Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-24
When Robbers Lay Off
Christmas Episode Showing That Even Thieves May Rave
Yuletde Spirit.
BY CHARLES Nj. CLARK.

! II was in every rogle's gallery in the
| United States and Canada.
| II guess YOU better come with me, :"
| said the detective, thinking and acting
! quickly with mcnacing movement of
! his right hand toward the pistol pocket.
| The Rabbit, desperate Us he was, knew
| bv instinct when man me ant what be
said. In this instance he was entirely free
| from doubt, He did exactly rs Shanks
said. He came "here." The officer slipped
| the handouts on his man with one hand
while unostentatiousiy poking his gun
| in the fellows midriff with the other.
"Why In the --- did you have to go
and butt In herei" said the prisoner, with
deep resentment. "When guy is trying
to do tho right thing one of you damn
bulls is sure to horn In and queer 1t.
Whoever accused you Of doing the
right thing7" retorted the detective.
.'But we'll give you q chance in the work
house"
''You'rc so damn smart, Tn teI you
what Ill do with you. Just take these
cuffs off and follow me. / tell you I'm
straight for this once anyhow and II you
don't believe me try me. | say you can
follow me- W ont -lIn. | guess you can
stop me sho-t if do, can't your" he shot
at his captor. you've got the best OF me.
You know got no hardware
DO | really look simple asked
Shanks, with withering scorn. The Rab-
bit had sized hls man up all right
II know you wouldn't trust me out Of
sight" went on the Rabbit, but | tell
you you ought TO leave me 60 Just for
tonight. You can follow right along be-
hind and when | get through with this
right stuff I'll 90 wherever YOU say and
+ l. 70 r,,tt~.fr~ ;
want me to
The detective and his prisoner halted.
The officer was weakening. The promise
of true confession from this king Of the
safe blowers was like dream to this ann
bilious headquarters man, His prisoner
saw he was making hcadway and con
tinued right on:
at wont take me two hours to do this
Job an d Won won't he = bit sore with me
nor yourself afterwards, What do YOU
say
fIm game, hut If you're thin King Of
putting anv queer stuff over on me to-
night you had better say your pra ycrs
first
The officer removed the bracelet $. F."
Now lead on. said he, "and remember
thai wherever YOU lead I'm right behind
YOU and that there's no blanks IN this
gun
The Rabbit, greatly relieved. and with
hChtencd step left the crowd 81 Market
street and walked cast on Tenth, past the
Public Building, where a score q cage
cells vawned at him The sleuth followed
not 20 PAGES behind. The Rabbit went
out Eleventh street and turned into an
allcv east OF West street ana pecrrd over
the fences. Finally he stopped at the fourth
house. The officer walked M 10 him,
What's up?" asked Sharlks.
I'm, going over this fence, said the
crook
What's the game?
See that bush on the porch
'Ncs
well, its NINE not mine exactly, but
lets call it mine
You can't spend that thing.
Don't want 70 spend it.
Come and help me over the fence with
It
no. do your stealing alone My God,
that Is Ramsay 5 house
Who's Ramsay
One OF our headquarters men
What's the difference.
What in the -- YOU going TO 10 with
III"
Just watch me. With that the man
climbed over the fence and opened the
pate 10 admit the detcrtIve. The latter
gasped at certain Re flectlons, one q which
concerning Ramsay aroused ms rISIbllItv.
Down Tenth to Orange thence To
Third street and across Market the queer
procession moved with the Rabbit hold
lnc grirniv 10 the bush. Into a doorway oa
the north side of Third street disappeared
the desperate king and his bulky burden,
and the sleuth At Il IS Ileels.
Il guess tue kids asleep nov, SAID
the Rabbit. pausIng before beginning the
ascension. The light now food Il UPON
the detective although there Was sth
some hing short 81 !. full understa ndlng
The officer gave lift. anyway. On the
fourth floor the Rabbit leaned the tree
against the wall and raped softly on >
door. s ss-rawnv woman face greeted
him Her husband vas sprawled on the
floor, dead drunk. and the gobber KIM
elt the urge 10 gIve him the boot
Where's the little one inquired The
Gone q bed. moaned the van
mother There hangs her stocking. bat
she wont find a single thing II i II the
morning amt even 20, tree, nor :
cent Of money.
The crook and the officer carried the
bush into the room 4 gle2Ih " Hdpi 5dtc99
showed in the mothers eyes ] got some
things u put on ii, she said. The men
Set Up the bush ID the front room. The
officer : gun had been restored to Us
holster. And he vas studying the safe
blowers leader
Il guess thatll do. SAID the Rabbit
content with the decorations. The sleutb
claimed q share IN the pride.
The Rabbit and Shanks returned 70 the
street The yeggman was the first to break
the silence after they reached Market
street and stopped.
where do We go from here" asked
the Rabbit
81 don't know where you're going, but
/ got tree Of my own TO trim before !
turn in, replied the officer.
80, goodnight"
NEW CHURCH PUBLICATION.
"A