The Dolores star., 1909-07-02
THE FORK
in the ROAD
Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
BY H. A. LMHOLTZ

Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
Half-past eight found all of the gang
except Jimmy Dean assembled In Mike
Riley's back room. Over their mugs OF
Deer they discussed the weeks net
profits. Business had been more than
ordinarily good. Not one OF the six
engaged in the genteel art OF burgla ",
bad run the least chance of being hauled
INTO the dragnet of the police unless It
We're Jimmy. For moment they held
their breaths. No. Jimmy was too
smooth to fall into any trap. Why.
their leader was the best 'house-lift.
er in the business! A quiet smile
wreathed the faces OF the five as low,
familiar knock was heard. Jake Col.
ffns was the first to reach the door, and
as their leader stole softly in, each nod.
ded silent welcome
What makes you SO late. Jimmy?
None Of yer plain-clothes friends tag.
gins yer. was there?" Jake asked, with
. smile Of confidence in his chief.
No: that wasn't It," slowly re.
| Sponded Jimmy. Il Just sat down after
my feed to think over me experience
Of last night. 1t was the FUNNIEST go
lever struck In me life. and I've had
several. yo' know. boys"
"Spiel the tale, Jimmy; 1t must be
q good one Wen talk biz after
wards" Jake urged. eagerly.
| We'll. II yonse boys wait until me
suds gets here, I'll spiel It. It's a
fhuAlmer" he added. as he reached for
the drink set down before him. Eyer
see. 1t was this way" he began be-
tween his gulps. Last night there was
nothing framed up for the bunch.
seeing that we are laying little low
Just at present. so / thought that l
would do little job that was ripe.
The guy belonging to the place was
out OF the city; / made sure of that;
besides, the servants ball was on that
night. SO yer can see how the layout
sized up. Pretty soft, hey? The base
ment window was a cinch. I reaches
the main floor and made for the
library. knowing just about where
1t ought to be situated, and hold
ing me glim in one hand. makes
the grand entree where the safe
stays when it's at home. flashes the
bull around and rocks right into the
muzzle of 3s! Up against it? Well
] was for fair! Who would have ex
pected It? 1t proves the old saying
boys: Always be on the job
well. boss, says /, you got It over
me all right! What yer going to do?
"We'll fix that later, he shoots
back. 1 expected you; that is, maybe
not precisely you, but some one OF
| your profession, SO just stayed
around here for the excitement
With that he turns on the glim, and
l notices we were in little room
next to the library. Say, you could
have knocked me down when he sticks
out. his init and says. real friendly
like: Shake. old mani" And then he
| asks my name. l wasn't wise to the
| game 80 l handed him me nit and tells
him the first installment of me name
| is Jim.
Jim he says. says he, sit down
over there and we'll have a nice pleas
ant chat. l suppose you are wonder
ing what kind OF game 1 am playing
on you. but I'll inform you right here
that am square. have something
would like to tell you about myself; II
will be interesting to you, and I'll pay
you for your trouble listening to it
Will you trust me?'
About all could do was to nod my
head. though I'd given anything. IL ]
could have beat 1t about that time
Well, then. you wait right here un.
til get couple Of bottles. Now
don't go away, will you?' he says
rather anxious like.
BY that time was getting interest
ed in the game and so made up my
| mind to stick and see It out. Pretty
soon he comes back with four quart
bottles of beer and box of cigars.
Have one. Jim,' says he, and ]
didn't walt for tho second call.
'Jim,' he goes on, I'll bet you
| won't believe what I am going to tell
you. but It's the whole truth, every
bit. Just IL years ago tonight was
in the same circumstances you are in
l was just out of college then, and
came to Chicago looking for job. Day
| after day l hunted for one until al
last was almost willing to give 1t up
as bad business. Then my money
gave out and was up against 1t right
as the boys say. But at last got a
job as freighter in wholesale house
packing trucks. but was glad Of even
that. tell you. square meal was