The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-04-28


leaned across the table.
the delta between the bridge and St
PauPs. Here he slackened a little,
for the stony, many windowed rayines
were so narrow and SO crowded that
it was impossible to continue running
But he threw up his heels the instant
he emerged on Ludgate hill, tearing
| heller SHELTER in the middle of the road.
| he was nearly run over by van
| coming out of Paternoster row and
( cursed to the skies by the driver
Faces stopped and turned upon the
pavements. He knew the folly of it.,
and yet ran on with a fiend in either
heel.
Bank. bank. Ere you are, sir,
ERE you are!
Tom was almost up to the omnibus
before he realized that this was meant
for him. Instinctively he waved and
nodded. and his mad pace was ex-
planned. The omnibus stopped; he
jumped in, gaSping. .
Thought you was after me-" said
the cad. with a grin. ..-.,.,.- -
Tom had no breath to reply. A ru-
bicund ole gentleman made well
meant remark upon the eagerness OF
youth and was favored with CLASSY
stare. The newcomer sat painting in
a corner. the perSpiration triekling
from his nose.
But his head was cooler. He saw
the needlessness as we'll as the indis-
erection Of conspicuous fight. He had
slipped through the only hands that
were as yet against him. He had
eluded the only eyes he need avoid that
night, for the hackney coachman might
take his new tale straight to Scotland
Yard, but it could hardly be given to
the world before morning.
Toms heart leaped as he discovered
the temporary strength of his position.
Next moment it sank, for the cad was
collecting the fares, and his single as
set was the watch. His bankrupt state
had occurred to Tom as he ran for the
omnibus. but not again. 1t was so
small thing compared with the charge
now lying at his door. Yet he had just
thought of this little fraud was so
far deliberate-but he had neither the
face nor the foolhardiness to sit there
and confess his fault. And, situated
like the wanted felon he now felt him.
self to be. it was wonderful and hor-
rible how felon's resources came I'M
hidden to his fingers ends. He began
feeling in pocket after pocket, with
face that heightened under the frown
of the cad, the raised eyebrows of the
rubicund gentleman and the fixed at
tention of all.
I'm afraid II don't seem to have
a coin in my pocket
"Oh, you 'aven't, 'aven't you?
mo, / have not! I'm very sorry
r.
you may be! Never mind no tales
You can keep them for the beak ash
ave a word to say to you tomorrer
mornin'-' And the cad winked at the
other passengers. stopped the omni-
bus and called a policeman from the
curb.
Tom could have burst into tears. To
be wrongly wanted for crime so ter
rible and justly taken for a thing so
small, He looked forlornly at his fell
low passengers, with a wild idea that
one might come TO his rescue. The
sole response was whitening frown
from the rudy OLD gentleman, who
also commended the cad and loudly
trusted an example would he made Of
the case. The desperate Tom began
ransacking his pockets in earnest for
some overlooked coin. but he had done
this SO often of late that he felt the
futility now. The Precipitation froze
upon his face, yet even with the police
mans tall hat poked inside the omni- |
bus his tNitching fingers continued |
their spasmodic, hopeless search.
The fash young spark whispered |
the cad. Just you frighten i'm, Sir |
Robert
Now. then. come along. said the Of |
fcer.
Good Cod" cried Tom.
You'll get all the more for swear /
ing. Now. out you come afore. you're |
made"
Not just yet" returned the culprit |
and handed The conductor one of two |
half crowns found that very moment |
in scrap OF crumpled paper. I'm
sorry l couldn't ind it before. Kindly |
give me change"
Where to-" growled the cad as the
,onsta he stecped down.