchanging airy bardage with the gray
Caprer you gents come along, by accident.
you know, and holler: Hello. Murkl'
and shake hands with symptoms OF sur
prise ard familiarity. Then ! take the
Capper aside and tell him you all areJenkins
and Brown of Grassdale. groceries and
feed, good men and maybe willing to take
a chance while away from home
"'"Bring 'em along he'll say. of course,
-if they care to invest Now, how does that
scheme strike you?'
What do you say JefT says Andy.
looking at me.
why. I'll tell you what | say says I.
I say let's settle this thing right here now.
l don't see any use Of wasting n more
time.' I took a nickel plated .3s out of my
pocket ard clicked the cylinder around
a few times.
You undevout. sinful. insidious hog
says ! to Murkison. get out hat two thou
sane and lay it on the table. Obey with
velocity. says |, for otherwise alternatives
are impending. l am preferably a man OF
mildness, but now and then I find myself
in the middle of e~xtremities. Such men
as you ! vent on after he had laid the
money out. is what keeps the jails and
court houses going. You come. up here to
rob these men Of their money. Does il
excuse you? ! asks, that they we're trying
TO skin you? No, sir; you was going to rob
Peter to stand off Paul You are ten times
worse says !. than that green goods man.
You go to church at home and pretend to be
a decent citizen. but you'll come to Chicago
and commit larceny from men that ave
built up a sound and profitable business by
dealing with such contemplate scoundrels
az you have tried to be to-day. How do
you know says 7. that. that green goods
man hasn't a large family dependent upon
his extortions? It's you supposedly res
pectable citizens who are always on the
lookout 20 get something for nothing
says I. that support the lotteries and Wild
cat mines and stock exchanges and wire
tappers of this country. If it wasn't for
you they'd go out of business. The green
goods maj you was going to rob. says !.
studied maybe for years 10 learn his trade.
Every turn he makes he risks his money
and liberty and maybe his life. You come
up here all sanctified and panoplied with
responsibility and a pleasing post Office
address 10 swindle him. II he gets the
money you can squeal TO the police. II
you get il hekhocks the gray suit to buy
supper and says nothing. Mr.. Tucker and
me sized you up says I. and came along
to see that you got what you deserved.
Hand over the money says l. you grass
fed ~hypocrite.'
Il put the two thousand, which was all
in $40 bills. In my inside pocket. =.
Now get out your watch says I to
Murkison. No, / don't want it, says I.
Lay it on the table and you sit in that chair
till It ticks of an hour. Then you can 20.
II you make any noise OF leave any sooner
well handful you all over Grassdale. I
guess your high position there is worth
more than 81. 900 to you
Then me and Andy left.
ION the train Andy was a long time
silent. Then he says JEFF. do you mind
my asking you a question:
Two. says I. or forty
WAS that the idea you had says he,
when we started out with Murkison?'
"'Why, certainly says I. What else
could it have been' Wasn't il yours, toor'
an about half an hour Andy spoke again.
/ think there are times when Andy don't
exactly understand my system Of ethics
and moral hygiene.
jeff says he. some time when you
nave the leisure I wish you'd draw IN a
diagram and ~footnotes of that conscience
Of yours. I'd like to have IL to refer to
occasionally >"