The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-03-10
CHAPTER II-(continued).
"Reparation?" suggested Jimmy.
Old Reale nodded delightedly.

amt asked you why you broke into my
house in the middle of the night,
though knew it was you who came
the other day to check the electric
meter. I saw you an I've been waitin'
for you ever since"
Il knew all about that" said Jimmy
calmly, and ficked the ash of his Gig
-aret way with his little finger, land
l 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" a Reale testify. 1--WE
got a special house for the servant
and they come in every morning after
I've nfix ~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's skipped the rug" whispered
Jimmy, and switched out the light.
The two men heard a stealthy foot
step on the stair and waited. There
was the momentary CLINT of a light,
and the sound 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.
n 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 hea was stuck a bowler hat, the
narrow brim of which seemed to en-
phasize the breadth Of his face. A cas-
ual observer might nave placed him
for a coarse, good natured man of rude
but boisterous humor. The chronological
student would nave 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 'em up!"
Neither man obeyed him. Jimmy was
amused, and looked ii, stroking his
fingers. The old man vas fury in
carnate.
He 1t was that turned to Jimmy
and croaked
I always said, Jimmy? Massey is a pig
he's got the manner Of a pig.
Faugh!"
Put up your hands!" Kissed the man
with the pistol. Put 'em VI or I'll
put you both out"
eff he'd come first, JIMMY" Old
Reale wrung his hands in his regret.
"Spose he'd jumped the rug-any
sneak thief could have done that-d'ye
think he'd W. spotted the man in
armor? II 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
ooh, I'm only a visitor like your
self" said Jimmy, with a wave Of his
hand; land as to monkey tricks, why
l could have shot you before you en-
tered the ROOM"
Massey frowned and stood twiddl;ng
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 NEAR
business. You are not my idea Of q
burglar. You breathe too noisily, and
you are built too clumsily; why,
heard you 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 s~elf-command, motioned
him to a chair.
sit down, Mister Massey" he
snapped; 'sit 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 G
fine gentleman you wes"-his voice
grew shrill-"what a swine, what ar
overfed, numbering fool Of a pig you
was, Mister Massey!"
He san back into the depths of his
chair exhausted.
Look here, governor" began Massey
again-he had laid his pistol on a tablt
by his side, and waved a large red ham
to give point to his remarks-"we dom
want any u-npieasantness. I've been {
good friend to you, m so has Jimmy
We've done your dirty work for years
me an Jimmy have, and Jimmy know:
ft'-turning with an ingratiating smirl
to the subject of his remarks-"anc
now we want a bit of our own-that il
all it amounts to, our own"
Old Reale looked under his shagg.
eyebrows to where Jimmy sat witt
brooding ayes watching the fire.
So it's a plant. Ell? You're both IL
1t. Jimmy comes first, he being tn,
clever one. an puts the lay nice an
snug for the other Teller"
Jimmy shook his head.
Wrong" he said. He turned hi
head and took a long scrutiny Of tn,
newcomer, and the amused contempt O
his gaze was too apparent.
Look at him!" he said at last. "Ou
dear Massey! Does he look the sor
of person l am likely to share con
fdence within"
A cold passion seemed suddenly t
possess him.
Its a coincidence that brought u
together"
He rose and walked to where Masse,
sat, and stared down at him. There wa
something in the look that sent Mas
sey's hand wandering to his pistol.
Massey, you dog!" he began, the,
checked himself with a laugh an
walked to the other end Of the room
There was a tantalus with a soda 81
phon, and he poured himself a stit
portion and sent the soda fizzling int