The Green Forest tribune., 1907-03-15

 did not rank well with honest people. The thieves considered his operations too petty to reflect any credit on him, and the honest people considered his operations of nature to reflect dis credit on anyone.
 But Bill saw the old tenants moving out of the house and no new tenants moving in. True. few boxes and crates were left there, and man and a woman followed them and remained in the house for an hour or so, but it was evident that they had no intention of occupying it that night. Indeed, Bill heard the woman say. disdainfully; It will be two days before that house is fit for human habitation." Bill didn't speculate as to what might un- derlie this remark he didn't much care. The only point that impressed him was that the house would be ten antless for at least one night.
 Now houses have plumbing, and junk dealers buy plumbing. A vacant house has been known to have most of It's water pipes ripped out in a single night, in addition to which the gas range was carted away, various detachable parts of the furnace re- moved, and numerous fixtures taken. It would not be fair to accuse Bill of such extensive vandalism as this, be- cause Bill had not the nerve to re- main long enough at work, but any thing that could be removed inside of an hour would be right in Bills line. And there were crates and boxes that might contain many things of value.
 Bill straightway went in search of "Gum-Shoe Pete" who favored the same line of work and was just about as much of a coward Pete saw at once that there were splendid oppor- tuEities in the vacant house, so it was agreed that there should be some thing doing" that night. But, at the very moment that Bill and Pete were discussing the vacant house, the wom- an who had been there III the after noon was complaining to the man be- cause it was tenanted.
 You cant fcol mel" she declared. I've lived in flats long enough to know the signs, and the very conditions enly crowd There are bugs in that house."
 There won't be tomorrow" said the man with conviction. T was pretty nearly overcome myself while was lighting that last sulphur can dle."
 I'm taking no chances asserted the woman. T would not move into the house until it has been thorough ly fumigated. Of course. we are run ming a risk in leaving the crates and boxes there, but it can't be helped. If anyone breaks in
 Heaven help him.o lnterjeeted the man.
 At any rate" said the woman, Eve are doing what we can to discourage any objectionable occupants that it may have.'
 This campaign for health and com fort, which every true housewife in- variably undertakes when she follows in the wake of an unknown family, was something beyond the ken of Bill and Pete; it never even occur red to them, when they were forcing a basement window, that such things were done. But, when Bill finally put his head in at the opened window, there was something that troubled him greatly. The candles were burn ing on the upper floors, but sulphur is penetrating.
 Pete" said Bill, that don't smell right to me-
 "Aw, g'wan!" ordered Pete, giving Bill a push that sent him into the basement. Then Pete put his own head through the window, and imme diately thereafter tried to withdraw it; but Bill, having regained his feet caught him by the shoulders and yanked him in.
 There's goin to be two of us when Bill
 Sitting or the floor, where they had fallen, they sniffed, and then looked at each other as well as they could in the gloom. Bill sounded the floor with | the heel of his boot and finally put | his nose to a crack. He naturally took | it for granted that the fumes came | from below.
 "Wisht we'd broke in higher up," | he whispered huskily. This is too | near"
 Crust must be mighty thin" sug- gested Pete If it busts, we're gon- CTS Let's git out!"
 "S-s-sh." cautioned Bill, rising and | peeping out of the window. There's a cop at the corner" | Let's git upstairs, anyhow urged Pete. Even in my human home I never did like bein' too close to the furnace"
 He made for the stairs, and Bill fol lowed; but they staggered back when they opened the door to the main hall.
 Were there!" groaned Bill.
 No, we ain't," asserted Pete. Tt don't work right for that" | "Oh, we're there!" insisted Bill. dis mally. q wonder when we died. I don't remember dyin. Pete, do you? But we sure died or we wouldn't be
 Shut up!" commanded Pete. If we was dead we'd be fallln' into it l instead of climbin' into it. The higher l we go the worse it gits."
 How do we know-if we're dead?'' aske(' Bill. We may be goin' down all the time we're dreamin' we're go. in up."
 But we ain't dead!" said Pete, angrily, for somehow anger seemed to