The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-05-12

The evidence of that wealth which
IS tne p~articulad possession of 'maste,
men was not evident Indeed, tn,
moor of the passage was uncarpeted
n h walls bare of picture or orna.
ment. Nor was the Office" q littl,
room leading from the passage" an,
more prolific of result. Such mixtures
as there were had apparently been left
behind by the previous tenant. anc
these were thick with dust.
BAH" said tn" inquisitive Mr.. Lane
scornfuliy, and his words echoed hol-
loWly as In an empty house,
With the barren possibilities of his
exploit before him. Mr.. Lanes spirits
fell.
He was of the class, to whom refer
ence mas already been made. thai
looked IN awe and reverence toward
the Borough Lot" In the same spirit
as the youthful curate might regard
ehe consistory OF bishops. In his cups
pewter cups they We're with frothing
heads a-top-he was wont to boast
ina his connection with the Borough
Lot was both close and intimate, A
runor that went around to the effect
mat the "mouthpiece" who defended
him at the ciosino OF the unsatIsfac-
Tory horsehair episode had been paid
trouble to contradict.
IL ne had known n of them. even
D. sight, he would not at that moment
nave been effecting a burglarious en-
try into their premises.
Room after room he searched. He
found the i~ll-furnished bedroom of
common, and the room where old
George slept on an u%ncleanlv mai
tTsss. He found. too. the big room
where The Lot" held their informal
meetings, but nothing portable. Moth
ing ina a man might slip under his
coat, and walk bodily out of the front
uoor with. No little article OF iewelry
your Wife might carry to a pawn
rockers with a long face and a longer
story of the perjury that forced Won to
part with her dear mothers last gift.
None OF these. noted Mr.. Lane bitterly.
n with every fresh dis~appointmenf
he breathed the harder.
For apart from the commercial as
peet of this, his burglary, there was
the siekening humiliation OF failure.
An imaginative man, he had already
invented the story he was to Tell 70
a lew select cronies in sneak-thief df-
VISION. He had rehearsed mentally a
scene where, with an air of nom
c~halance, he drew a handful of golden
soVereigns from his pocket and order
eu drinks round. And whilst thew
were slpplng his drinks. Sinking re-
spectfully, he would have conidad to
them the fact that he had been duIv
ana with all ceremony installed a full
nedged member OF the Borough Lot
VI the irony of the situation he was
ignorant. A qualified burglar would
nave completed a systematic exam
NATION of the premises In ten minutes.
put MT Lane was not Sc qualified. In
consequence he dawdled from room to-
room, going back to this room to
make sure, and returning to that room
10 be absolutely certain that nothing
mad been overlooked. Obliyious OF the
night of time. he stood irresolutely in
the topmost room Of the house when
the real adventure of the evening be-
gan. He heard the click of a lock-
ne thoughtfully closed the office door
behind him-and a voice, and his heart
leapt into his throat. He heard a
voice, a voice hoarse with rage. and
another. and yet another.
MT. Lane realized, from the stamp
ing OF feet on the stairs, that half a
tozen men had come into the house.
rom their language he gathered they
were annoyed.
ais blood and turned his marrow to |
~
II u nae begun In a rumble of hoarse,
lndistinguishable words, and ended IL
he phrase that caught his ear.
he's sold us, ] tell vel!
ut spies on US! He led US into the
rap, curse him /"
He heard another voice speaking IN
/ lower tone,
what are We worth? You're a fool!
Nhat dye think we're worth? Ain't
We the Borough Lot? Don't he know
'nough to hang two or three OF us
It's Connor and his pal the
The Borough Lott"
The mars lvyfpu f,11tx1~
Lane. n he held on to the bare
nantieshelf for support. Spies! Sup
,ose they discovered him. and mis-
him for a spy! His hair rose at
thought. He knew them well
'nousn by repute. Oyermuch hero
Worship had invested them with quail
Iot have possessed.
There might be a chance OF escane.
tumult below continued. Scrans
angry talk came floating I'M.
MI. Lane 20 u Of the window.
drop into the street was too long
nd there vas no sign of rope In the
Iouse.
Cautiously he cpened the door Of sha
The men were in the room he
leath that in which he stood. The
that led to the street m,,st
AXE him past their door.
Mr. Lane was very anxious to leave
house. He had unwittingly STEM
ed into q hornets nest, and wanted
Q make his escape without disturbing
inmates. Now was the time-or
ever. Whilst the angry argument
a creaking stair board or SO
night not attract attention. But he
no allowance for the gifts of
hese men-gifts of sight and hearing
Eat Sands !n the midst OF his TRADE.
the uplifted finger and head-je
I Goyle. He did not check his now
I ~invective. but edged toward the
then he stopped short, and fling
ng the door p he caught the
cared Mr.. Lane by the throat, and
ragging him Into the room, threw
I'm upon the ground and knelt on hin,
What are We doing here?" hi whis-
cred fiercely.
Mr.. Lane with protruding eyes, saw
pitiless faces about him, saw
soyle lift a ltfe-preserver from the
anie and turn half round the better to
trike. and tainted.
Stop that!" growled Bat, with OUT
tretched hand. .The little swine has
ainted. Who Is her Do I'M OF you
ellers know him p.
II was the wixened-faced mar whom
angel had addressed as Lamby who |
urntshed the Identification.
Hes g little crook-name Of Lane
- = 49, SD 4