New-York tribune., 1910-02-27
FEBRUARY Fl. 1910


was needed. All of sudden he braces up anc
looks at his watch.
Perhaps you didn't get there IN tine'" say:
with the letter and package?" says I
Watcher take me for? Think l got nucilagt
on my shoes? / was there on time, all right
"Oh, mercyl" says he. "Torchy, I'm q
ruined man"
You look it, says I but cheer up You
never was much account anyway: so there's nc
great harm done.
Then he begins to blubber, and leak brine
and take on like woman with a sick headache
1T wasn't my fault" says he. " was led into
it Torchy. tell them was led into it You'll
believe that. won't your"
Cert" says |. III make affidavit seen
'em snap the ring in your nose But what's II
all about?"
oh, it's something awful that's happened 10
me-" he walls. It's too terrible to talk about
You'll know tomorrow. i sha'n't be alive
then, Torchv"
Amt swallowed a buttonhook, have you
says |.
Next he begins THROWN a fit about whats
goin' to become of the missus and the KID Say.
I've been in at two or three acts ike tins be
fore. and gen rally notice that at about such 4
stage they play that card. the wife and kid
Your real tough citizen don't, nor your real
gent,-thev shuts their mouths and takes
what's comm to 'em,-but Mr. WeakbaCk has
a sudden rush of 1nen'ry about the folks at
in the door.
''Ah. say says I. "cut it out! You ought
TO move up to Harlem and learn to pound the
pipes You're a healthy plunger, you are.
sneakin bonds out of the safe to stack up
against a crooked game, and then Playin' the
baby act when you lose outi Come now. ain t
that the awful thing that's happened TO you:
n couldn't have opened up freer if he'd been
put through the third degree. | gets the
p'niment.-all about the house he's tryin'
to buy through the buildin' loan. and the sec
Ond hand bubble he wants to Splurge on cause
the nelghbors have got EN-, and how he was
tipped off to this sure thing IN Bitten by a
party that had always been a friend of his but
couldn't get hold of the stuff to turn the trick
himself He put in all the fine points. even TO the
way he came to have a chance at the safe.
If | could only put them backf' says he,
sighn'
'What them" saws l. Next time I s'pose
you'd swipe the whole series. wouldn't YOU, d"
If you could have heard him tell how good
he'd be you'd think practisin' a little crooked
work now and then was the only sure way to
learn how to keep straight.
Plddle. says l, i don't want TO hurt Your
feeiin's: but YOU act to me like weak sister
If was to do what the case calls for. this thing
ought to go to the boss"
Please don't Torchv Please DON'T saws
he. scrabblin' down on his hands and knees
layin' bee. I'm no squealer. anyway. besides
had little interview with Mrs. Piddie and
the kid this noon, and after seem them can't
rub 1t in like YOU deserve. What I've seen and
heard m goin 10 forget Now sit up straight
while break the news TO YOU gentle went
down there to-day, just as you told me-
Yes, know" he groans. squrmin
But | dIdn I like the looks of the joint so
| didn't dump the bonds. There they are
Now see they get back where YOU found EN-
TALK about your halleluiah praise meetin's,
PIddie was havin' one. all by himself
when the inside door opens and Mr.. Robert steps
out of his office
I'll take care of those bonds, Mr. Piddie.
says he.
Cheel what a stunnerl Mr.. Robert had been
IN there all the time writin private letters and
had took IN the whole business
Did he give Piddie the fire on the spot
Nah! Mr.. Robert carries around frigid por-
tlco; but he 5 got warm spot inside. He saws
he's mighty sorry to hear how near Piddie'd d
come to goin' wrong; but he's glad ii turned out
the way II did and if Piddie1 say how much
they rung HIM in for on Bitten he'll be happy
to make good right there.
And how much do You gueSS2 \ pair of