The Dolores star., 1909-10-22

drsd; they get the reward. Maybe
. thousand: maybe more. Sure Of
i've hundred spot anyway. Hiram
hangs back; Cynthia pulls out q hair
pin and scratches the copper. Rip
pin old business girl. Cynthia! Says
TO Hiram: HI. don't make the gentle
man lose his boat. Land to goodness!
Uncls aam's got so many gold bricks.
do hear tell, he won't mind us keep
In this one for Luke. when he grows
up Hiram forks over the price and
they're on to the farm with the jack
ass egg" The speaker thrust the
bills that he clutched towards his
companion. Here. II was as easy as
dreamin' II. Peel on your commits
sion"
The shorter man took the bills and
split the hundred dollars evenly. Sud-
denly his face grew dark. Hell!
you're thief" he painted. and threw
the bills to his feet.
Whats the matter with you?" The
other man came upright. glaring stu.
pidly.
These amt the bills you got.
Them's some of our own bat. You've
slowed the old girls goods In your
vest and passed me the queer. Come.
split or I'll split you!"
The heavier man stopped with un-
counterfeit bills.
'Damn!" he cried. hoarsely. Then
he threw up his hands. Search me!
I've been picked! Some Of the boys
must have done the rubes. and they
have handed It back to the Arm.
Search me! Gawd, I amt no thief"
A pair OF deft hands went rapidly
through the pockets of the man with
the purple-checked vest, but all OF
value that they brought to light was
a nickel watch. some dice and trife
in silver change.
"Quick!" commanded the man called
Bill. pulling his companion from the
entry and explaining his plan as he
hurried him down the street In the d.
rection that the country couple had
taken. Were detectives! See?
They may be wise that these we're
green goods. what they passed up to
you. Well scare 'em to dig up the
price O. their farm
But the countryman and his wife
were no longer on the street. and the
partners turned into Grand Centra'
station. confident that they would find
them there. Their search and inqui-
ries. however. ware In vain,
While they were searching. several
trains drew out of the station. one
OF them, no doubt. bearing "Hiram and
Cynthia" safely back to the farm.
Finally they gave over looking and
returned to the street in disgust.
THE lemons on our Christmas tree
this time, Bill" surlily growled the
heavier Of the pair.
1T amt no easy-mark Joke to lose
a hundred. when you're dead broke. :"
rejoined the man called Bill. Hell!
they must have Just sold their farm
and had the price on 'em. We've
missed the big bus for Easy street
See!"
His partner drew him into saloon
"IIallo, Jack" he nodded to the bar
tender. Two forgets and sodas."
They drank their whisky and soda
in silence. then seating themselves
at card table. fell to studying the
frequenters Of the saloon. on the
lookout for possible dupe.
About Is minutes later q young fel-
low of 20 came through the swinging
doors and two-stepped up to the bar.
"Hallo, Jack!" he noicily greeted the
bartender. Haven't seen any Of the
boys with gold brick In his vest
have you?"
Whats up, sport?" The bartender
filled . glass and pushed 1t towards
the young fellow.
Tho latter drank the liquor and
smacked his lips.
"One Of the big manufacturing jew
elers Just lost $1,000 gold brick
somewhere along this busy end Of the
old burg. Come out and join the
merry throng, hunting for the stun
that nobody but everybody needs"
In less than ten seconds there were
| only three men remaining in the
saloon---the bartender and the two
partners seated at the card table.
The bartender dared not leave the
cash register unguarded. while the
green goods men were too weak in
their knees to rise and take part in
the search for the lost $1,000 gold
brick, that had slipped through their
hands only half an hour before.