The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-12-11
TomGanagher
Information
BY EDITH v. ROSS

IuOuey lOI present use anu started
down the street Tom had nowhere 10
go II there seemed to be no use look
ing for Il job. That day of making IL
living by honest work had passed lie
had tried work and had tried house.
breaking. Several terms at hard tabor
In prison had led him to prefer hard
labor in the open. But If he could get
a job-which was not likely without Il
recommendation, which he did not pos
sess-it wouldn't be long before some
II who knew him for what he vas
would come along and give him away.
He stopped at u restaurant and had
a meal, after which he bought Il rI@ar
and enjoyed the first good smoHr IA Il
long while. Then he walked on lnrn
the residence part Of the city, inspect
Ing premises with Il view to finding
one of easy access. from which he
might extract something which he
might exchange for funds against the
time when his meager purse should
again need replenishment.
Coming to u fine residence that stood
In a lot so large that there were no
other houses near it, he stopped and
looked it over carefully. There was an
arbor for grapes from which a second
story window might be reached, and
most of the windows on the main floor
were not 50 high but that they could
be reached from the ground.
With a view to looking for a weak
spot he entered the premises and went
round to the rear. Through u window
he saw a wOman washing dishes. She
saw him, too, and to divert suspicion
he knocked at the kitchen door and
asked If that was Mr.. Smiths house.
He was taken all aback when the wo-
man said that it was.
"Mr. Jacob Smith,
The woman replied in the affirma-
tive.
"Mr. Jacob Brown Smith,"
Yes, Mr.. Jacob Brown Smith lives
here. Do you wish to see him?"
Tom. not having sufficient wit to ex-
tricate himself from such a hole. stood
looking at the woman shamefacedly
and without reply.
"You don't want to see the owner
Of the house at all. You are recon-
nOitering with a view to breaking in
to carry off ~valuables. | saw you siZ-
ing up the chances of an entry from
the arbor and giving a professional
glance at the second story real win
dow. You ought to know that the
safest way for a job like that is to
take a servant in and have the whole
thing opened up to you"
"Are you in the biz asked Tom.
II know all about the craft and can
tell n of them on sight. I'm tired
Of taking risks and will never take an
other unless I'm cocksure that there's
no chance Of my getting caught. and
the pay must be big"
what luck" exclaimed Tom. Il new
er thought to find n helper in here.
You just put me on to the game and
you can make your own terms as to
the divvy."
The wOman stood looking at Tom
with an eye that puzzled him. Then
she said:
Il reckon I'll trust you. I've had a
lot Of experience with u kind. and If
a person has any good In him at all l
can tell it. You won't give me away"
1t was arranged between the two
that Tom should come to the house
that night at II. He was to find a
kitchen window unlocked. through
which he might expect an entrance.
A back staircase would lead him to a
safe built In the wall and he would
find the key under a rug near by. he
was to take the silver and any cash
be might find in the safe and 90 out
with it as he came in. Having turned
the swag into cash. he was to meet the
woman that day week at the north
west corner of the city park and de-
liver two-thirds Of the profit. Tom
vas surprised at being so largely trust
ed, but this didn't trouble him a bit.
At the appointed hour be appeared
at the window and found it unlocked,
entered, went up the back staircase,
found the key Of the safe under the
rug and was opening the safe door
when suddenly every electric light
blazed out at once. Feeling a hand on
his shoulder. he turned and looked into
the face Of a policeman. At the same
time he heard a rustic of a dress and
the woman with whom he had made
the deal appeared on the scene in even
ing costume.
"Shall l take him away. ma'am?"
wait a minute: l wish to speak to
him." Then. turning to Tom. she
added:
when you called this afternoon,
both my servants having left me. I
was doing my own work. | spend a
good deal Of my time in the work of
rescuing prisoners and recognized you
as n ! had seen behind bars. You
are a better man than you look to he.
If you were not handicapped how
would you like to earn an honest liv.
ing?"
I'D like it mighty well. ma'am."
gasped Tom.