The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-07-11

v0uve hrought along any hair tonic
or rolled gold watch chains, or similar
isN-defying swindles that you could
sell on the plaza to the pikers of the
rarehc populace. have you?
z" No, says l. y left an elegant line
OF Patagonian diamond earrings and
rainy-day sunbursts in my valise at
PoavIne. But they're to stay there till
some of them blackgum trees begin to
slut the market with yellow clings
and japanese plums I reckon we
cant count on them unless we take
Luther Burbank in for partner
Very well, says Bessett. well do
the best we can. Maybe after dark
III borrow bairpIn from some lady,
END open the Farmers & Drovers Ma.
ilDe bank with It,
While we was talking up pulls a
passenger train to the depot nearby.
A person In a high hat gets of on the
wrong side OF the train and comes
tripping down the track towards us.
He was little, fat man with big
nose and rats eyes. but dressed .ex.
pcnsivc, and carrying a hand-satchel
careful as II II had eggs or railroad
honds in IT,. He passes by us and
Keeps on down the track, not appear.
ing TO notice the town
"'Come on. says Bill Bassett TO me,
starting after him.
Where?' asks.
"Lordy!' says Bill, had you for.
got you was in the desert? Didn't you
see Col Mama drop down right be.
fore your eyes? Don't you hear the
rustling OF Gen. Ravens wings? I'm
surprised at you, Elijah
I'VE overlook the stranger in the
edge OF some woods. and as II was
after sundown and in a quiet place.
nobody saw us stop him. Bill takes
the silk hat off his head and brushes
IL with his sleeve and puts Il back
what does this mean, sir? says
the man.
When ! wore one Of these says
Bill. and felt embarrassed, | always
done that. Not having one now |
bad to use yours. | hardly know how
TO begin. sir. in explaining our busi.
ness with you. hut guess we'll try
your pockets first
"Blll Bassett felt in all OF them, and
looked disgusted.
Not even a watch says he
Amt you ashamed OF yourself. you
whited sculpture? Going about dressed
like head-waiter. and financed like a
count. You haven't even got carfare
What did you do with your transfer?
The man speaks up and says he
has no assets or valuables of any sort
But Bassett takes his hand.satchel
and opens Il. Out comes some collars
and socks and half n page of news
paper clipped out. Bill reads the clip.
pings careful. and holds out his hand
to the held.up party.
Brother says he, greetings.
Accept the apologies Of friends. am
Bill Bassett, the burglar. Mr.. Peters.
YOU must make the acquaintance OF
Mr.. Alfred ". Kicks Shake bands
Mr., Peters says Bill stands about
halfway between me and you, Mr.
Kicks, in the line OF havoc and cor.
ruption. He always gives something
for the money he gets. I'm glad to
meet you, MIR. Ricks--you and Mr..
Peters. This is the first time ever
attended a full gathering of the ma.
tional synod Of arks-housebreak.
ing, swindling and fDancierlng all rep,
resented, Please examine MIR. Kicks
credentials, MIR. Peters
The piece OF newspaper that Bill
Eassett handed me had good picture
Of this Ricks on It. 1t was Chicago
paper, and II had obloquies OF Ricks
in every paragraph. BY reading Il
ever | harvested the intelligence that
said alleged Kicks had laid of all that
portion Of the state of Florida that
lies under water into town lots and
sold 'em to alleged innocent investors
from his magniiicently furnished OF.
fees IN Chicago. After he had taken
In hundred thousand or so dollars
one OF these fussy purchasers that arc
always making trouble I've had EN-
actually try, gold watches I've sold
EN- with acid took cheap excursion
down to the land where II is' always
Just before supper TO look at his lot
and see II II didn't need new paling
or two on the fence, and market a
few lemons in time for the Christmas
present trade. He hires surveyor to
find his lot for him. They ruin the
line out and find the iourishing town
Of Paradise Hollow. so advertised to
be about 10 rods and i6 poles s.. 81
degrees II. of the middle of Lake
This mans lot was un.
der S6 feet OF water, and, besides, had
been preempted so long by the ALI.
gators and gars that his title looked
flshy.
Naturally, the man goes back to
Chicago and makes It as hot for Al
fred e. Ricks as the morning after
prediction Of snow by the weather
bureau. Kicks de6ed the allegation,
but he couldn't deny the alligators
One morning the papers come out
with a column about it. and Kicks
comes out by the fire-escape. II seems
he alleged authorities. had beat him
70 the safe'deposit box where he kept
MS winnings, and Kicks. has TO west.
ard hoi with onty faetwaar and n