The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-01-31

worth a thousand and maybe more to
me. Well, I'm square with Dick. He
divides with me. | want to let him
In on anything good hat ONE my
way"
i see. You are willing to divide
with him, SO you are going to let him
IN on condition that he will do all the
dirty work while you sit back and
boss the job. l see. You are a great
%financier. Ernie"
You ought to see my new fiat over
IN Eighth street." said Ernie proudly.
You don't share hat with Dick, |
imagine"
We'll, hardly" calculated Dicks
brother. Suddenly his uneasiness de-
veioped into a sort of whining pro-
test. Say, If you got anything to say
to me say it. l got to be moving
along. II | a make a thousand hon
estly I'm on the job. What's"
Well wait for Dick" observed the
colonel coolly.
Precisely ten minutes later Colonel
Grand got up from his chair. In three
strides he was at the door. He turned
the key and
There was Dick Cronk leaning
against he wall on the opposite side
OF the hallway, his hands in his peck
cts, his long legs crossed.
Evening, colonel Have YOU seen
anything OF a lost boy around here?"
Come in, Dick. I've been expecting
YOU said Grand quietly.
Ernie appeared behind Colonel
Grand. He indicated by a significant
motion of his head that Dick was to
enter.
I've got a proposition to make to
you fellows" said Grand.
What has it got to de with Tom
Braddock?' demanded Dick bluntly.
Il want to get this man Braddock
out of the way for good and all. He's
a menace to me, and I'm willing to
pay to AVE him completely blotted
out. You, Dick, get it in dribs by plum
dering the unwary. It's slow work and
dangerous. Ernie lives off of you with
something of the ~voracity Of a leech.
No offence intended, Ernie. Now, why
not turn you hand to something big
and definite and safe?"
Dick drew a long breath. Why
don't you kill him ~yourself?' he asked.
II didn't mention a killing, did H."
retorted Grand. What | want is TO
see him landed in Sing Sing for a long
term OF year-the limit, you might
say"
See here, Grand, you've called in
the wrong stoolpigeon this time. I'm
not in that kind of business. Never in
all my life have | put up a job on a
pal; never have | done a trick as dirt
mean as that. | guess you'll have to
count me and Ernie out"
Don't go off half cooked, Dick" ad-
monished the colonel easily. You're
no fool, nor is Ernie. It's worth just
ten thousand between you If Tom
Braddock is landed tonight with the
goods on him, SO to speak. Two thou
sand down, the balance
You Internal beast" snarled Dick,
standing squarely in front of him and
glazing into his eyes with a scorn SO
shriveling that the other drew back
with an oath.
Wait a minute, Dick: listen to me-"
fairly croaked Ernie in his excitement
Leave it to me. You're off your
tonight. Just le' me do the talking"
That's right" cried the colonel
quickly.
Dick shook off his brothers hand.
NO. This is no business of yours,
Ernie. I'm the one he wants to dicker
with. You can't put up a job OF Brad,
and he knows it. He's just using you
to land me. Not for ten million.
Grand. Do you get that"
Il tell you ten thousands a lot Of
money" said the ~hunchback. I'VE
could open the incest kind of a cigar
stand with that and live like honest,
respectable men ever afterward."
Dick studied his brothers livid face
with the darkest despair in his eyes.
His shoulders dropped suddenly.
Honest and respectable?' he said,
passing his hand over his eyes. you
mean you could be all of that, but
where would come in? Would you
let me stand behind the showcase In
your fine store? Would I ever get so
much as a pipeful of tobacco out of
it? Lock here, Grand. | don't know
Just what your plan is, but III tell you
this: I'll blow on 0 as sure as I'm
alive If you try to carry 1t out. Tom
B%raddock's not a whisky soaked bum
any longer. He cracked me over the
head this morning-you can see the
plaster there-but l don't hold it up
against him. He considers me his
friend because / swore I'd stand by
him If he'd hold back on getting you
right away. He trusts me. and I'm
not in on this dirty work, and neither
is Ernie!"
little StarIight"-A Bride.