The Falls City tribune., 1909-07-09

= 60 - g~A3&AAA1iiA = A4Aoa AAiA
came upstairs and gathered up some
%yaluables in Il room and had Just en-
tered another when I threw my spot
light around, and, great Scott | was
in a girls room! She was sitting up
looking straight at me! My hand
shook, but l pointed my revolver at
her. She never SO much as Yinkedl
"'"Don't do that" she said, sharply.
1T might go off! You are welcome to
anything I have, My jewels are in
that box on the dressing table, and my
purse is in the little drawer to the
right"
q picked up all the stuff and was
turning to so, when she said: How
long have you been in this business?"
This is my first experience" |
answered, truthfully. First l thought
would bluff her, but by that time |
was feeling kind of sorry for being in
the business at all. She nodded SYM
pathetically at me when l gave her my
reply, and pointed to a chair. Tell me
why you are here she asked, kindly.
told her all that l told you, and when
| had finished, she said, emphatically:
Il knew you were no common burglar.
Your face and hands show that. Don't
you know you are making a great mis-
take? Think of what you might do in
the world and then think of the many
possibilities of your capture and your
long years in a prison. Just now you
are do~wnhearted; it's a perfect shame
to ruin your life" she said, earnestly.
81 couldn't stand that sort of talk,
and told her about my three men
friends. She thought for a long time,
and then said: 81 tell you; I'm going
to do something for you. In the bot
tom drawer OF, that bureau over there
in the corner of the room is $500
which you haven't got-you see you
are very inexperienced, aren't you'll
was saving that money for some new
clothes but | am going to give it to
you to pay off your gang, as you call
them. With your share | want you to
purchase a new suit of clothes and
other things that you need, and come
to this address," Before l realized
what she was saying she had reached
over to her writing desk near the
bed and had written an address on a
card. Handing the card to me, she
said, simply: THAT is my fathers
address-his office address; will
speak to him about you in the morn
ing. He will do anything | ask"
"The next day she was down at
the office when | came She helped
me to the position all right, and l
made good; that's all. After a time |
fell into the habit of going to her
fathers house to talk over business,
and it wasn't long before she and l
realized we were made to travel this
world together. When we were mar
ried l got a ~half-interest in her ia
theirs business, and since last year.
his voice lowered respectfully. 4 have
full charge.
"'You see, my friend, jim, what that
girl did for me. Ever since that time
| have been wanting to do the same
for some fellow like you. It's all
wrong, Jim,' he said, pleadingly. Don't
you see you're wrong? Look besides
at the risk you are %runningi Why,
man, what chance is there of living in
a cell with four walls pretty close to-
gether? And after you get out-Oh,
Lord! Now, Jim, | am going to give
you a chance, just as my wife gave me
one year ago. Here are $500. Come
down to the Office tomorrow morning,
and l will see what l a give you in
the line of work, and good, decent
work, too; and if you stay with us and
make good, | promise to stick with you
in all your troubles. just a minute
I'll write you a note and an address for
you to give to the superintendent.
He'll fix you out
"Then he turns to a desk, and writes
for a few minutes. While he was
handling his pen, | tell you, boys,
thought some. He was right; l knew
me the envelope.
"'Well, Jim,' he says full of sympa-
thy and pleasant like, I'm mighty glad
to do for you what was done for me-
with that he excused himself for a
minute to go upstairs, explaining when
he comes down with a small grip in
his hand that he was on his way to
New York to meet his wife, who was
just returning from a trip in Europe.
Then we walks out of the house by
the front door and walks down the
street. On the corner he leaves me,
shaking hands before we parts, say
ing: Think we what | have been
saying and read my note before you
go to the office in the morning."
Jim fumbled in his pocket for a let
ter. Then he said, slowly, with a
queer look on his face: Here is the let
ter" 1t read:
My dear Jim: When you read this 1
will be well on my way out of Chicago
and will never perhaps, have the pleas
ure of meeting you again. Lord, Jim!
but you were easyi L heard you when
you came into the house. You pretty