Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-05-13
X.
SOME BAD CHARACTERs,

A~As~F
1T happened that on the night of the
great attempt the inQuisitive Mr.. Lane.
OF rs Cawdor ST., was considerably ex-
ercised in his mind as TO the depleted
condition of his humble treasury, With
Mr.. Lane the difference between af-
huence and poverty was a matter of
shillings. His line of business was a
humble one, Lead piping and lengths
Of telephone wire, an occasional door
mat improvidently left outside whilst
the servant leaned the hall, these rep
resented the scope and extent of his
prey. Perhaps he reached his zenith
when he lifted an overcoat from a a
stand during the time a benevolent old
lady was cutting him thick slices of
bread and butter in a basement
kitchen.
Mr.. Lane had only recently returned
from a short stay in NORWOOD
Scrubs prison. 1t was over a trifing
affair of horge hair distracted from
railway carriage cushions that com
PEELED Mr.. Lanes retirement for two
months. IL was that same affair that
brought about his undoing on the night
of the attempt.
For the kudos of the railway theft
had nerve0 him TO more ambitious
attempts and with a depleted e%xchequer
TO urge him forward, and the prestige
OF his recent achievements 10 support
him. he decided upon burglary. 1t was
a wild and reckless departure from his
regular line. and he did not stop to
consider the disabilities attaching 10
n change OF profession, nor debate the
nnpropitious conditions of an already
oyerstocked labor market. Ii is rea-
sonable 10 suppose that Mr.. Lane
lacked the necessary qualities OF logic
and balance TO argue any point 10 it's
obvious conclusion, for he was, intel
Iaaff4nlItF# thu raHprqa nf hpilliant aud
was therefore i'll equipped for intro
spcctive or psychological examination
of the circumstances leading ia his de-
cision. ~Communing with himself, the
inquisitive Mr.. Lane put the matter
tersely and brutally.
Lead pipin's no go unless you've got
n ral to work with. telephone wires Is
so covered up with wood casin' that it's
wosse'n hard work TO pinch two-pen-
moth. I'm goin' to have a cut at
Jencgcs."
SO In the pelting ran he watched
'Joneses' from a convenient doorway.
lie noted with satisfaction the work
men departing one by one. he OBJ
served with joy the going of Jones
himself and when, some few minutes
aftcrward, the queer looking old man,
whom he suspected as being a sort Of
caretaker, came shufhing out, slam
ining the gate behind him, and peering
left and right, and mumbling to him
self as he squelched through the rain,
she watcher regarded the removal of
shis final difficulty as being an especial
Gcr of providence.
ns saited for another half hour. be-
t'.use, for some reason or other, the
usually deserted street became annoy
ingly crowded. First came a belated
coal cart and a miserably 4bedraggled
carman who cried his wares dole
fully. Then O small boy, escap-
Ing from the confines OF his domestic
circle, came TO revel in the dewnpour
and wade ecstatically but thoroughly
through the puddles that had formed
on the uneve surface OF the road.
N mesis, in the shape OF a shrill-
voiced mother, overlook the boy and
sent him whining and expectant to the
heavy hand OF maternal authority.
With the coast clear, Mr.. Lane lost no
time. In cffecting an entrance to the
headquarters of the Borough Lott
Mr.. Lanes methci lacked subtlety. He
climbed Over the gate leading TO the
Tsrd. trusting inwardly that he was
MOI observed, but taking his chance.
Had ne been an accomplished burglar,
with the experience Il any exploits
behind him, he would have begun by
making a very thorough inspection OF
likely windows. Certainly ne would
never txrn tried the Office door. Be
Ing tho vcriest tyro. and being con-
scious. moreover. that his greatest
feats had connection with doors care
ieSsiy eft ajar, he tried the door, and
to his delight II opened.
Arid The s.s.iled craftsman would
have suspected some sort OF treachery,
and might have withdrawn: but Mr.,
Lane. recognizing In the fact that the
o.4 man had forgotten TO fasten the
door Behind him only yet another
ptgof ~ that benevolent providence
.Ejch sxfrts itself for the express SER
t.-v Il z9er An luck" entered boldly