The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-06-26

swiftly but SO quietly that the rustic
Of starched linen alone marked his
progress about the room.
A sudden low grunt from Nifty |
made him face about, and In the pal
pable silence he heard the door Of |
the safe swing open clumsily upon |
its hinges.
He started forward with an impul |
sive movement for he heard the be-
loved rattle under Nifty's hand that |
meant coin. One step, and then a |
sudden start! His heart almost |
stopped beating; his hand leaped to
his throat, and in. the darkness his
eyehalls cleaned under distended
lids. Now, Nifty, too, had sprung to
his feet, terror in his every move
ment as down through the silent
church penetrating with appalling
clearness the sacristy door came the
sound of a strong, even football.
The coward in Sneaky leaped to
the surface, and, forgetful of all save
his own safety, he dashed to the win
dow. But his hand resting on the
sill was clasped in a viselike grip
and Nifty's breath beat hard upon
his ear.
"Wait, you rabbit! Quit with this
sWag left behind! Wait: we're two
to one, and it may be false alarm.
If not"
His pause was significant, as he
slipped silently across the room
toward the closed door. Sneaky, his
lips dry and his eyes staring, fol-
lowed perforce, while the echoing
steps drew nearer and nearer, seem
ingly bent for the door. The panic
of fright gripped Sneaky, but Nifty's
, strong hand on his wrist held him
tight.
MAKE a rope of those rags" whis-
pered Nifty; quick, or I'll get you
instead of him"
With trembling hand Sneaky
i wound the clothes together, knotting
them into a long, plant rope When
he crouched once more at the side of
his tense confederate, he found him
with his eye close to the slightest of
openings. The footsteps, so near the
door, had been deadened as if pass.
ing over a carpet. and then suddenly
paused. The pair crouching in the
dark saw through the crack the sud-
den flash of a match that reflected
fully on the indistiguishable face of
the intruder. Carefully a single
candle was lighted upon the altar,
throwing soft, steady light on the
rather short black figure. The pair
saw him kneel, reverently and then
with a key open small door that
cleaned in the pale light Then, as
he turned slightly, Sneakys heart
that had been choking him with it's
rapidity seemed almost to stop, for
the face was that of the same kindly
man whose God bless you was the
first Sneaky had ever heard.
Dumb dismay held him motionless
for a brief moment, and then wrath
at the deception of his accomplice
flooded his soul, making him forget
full of their danger 1t was Sneaky's
: hand that now closed tensely on
Nifty's wrist; it was Sneaky's eyes
that flashed in the darkness; it was
Sneaky's voice that Missed passion
ately:. .
"You lied to me, you hound!"
With the quickness of thought,
Nifty clapped his hand over his part
ner's mouth, but Sneaky shook it off
angrily.
"You lied to me; you said that this
| wasn't st. Martins,
what if did," whipped Nifty, in
| censed at his folly. 'It's.too late to
back out now"
, ''This is his church, and that's him.
the man that said God bless you
: Do you think I could lay finger on
! him?"
you've got to stick to me and to
5 this job, Sneaky. You can't throw
: down pal, This blasted sentiment
Z don't go. You've got to stick
Sneaky; do you hear, stick?"
The primitive impulses of Sneaky's
r untutored soul were at war as they
4 never had been before. A mad de-
sire to run from the man who had
I befriended him, sense of shame
that made the knOtted rope in his
!. hand feel red hot, battled with lust
of the swag and still more with a
feeling of loyalty to the partner OF
his crime. He couldn't lay finger
on the man whose voice had blessed
him as he had never been blessed
+. before; but he could not betray his
pal If the man there at the altar
: could only be informed Of their pres
ence in time-if something could
{ occur to brighten Nifty
The priest at the altar was fasten-
Z ing the door of the tabernacle. Nifty
knelt tensely, watching for the next
move. Sneaky's eyes wandered about
J wildly, and then fell on a small table
on which rested glass, pitcher and
) basin. Cautiously in the darkness
Sneaky leaned his weight against the
) fragile stand. There was sickening
} crash of falling wood and shattering
glass, that made the three actors in
the scene leap with different in
stincts.
; Fool" Kissed Nifty, his tense
: nerves swapping like wet strings,
you've done it now. Run for every
: ounce you've got in you.''
With the swiftness of shadows the
] two black figures raced for the open
a window and safety. For moment
I Father Harding stood paralyzed with