The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-08
A Popiinjjay
BY MARGARET c. DEVEREAUx

corner chatting. They were boti
crooks, though professionally they hat
no connection. A dapper young fel
low who looked as II he had just come
out of a bandbox passed them.
"Who is that guyT' asked one crook
"Hlst!" said the other and waited
till the young man had got beyond
hearing; then he aided: That's Pin
kerton. | run across him onct He's
the slickest IN the business. I'd know
him through any makeup
"Whats he dom hereg asked the
! other nervonsly.
~ reckon he's workin' on the Tenth
National bank business. I've been let
into II that the best men in the Pinker-
| ton service are on that case"
"Come off, Tom; you're coddin' me"
"You needn't believe me, Bill, il you
don't want to. I've only given you
what think anyway
The crook who had received this in
formation tried to look unconcerned,
but the other noticed that he was very
mnch concerned. Bill walked away,
and Tom looked after him with evident
amusement. what a sucker? he
said to himself. II believe he had
something to do with that bank job or
he wouldn't have bit 30 student. He's
green one. The idea o. that popin-
tay beIn' detective" And he smoth-
cred a laugh.
That same afternoon Bill met the
popinIay again on the street. Bill
looked at him so hard that he attracted
the others attention. This was prob
ably the reason why he looked hard at
Bin. At any rate Bin shuddered and
passed on.
"Hes on to me, sureF' he muttered.
Il wonder If could get out o town
without his KNOWN it. I'm goin' to
try a makeup.
When the Z o'clock train pulled out
Of the station an elderly countryman
with a pair of old fashioned green Cog
giles on his nose sat In seat by him
self looking as IL he had just come
from the haying fed. The door at the
front end OF the car opened, and VINO
should come In but the popinjay. The
only seat vacant was by the farmer,
and the newcomer took 1t. The farm
er's ewes being covered by the goggles
and the lower part Of his face by
long white beard, no one could see the
contortions of his countenance. Pres
emily he pulled himself together and
said in low tone TO the man beside
him:
"what is there in it for me If give
up the stuff
what STUFF" asked the other, sur.
prised.
ooh, I'm on 10 you same as you're on
to me. No need O fencin'. II | put
you on to where the money is hid VIII
you let me out o the gamer
The stranger turned, looked the
speaker fun In the face, surprise, Curl
osity, craft and number Of other ex-
pressions struggling for the mastery
Finally he said
Can you turn It over without the
matter leaking outi'
II can"
"Do you want to go anywhereT
Reckon I'd like to try South Amer
ica for awhile"
Glow much would you needT
How much can you let me haveT
"How much money have you to turn
over?"
can that was taken
The poplnjay was stalled. He didn't
like to ask what he was supposed TO
know. He concluded to take risk.
would Ave hundred dor
"If you can't do any better"
Every well. Where do we get offy
AT Winchester"
There was no further conversation
between the two TN they reached Win
chester, where they left the train 10
gether.
"Fary" asked the popinjay as they
stood on the platform.
About two miles"
"Cabr'
A station cabman drove up; the two
rot Ia and were driven beyond the out
skirts Of the town, stopping at a small |
house IN bad repair. woman came
10 the door. followed by several chil /
iren whose faces peered from behind |
her The crook had thrown or his dis
yuise while IN the cab and appeared A. /
himself The woman looked from one 4
nan 10 the other anxiously Bill said .
% her; "rve got tired o this business.
I'm goin' 10 give NJ the stun and take
rou and the children 70 new country
% make new beginnln''
I'm mighty glad o. that gasped the
Foman. "rm dyin' with this load on
ne
Going into the house. Bin went 20 the
'eilar and brought up package. which
- handed 10 the popinjay. who open
q Il and. finding 8 number Of bank
ans. counted out q thousand dollars
nd hauded Il back 70 BIZ
Il thought you made It 500"
II didn't know you were going n
lerin over with yaur wife and chi
.ran. There's 500 for vou and $500
81 then. I'm IS detective You gave
.oarneif away fo me ueediassly 0ur 4
neetinr - the train vas cuine
enee. Tn miffnnaire ] shall take
BIZ money = TIE bank and restore q
Nhat I've given Yun y ygu
es.1 hsin 81 en- nue - me know
re urufe lis aatress ~ bis card hn1
res drren awnf faHgwed ~ many
atsnE f1aaa ran