Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1915-02-05
lomGallagher's
Information
By EDITH V. ROSS

VI was uuiSneu. lie was given some
money for present use and started
down the street Tom had nowhere to
so and there seemed to be no use look
Ing for job. That day of making Il
living by honest work had passed He
had tried work and had tried house
breaking. Several terms at hard labor
in prison had led him to prefer hard
labor in the open. But If he could get
job-which was not likely without a
recommendation. which he did not Dos
sess-it wouldn't be long before some
one who knew him for what be was
would come along and give him away.
lie stopped at restaurant and had
a meal. after which he bought a cigar
and enjoyed the first good smoke In a
long while. Then he walked on into
the residence part OF the city. inspect
Ing premises with view to finding
one or 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 lot so large that there were no
other houses near it, he stopped and
looked 1t over carefully. There was an
arbor for grapes from which second
story window might be reached, and
most of the windows on the main floor
were not so high but that they could
be reached from the ground.
With view to looking for a weak
spot he entered the premises and went
round to the rear. Through a window
he saw 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.
MIR. Jacob Smith,"
The woman replied in the aff1rma.
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 hole. stood
looking at the woman shumefacedly
and without reply.
You don't want to see the owner
of the house at all. You are recon.
noitering with view to breaking In
to carry Off valuables. | saw you siz-
ing up the chances Of an entry from
the arbor and giving professional
glance at the second story rear win.
dow. You ought to know that the
safest way for job like that Is to
take servant in and have the whole
thing opened up to you"
Are you in the biz z" asked Tom.
II know all about the craft and can
tell one 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. 81 new.
er thought to find 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:
81 reckon I'll trust you. I've had a
lot Of experience with our kind. and If
q person has any good in him at all |
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 l2. He was to find
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 rug near by. He
was to take the silver and any cash
he might find In the safe and go out
with 1t as he came in. Having turned
the swag into cash. he was to meet the
that day week at the north
west corner of the city park and de-
liver two-thirds of the profit. Tom
was surprised ut being so largely trust
I'd, but this didn't trouble him bit.
At the appointed hour he appeared
1t the window and found 1t unlocked,
went up the back staircase,
'ound the key of the safe under the
Jug and was opening the safe door
when suddenly every electric light
llazed out at once. Feeling hand on
lis shoulder. he turned and looked into
he face Of a policeman. At the same
lime he heard rustic of a dress and
he woman with whom he had made
he deal appeared on the scene In even.
ng costume.
shall take him away. ma'amT
wait minute; wish to speak to
him." Then, turning to Tom. she
ldded:
when you called this afternoon.
10Th my servants having left me,
vas doing my own work. | spend a
rood deal Of my time in the work of
escuing prisoners and recognized you
IS one | had seen behind bars. You
ire better man than you look to be. |
I you were not handicapped how
would you like to earn an honest :iv-
ng?"