The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-12-06

liz itN u ti'lNl NlDltD any lllliN - Ai'
life. lie 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 not going
TO steal Dayid's money. His purpose
was an honest one or so his conscience
had been re~solutcly convinced. He
meant to surreptitiously borrow the
idle money. that was all. Toward the
end of the season. when be 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 it.
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 his
body damp with fear-Was the money
still in the boys pocket or was he
carving II with him In the ring?
or one thing he was sure; David
lilT~ltI u Tie lLltSiIjN VI lis civ"
performers. As for that. SO did Thorn
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 chaste.
No; David's money was quite safe in
that dressing tent.
IT, s-I -;.,+o, rne-nI Hofora ha
could whip his conscience into sub
mission. 1t was, as it afterwards
turned out TO be, the last stand of the
thing called honor as it applied to
whisky soaked Tom Braddock. Then
he sho forward across the black
shadows to the side pole he had been
glaring at for q 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 our later
he turned pale and his eyes narrowed
with suspicion. For an instant he per
mitted them to sweep the laughing,
unconscious group of men surrounding
him.
Joey" he said q moment late. tax
ing the clown aside, my pocketbook
is gone
"Wot," gasped Joey. Gave You lost
ite'
1T has been stolen
Joey's face grew very sober. Don't
say that, Jacky. IT was in your ves'cut
as usual
Yes. The lining is slashed with a
knife"
"Jacky. are YOU surc:" almost groan-
ed the clown. "Why-why, there
amt nobody ere as would steal a pin.
No. sir. not one Of"
Il know that. Joey," said David. lie
was very white and his eyes were
heavy with pain. Il know who stole
it"
Grinaldi looked mp sharply. Some
thing darted into his mind like a flash
Of lightning.
"You-you don't mean
Il won't say the name. And you
mustn't say it either, Joey. But | am
as sure Of it as | am sure my heart
beats. Casey said he the nan came
i'm here for half an hour-I can't be
lieye he is n thief, Joey. they must
never know. We must not mention
this thing to any one. ] don't mlnd
the money. 1t is nothing
Joey wiped the perspiration from his
forehead.
'Iicht-o, Not a blooming word. I
see your meaning. BY criles, he's
sinking pretty low. But" hopefully,
"mehhy he didn't do it
L hope he didn't. but The boy
S~huddercd. Joey. | passed him as |
came from the ring awhile ago. lie
was leaning against a quarter pole.
The look he gave me was SO queer, SO
ferocious, that ! turned away.
couldn't understand 1t. But | DO now.
joey. Its ~ clear us day to me. He
had discovered that instead Of 5000
tlerc were but six ten-dollar notes in
that pocketbook. DO you understand:
lie was black with rage and disap
pointment
.Jacky. we've got to keep eyes
peeled, YOU and me and another pus-
son too. We Got to tald 10y tonight
To protect 'er. He probably thinks that
pusSon can tell i'm where it Is"
But Thomas Braddock was not think
ing Of his wife in connection with the
disappointment that had come to him
in that last hour Of degradation. He
WAS thinking Of Colonel Sol Grand
and wondering what magic influence
he had exercised over the boy 10 ON
pei him to deliver SO much money into
his hands. Down in the darkest cor
uer Of his soul he was cursing Bob
Grand for Il scheming thief. Before
the wagons were we'll under way for
The next stand he was lead drunk in
the alley back Of the hotel bar. having
first thrashed a porter who undertook
To eject him from the place.
Mrs. Braddock and Christine waited