The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-01-02

could - your wife. couldn't /? ! an
. Postman. l Am good enough to-to
BE- What you want me to be. am not.
OoviAf You understand. don't you!
Mother Gays I am . Portman. I am
not common and vulgar, am I, David?
-
Il couldn't love you II you were
eAat Christine. You are at to be the
wife Of "a king"
"You ars the most wonderful per.
500 In sll this world. not even except
ing the. princes in the Arabian
Nshts.'"
I'm oaly . boy" be said.
II wouldn't love you II you were .
0aA.- she answered promptly. "Da-
~. must tell mother that-that you
NV hsssd me. You won't mind. will
voai"
Wen tsn her together" he said
s.aAily.
w-psrhaps we'd better not tell
eAthsr"
The words had scarcely left her lips
1Asu . startling interruption came.
A heavy body dropped from above.
landing In the middle of the sidewalk
not more than six feet from the door.
way. Vivid flashes of lightning reveal
ID to the couple the figure of . man
standing upright before them. but
looking in quite another direction.
Then came the cheerful cry:
Hello. Jack snipe!"
who are your" called out David.
"Ha! Who goes there. you mean.
Always use the correct question, kid.
How can I give the secret password
unless you put 1t up to me right? oh,
say! l didn't zee you, Miss Chris
tine. Geminy! Amt this . pelter!"
why. it's Dick" cried David.
where in the world did you drop
from-the sky!''
The pickpocket laughed sleefully.
did l scare you! l guess 1t must
have surprised you to see me
come popping in here like .
Punch and Judy figure. eh? You
Kind O. surprised me. too, Ill say
that for you. Gee whiz. didn't know
anybody was here. Say, do you mind
II get back in there out O. the wind
to light my pipe! I'm perishin' for .
smoke"
They drew back into the corner, and
the jovial rascal proceeded to strike
match after match In the futile at.
tempt to light his pipe. all the while
standing directly in front Of David and
facing the street instead Of sensibly
turning his back toward 1t. With the
mare Of each match his face was illu.
minated briefly but clearly.
A more experienced observer than
David would have grasped the signii,-
cance of these maneuvers. But how
was he to know that Ernie Cronk had
been crouching in a sheltered doorway
across the street standing guard while
his artful brother entered and ran
sacked the store whose awning now
afforded him . comfortable refuge!
And how was he to know that Ernie
had glared out upon their tender love
scene with eyes In which there was the
most pitiable Jealousy. the most i'm
placable hatred! Dick Cronk. how
ever. knew that his brother was over
there and that he must have seen these
two together In the flashes. Moreover,
he knew that Ernie had been carrying
. small derringer ever since his expe-
hence with the hoodlums earlier in the
season.
That is why he stood before David
and vainly tried to light his pipe
why, you are perfectly dry!" ex-
claimed Christine. touching his coat
sleeve.
Have you been here all the timer"
demanded David, Indignantly.
What do you call all the time?
was here before you came, II that1l
help you any. But" he fastened to
say. Il reckon l went away before you
dropped in. Now don't ask questions
If you axes no questions I'll tell you
no lies"
With the next flash of lightning he
cast furtive glance In the direction
of the show window to their left. The
heavy shutter was still open and bang
ing noisily against the casing. A par
ticularly brilliant flash few moments
later revealed to this sharpeyed young
man . huddled, black thing with a
ghastly patch Of white that he knew
to be face. in the doorway opposite
Where have you been for the past
ten days. Dick? We've missed you.
Ire asked your brother time and
again
DO you no good to ask Ernie, Jack"
said the pickpocket grimly He amt
his brothers keeper, remember that.
I've been taking my vacation, that's
all. My work was likely to become
too confining, 80 took a notion for a
change of air"
A curious note Of nervousness sound
ed in his voice. They were conscious
Of the fact that he was peering up and
down the drenched. black street with
quick. apprehensive eyes. Far below
there was lonely street lamp: anoth
er stood quite as far away in the op-
posite direction.
aTho r,{p,a latt{pp uD htk -