Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-03-18
CHAPTER II-(Continued).
"Reparation?" suggested Jimmy.
Old Reale nodded delightedly.

Old Reale nodded delightedly.
How"
Don't you ask questions" bullied
the old man, his harsh voice rising. II
amt asked you why you broke into my
house in The middle Of the night,
though l knew it was you who came
the other day to check the electric
meter. l saw you an we been waitin'
for you eve since"
Il knew all about that" said Jimmy
calmly, and flicked the ash of his Gig
aret away with his little finger, and
/ thought you would
Suddenly he stopped speaking and
listened.
Who's in the house beside us?" he
asked quickly, but the look on the old
mans face treasured him.
Nobody" said Reale testify. 'I've
got a special house for the servants
and they ONE in every morning after
I've unfixed my-burglar alarms" He
grinned, and then a look of alarm came
into his face.
The alarms!" he whispered; you
broke them when you came in, Jimmy.
/ heard the signal. If there's some one
In the house we shouldn't know it
now"
They listened.
Down below in the hall something
creaked. then the sound Of a soft thud
came up.
He skipped the rug" whispered
Jimmy, and switched out the light.
The two men heard a stealthy foot
step on the stair n waited. There
was the momentary CLINT Of a light,
and the u of some one breathing
heavily. Jimmy leant over and whis-
pered in the old mans ear.
Then, as the handle Of the door was
turned and the door pushed open, Jim
my switched on the light.
The newcomer was a short, thick
set man with a broad, red face. He
wore a check suit of a particularly
glazing pattern, and on the back Of
his head was stuck a bowler hat, the
narrow brim Of which seemed to en-
phasize the breadth Of his face. A cas-
ual observer might have placed him
for a coarse, good natured man Of rude
but boisterous huInor. The chronological
student would have known him at once
for what he was-a cruel man-beast
without capacity for pity.
He started back as the lights went
on, blinking a little, but his hand held
an automatic pistol that covered the
occupants of the room.
Put up your hands," he growled.
Put EN- up!"
Neither man obeyed him. Jimmy was
unused n looked it, stroking his
short beard with his white tapering
fingers. The old man was fury in
carnate.
He 1t was that turned to Jimmy
n croaked:
What did l tell we, Jimmy? What've
/ always said, Jimmy? Massey is a pig
hes got the manners Of a pig.
Faughl"
Put up your hands!" Kissed the man
with the pistol. Put 'em up, or I'll
put you both out"
IF he'd come first, Jimmy" Old
Reale wrung his hands in his regret.
"S'pose he'd jumped the rug-any
sneak thief could have done that-d'ye
think he'd have spotted the man in
armor? If you'd only get the man in
armor ready again"
Put your pistol down, Massey" said
Jimmy coolly, unless you want some
thing TO play with. Old man Reale's
too i'll for the gymnastics you suggest.
and I'm not inclined to oblige you"
The man clustered.
BY God, If you try any of your
monkey tricks with me, either of you
"Oh, I'm only a visitor like your
self" said Jimmy, with a wave of his
hand; and as to monkey tricks, why
l could ave shot you before you en-
tered the room
Massey frowned and stood twiddling
his pistol.
You'll find a safety catch on the
left side of the barrel" continued Jim
my, pointing to the pistol; "snick it
up-you can always push it down again
with your thumb if you really mean
business. You are not my idea of a
burglar. You breathe too noisily, and
you are built too clumsily; why, l
heard o open the front door!"
The quiet contempt in the tone
brought a deeper red into the mans
face.
"Oh, you are a clever 'un, we know"
he began, and the old man, who had
recovered his self-command, motioned
him to a chair.
'Sit down, Mister Massey" he
snapped; "sjt down, my fine fellow. an
tell us all the news. Jimmy an me
was just speakin' about you, me an
Jimmy was. We was saying what q
fine gentleman you was'-his voice
grew shrill-"what a swine, what an
overfed, numbering fool of a pig you
was, Mister Massey"
He sank back into the depths of his
hair exhausted.
Look here, governor" began Massey
again-he a laid his pistol on a table
by his side, and waved a large red hand
to give point to his remarks-"we don't
want any un~pleasantness. I've been a
good friend to you, an so has Jimmy.
We've done you dirty work for years,
IllC an JIillily idNS, anu JIMMY hDOWS
it-turning with an ingratiating smirk
to the subject of his remarks-"and
now we want a bit of our own-that is
all it amoun to, our own"
Old Reale looked under his shaggy
eyebrows to where Jimmy sat with
brooding eyes watching the fire.
$50 it's a plant, eh2 You're both in
Ii. Jimmy comes first, he being the
clever one, an puts the lay nice an
snug for the other Teller"
Jimmy shook his head
wrong he said. He turned his
head and took a long scrutiny of the
newcomer, and the amused contempt OF
his gaze was too apparent.
Look at him!" he said at last. Our
dear Massey! Does he look the sort
of person / am likely to share con-
fdence within"
A cold passion seemed suddenly to
possess him.
It's a coincidence that brought us
together"
He rose and walked to where Massey
sat. and stared down at him.. There was
something in the look that sent Mas
sey's hand wandering to his pistol.
Massey, o dog!" he began, then