Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1907-05-02
"BiU The SneakS"
Getaway
Copyright. by joseph b. Bowlss)
BY Elliott Flower

The house certainly seemed TO b,
vacant. One human family had movet
out and no other human family hat
yet moved In. Naturally. "Bill the
Sneak" took no account OF families
that were not human. Bill had &c
4 CURED the latter part OF his name
through his ability TO sneak into houses
and purloin such articles as might bt
within easy reach. He did not rank
well with thieves, and he certainly
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 q 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
woman followed them and remained
In the house for an hour or 50. but II
was evident that they had no intention
OF occupying II that night. Indeed, Bill
heard the woman say, disdalntully:
IT will be two days before that house
Is III for human habitation." Bill
didn't speculate US to what might un.
derlle this remark he didn't much
care. The only point that impressed
him was that the house would be ten.
antless for ut least one night.
Now. houses have plumbing. and
junk dealers buy plumbing. A vacant
house has been known TO have most
Of Its water pipes ripped out In q
single night. In addition to which the
gas range was carted away. various
detachable parts OF the furnace re-
moved. and numerous fixtures taken.
II 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 q coward. Pete saw Ut
once that there were splendid oppor.
tuIities In the vacant house, SO II 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 won.
an who had been there IN the after.
noon was complaining to the man be.
cause 1t was tenanted.
You can't fool met" she declared.
I've lived In fats long enough to know
the signs. and the very conditions
show that the old tenants were sl0v.
emily crowd. There are bugs In that
house."
There won't be tomorrow" said
the man with conviction. Il was
pretty nearly overcome myself while
was lighting that last sulphur can.
de"
I'm taking no chances" asserted
the woman. II would not move into
the house until It has been thorough.
ly fumigated. or course. We are run
ming a risk in leaving the crates and
boxes there, but It can't be helped. II
anyone breaks in"
Heaven help him." interjected the
man.
AT any rate" said the woman, I'VE
are doing what we can to discourage
any Objectionable occupants that II
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 we're forcing
q 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-"
Jaw, g'wan!" ordered Pete. giving
Bill O 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 regalned his feet,
caught him by the shoulders and
yanked him In.
There's goln' to be two Of us when
the devil calls the roll" announced
Bill.
Sitting on the floor. where they had
fallen, they smiled, 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 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. II Il busts. we're gon'
ers. Let's git OUT"
"S-s-sh!" cautioned Bill, rising and
peeping out OF the window. There's
q cop at the corner"
Let's git upstairs. anyhow" urged
Pete. Even In my human home ]