The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-12-07

tfNA AeAA wv ar nm ~ IT,
life. He did not intend to steal now.
Before he entered the dressing tent,
half an hour ago. he had justified him
self unto himself; he was o going
to steal Dayid's money. His purpose
was an honest one or so his conscience
had been r%esolutely convinced. He
mean TO surreptitiously borrow the
idle money. that was all. Toward the
end of the season, when he was vast
ly prosperous-as he was sure to be-
he would 20 to David and restore the
money with interest, %whereupon the
grateful young man would fall upon
his neck and rejoice. He needed the
money. David did not need 1t.
What would his wife say If she came
to know of this? What would Chris
tine think OF him? They were harsh
questions and they troubled him. But
above these questions throbbed a still
greater one-the one that made bis
body damp with fear-was the money
still in the boys pocket or was he
carrying II with him In the ring?
or one thing he was sure: David
trusted to the integrity Of his fellow
performers. As for that. so did Thom-
as Braddock. In all his experience
with circus performers he had never
known one of them to steal: somewhat
%irrelevantly he reminded himself that
circus women were notably cmste.
No: David's money was quite safe In
that dressing tent.
Two full minutes passed before he
could whip his conscience into sub
mission. II was. as II afterwards
turned out to be. the last stand OF the
thing called honor as II applied to
whisky soaked Tom Braddock. Then
he shot forward across the black
shadows to the side pole he had been
glaring at for a quarter Of an hour.
Through the lacings in the side wall
he saw that the section was empty.
When David put his hand inside the
lining OF his waistcoat an hour later
he turned pale and his eyes narrowed
with suspicion. Fol- an instant he per-
mitted them to sweep the laughing,
unconscious group of men surrounding
him.
"Joey." he said a moment late, TAX
ing the clown aside, my pocketbook
is gone"
"wotg gasped Joey. "'Ave you lost
it?'
'It has been stolen"
Joey's face grew very sober. Don't
cav that. Jacky. 1t was in your ves'cut
as usualT'
ayes. The lining is slashed with a
knife
'Jacky, are you sure;" almost groan-
cd the clown. "Why-why, there
amt nobody ere as would steal a pin.
No. sir. not n Of
81 know that. Joey" said David. He
was very white and his eyes were
heavy with pain. Il know who stole
IT,"
Grinaldi looked up sharply. Some
thing darted into his mind like a rash
Of lightning.
eYou-you don't
II won't say the name. And you
mustn't say il either. Joey. But am
as sure OF II rs | am sure my heart
heats Casey said he-the man came
in here for half an hour can't be-
reve he is a thief. Joey, they u
never know. We must not mention
this thing to any one. l DON mlhu
the money. 1t is nothing
Joey wiped the perspiration from MS
forehead.
.Richt-o, Not a blooming word. l
500 vour meaning. BY cripes. he's
sinking pretty low. But hopeiuuS'
.mebby he didn't do it,"
II hope he didn't. but The boy
sbuddered. Joey, | passed INN as
came from the ring awhile ago lie
was leaning against n quarter pole
The look he gave me was so queer SO
feroclous. that | turned away. l
couldu't understand it. But | do now
Joey. It's as clear rs day to me. lie
had discovered that instead of S2.Joo
there were but six ten-dollar notes III
that pocketbook. DO You understand:
He was hldCk WIN iN-N INV ~
pointment"-
"Joeky. we've got TO keep our eyes
peeled. You and me-and another pus-
son too. We got to stand by tonight
IN protect or. He probably thinks that
nrsson can tell i'm where ii IS
But Thomas Braddock was not hin
ing Of his wife in connection with the
disappointment that had come to him
in that last hour of degradation. lie
was thinking of Colonel Bob Grand
and wondering what magic influence
he had exercised w the boy to COM
mel him to deliver SO much money mo
his hands. Down in the darkest cor
nor of his soul he was cursing bop
Grand for a scheming thief. betore
The wagons were well under way Tor
The next stand he was dead drunk IN
tho alley back Of the hotel bar, having
first thrashed a porter who undertook
IN eject him from the place.