Las Vegas optic., 1914-11-14
FRIEND IN THE DARK
Y.SssssEs:e

syE ]. CLARK.


whole year, and when saw it one
Thursday afternoon, you can just bet
1t made me whistle some. And the
joke was. I'd not as much as two
dollars to my name, and 1t felt just
the same as il I'd stumbled on a
gold mine.
] tore a generous slab out of the
paper. being careful to allow good
margin around the notice. put # care
fully away in my pocket, and hiked
over to my friend and adviser, Jim,
the Turk.
He was asleep, after being out all
night, and Id quite a time to awake
him.
Read this" said, thrusting the
piece Of paper in his hand I'm 60
ing to blow his coop tonight, and
want you to come along"
Who is hep he asked after he
had read It, Don't know him"
Why, that's White, the banker
said. He's worth half million,
He lives over In Jersey and has a reg
ular Solomon's temple Of home
That states he and his family are go
ing to attend a swell wedding in this
old burg tonight, which means that
he'll not be at home and that well
make a cleanup"
He shook his head
Sorry, but | can't go along with
you, Spotty, my boy" he said Got
very important engagement on hand
for this evening, and / can't turn II
down. But don't allow that to inter.
fere with you That's chance you
don't want to let slip by But you
want to be mighty careful You know
them suburb jobs amt as easy as they
always look. For my part. prefer
those at home"
There was a train left the city at
IL m. an ideal time, and | board
ed it. ! arrived in the. Jersey town
at 1880 a. m.
| knew just where the house was
located for one afternoon, several
months before. l had taken sur
vey about to be in possession of the
facts, when the time arrived to do the
trick.
Well, in three-quarters of an hour I'd
the place gone over from top to bot
tom. Pm quick worker, and
worked my best. And I'd made quite
haul. I'd big bag chock full Of
solid silverware, and besides T'd about
fifty dollars worth OF iewelry rings
bracelets, cuff-buttons, and breast
pins I'd run across upstairs in the diff
ferent sleeping rooms.
chucked the bag Of silver over my
shoulder when it occurred to me want
ed drink. laid It on the floor, and
went back into the dining room, where
remembered having seen q flask oi
whisky while was helping myself
to the silver and box OF cigars OF
the buffet. ] picked up both Of then
and returned to where I'd been, which
room happened to be the library
/ lowered myself into big, com
Portable Morris chair, poured out q
good sized drink Of the whisky, and
gulped it. Then lit cigar.
OF course, l was all smiles. Tive
hundred would put me in clover fol
the coming month, at least. And
was in a position to enjoy the clover
took another drink, puffed severa
times more on my cigar, and told my
self I'd tarried around about Ions
enough.
AS farewell drink, poured out an
other one. and was about to raise i
to my lips when a soft sound behint
me broke the quietness of the room
shot around and found myself ii
the line Of the shining barrel Of ;
big revolver. 1t was backed by tall
smooth-faced, grinning individual. H,
was framed in the doorway leading
into the hall
How dol" he greeted pleasantly.
He'd knocked the speech clean ou
Of me SO that didn't find it for ;
minute or SO.
We'll, | guess you've got me, al
right" said
Yes. Looks very much that way,
he smiled But just for safe keeping
put that bad looking pop you hav,
there in your hand on the table. II
feel easier, besides l like to have sucI
things where can easily see them
and you might be tempted to use 1t /
you got the least chance"
/ didn't do his bidding right on, for
when gave up my pop. / might a
well tie my hands for him. But whel
he commanded me again, and made /
very plain by the way he said it tina
he meant what he said, I threw It ol
the table.
Now, empty out your pockets b
ordered and be careful not to leav
anything behind"
/ did without saying word.
lis that all?" he questioned, frown
ing.
Here's my pockets" ! invited C
through them, II you think hav
more.