The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-12
ny A G. GREENWOOD.


aud the pattering Of the huge drops
upon the trees which oyerhung the
afea Min -streataing surface Of the
Winchester road: amid the Curgiins
and bubhing Of full bitches and gut
tiers. amid tho sough Of the wind
Nickel. $50 called by his pals on ac-
count of his exploits in stripping or
"nicKing" everything Of value from
unfortunate aud unconscious persons
with whom he came In contaeD
siouehed or. his footsteps almost in
audible. ,...
Then, where The road dips. over
the steaming orchard he saw the
gables. the smoking chimneys, the
! illuminated windows of Widehanger
Cottage.
Presently he crept to q waterbutt
and reconnoitred around its bellying
side. Through a window before
which the blind had only been half
| lowered and the curtains hung in a
wide "N." he saw by the light OF q
pickering fire the gleam of silver
| upon the table laid out for q meal.
It made his fingers itch and twich
/ and his eyes grow hard. greedy and
! Glinting One sliding, silent step
| enabled him to. make sure that the
| room was empty, its door shut, the
| window unboltcd
Foolhardy il might be- reflected
| Nickel. az he inserted the tips of his
fingers between the sash and sill.
/ But il looked easy. 1t was-~to his
mfnd--an invitation. The wondow
/ rolled noiselessfy up. Nickel peered
/ in. Gingerly he raised one leg, lift
ed IL over the sill and put II to the
carpet; cautiously the other followed
suit
On tip.toe he crept 10 the table.
Eagerly he snatched up three or four
heavy Apostle spoons. an ash tray,
a hu bon dish. He had heard moth
/ ing. The opening of the door found
/ him totally unprcpared. tall
/ black beared man III. evening dress
/ stalked into the room.
! Nickel caught mp a mustard pot,
! fttfta-ft with urnrriT1F Tim straight
At the mans fact. ard sprang to-
! wards the window His disturber
( with a howl of rage and pain leapt
! forward, setting Nickel by his skinny
I neck with one hand and by one ankle
| with the other. Nickel felt himself
! bent backward in bow, then flung
( through the air.
He landed with a clatter and an
aching thud in the fender, His as
sailaut--when Nickel had eyes TO sec
Was quietly wfping his face and
/ beard from mustard, and staring at
| him grimly
! Never learnt to put wedge un-
I dor the door 10 prevent your being
/ intruded upon - he asked WIN an
I dgiy. mirthless laugh. You're a
| HoNi'F' eae9s-7
! Mter moments silehce ne Went
I ~ '"e """i' "e"s II opeh' a'iu SMUT
/ 0",,, ,,.,,,.,
I i''''' coii'o nv A'N.
| 9OHis NLfs..',tth va ' ~ ~ ~,
az Nol"e
- t.t A'" ~ ~,
1iNhp, i'o'' t'e ohe
ai'a' p'H eNolaii'' healu l''e ot''si
pet St'a 'o''Ia' S'i -. '0'''u iA''
80, -, 80 "9 ~ - ...,,.,. =,
: ell '9'n 1,,, ~ s,eaaul' II ""' mr.
'o,'' i'''' 'N ie'5. ~ -
| oota u ', n'5n, Ii'teaeu me 'oo''i'
-. -, - w -, 80 - ~ - ap
' - ' 80 nc $50.
We We p'opoSilioll LOT YOU Aeeep'
~ anu We re. you ~ anu s4se YOU d
7o ' tei ~ u'0 cav LAG
Poi.ae W. De SCR >-t,., ..e,.--.,...
W. - 4. ,,,1 ne IN
-, -. - 80 ~ - -
it 10 TINS cpstaTs there hes an
ne mas just hiaue ne" Will LOU
may know that Two witnesses are re-
CURED ior VII My prothef mere
would De ohe--l wish you 10 DC the
otuef'
ana tl"t an. queFieu Nichei At'
astohlshhleht.
ihdt $ an s3ila SEM hooui,ls'
expecting 'hls- Mr. ohslo" Iii
your appear ance might disturb nun.
VI want you TO sec Nun sish' pe'
We aeh want nun 70 sec you :.
might give MN shock hou nnnsl
be prepared 10 swear III a court OF
law If necessary that you were mere at
94o, That you saw him sign ms name
and that YOU witnessed the signatures
DO YOU agree
~ course DO, eJaculateu mckee
smiling with rehet. nat ArIine-
tons my name, ana III sign ir any
where. is the Old gent READY, sir
ilil disappeared Tor hiteeh MN
utcs or SO. Nickel sal on the cage
of a chair t"lriing his nat, sleaming'