The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-08

ness she nhd fesOrteu 10 WIS ooiu
step. OF more value than her hus-
band. even In his low profession. she
was still his supine inferior In the
rights OF possession. What she had
was gift from him. and. rs June
had heard him put II himself, he
gave her what was good for her.
The woman! She was coming up
the ladder! The fugitive hidden in
the attic was stunned by this un-
expected action.
Nearer and nearer came the won.
ans head. and nearer and nearer TO
the edge OF the trapdoor extended
June's strong young hands!
"Babel" Flub stirred uneasily.
oh. Babe"
The woman was down the ladder
like q cat.
"what?"
No answer. The man was still
sound asleep. The woman stood
over him for awhile. TO make sure
OF this. and started for the ladder
again. Halfway across the room she
hesitated. turned. walked swiftly
to the end Of the hut and hid the
little channels bag beneath loose
stone behind the stove.
She was putting away the last OF
the dishes when suddenly she
stopped. turned. and slow smile
spread upon her lips. Her eyes
burned with a somber nre. She went
over to Big Ben and deftly secured
n long. slender cigarette holder She
crossed swiftly to her husband and
inserted the holder In his top vest
pocket. SO that its shining tip pro
truded. The water cask stood by
Big Ben's head. With a CLEAN In
her eye the woman went over. filed
the rusty tin cup and deliberately
poured a fourth OF It's contents over
Big Bens face.
Excuse me-" she laughed as he
sat up. startled. and with the same
motion jerked revolver from his
pocket.
He Erinned at her sheepishly az
he saw the sparkle OF mischief in
her eye and he wiped his face with
his sleeve
"You done IL o. purpose" he spec
ulated. chuckiing.
Think soy" she dimpled.
Big Ben's eyes frightened.
II believe you're after that
shawl"
Fluid sell H." And she glanced
across at the sleeping man with
vindictiye hadred.
Take it, urged Big Ben. rising.
III Fiub sells II to me-" He picked
up the shawl and clumsily threw It
around the woman's shoulders. She
looked down nj the shawl and toyed
with It's long. delicate fringe. she
took IL on slowly and gave II back
TO the man,
Nothing doing" she sadly decid-
ed: then she slowly turned and
looked AT her husband and walked
away There was a softening in
Big Ben's eyes as she walked away.
and then he. too. glanced at the
sleeping Fiub. He strolled 10 the
door and came back. Suddenly he
stopped. The CLEAN OF something
yellow had caught his care. He
walked close and bent low. He
pulled the cigarette holder out far
enough TO identify II and pushed 1t
back; then he gave the sleeper a
kick
Get mp, you thief" he reared
Flub sprsng up. dazed.
What's that"
II said get up. you thief" roared
Big Ben as lean Jake abruptly
stopped snoring and jumped up. He
was halfway TO the ladder before
he realized that this was not a raid.
and June. divining his intention.
rose swiftly and put her hands on
the loose clapboards OF the roof.
Ben jerked the cigarette holder
from Flub's pocket. You stole IT,"
"Ah. no. BEN" protested the wo
man. IL wasn't out of the house
Ave minutes. F1ub was asleep when
! went out. and he was asleep when
I come back"
Flub seemed daxed by the accuse.
tion. but suddenly he let out q yell.
Mechanically he had reached In his
vest pocket. as was his habit when
the chamois bag was there. and had
discovered HIS loss.
my diamond" he yelled. "It's
gone" And his face turned white
as he looked around the tense group.
Slowly comprehension came TO him.
You framed met he suddenly
shouted. pointing q trembling finger
at Big Ben. You copied my dln-
mond; then you planted this cigar.
cite holder 90 you could"
You're q liar" beloved Big Ben
and sprang for his accuser.
A knife cleaned IN Fiub's hand.
and he siashed savagely at his on
rushing opponent With roar OF
rage Big Ben caught the descending
wrist. wrested the weapon from Il
and plunged II to the hilt In F1ub's
breast!
There was . piercing shrek from
the attic and tearing Of boards.
The woman. quick OF mind as she