Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-07-30

have folks call you mister And then.
I had the finest wife and Kids that ever
struck the range. and my Old friend with
me enjoying the first fruits Of prosperity
and white shirts, and ! guess ! was
happy. Yes, was happy about that
time"
The Major sighed and glanced casually
ont Of the window. The bank examiner
changed his position and leaned his chin
upon his other hand.
zone winter" continued the Major,
"the money for the county taxes came
pouring In so fast that ! didn't have time
10 take the stuff TO the bank for a week.
| just showed the checks into a cigar
box and the money into sack. and
locked them in the big safe that be-
! longed In the sheriffs office.
Il had been overworked that week,
and was about sick. anyway. My nerves
were out Of order, and my sleep at night
didn't seem 10 rest me- The doctor had
/ ia king medicine. And SO, added 10 the
rest. / went to bed at night with that
money on my mind Not that there was
much need OF being worried, for the safe
was good one, and nObodysbut Bob and
I knew the combination. On Friday
night there was about $4,000 in cash IN
/ ( he bag. on Saturday morning ] went
to the Office as usual The safe was
locked. aud Bob was writing at his desk.
l opened the safe, and the money was
gone / called Bob. and reused every
body IN the courthouse to announce the
/ robbery 1t struck me- that Bob took it
pretty quiet, considering how much IL re
fiected upon both him and me.
Two days went by and we never got
a clew. 1t couldn't have been burglars.
for the safe had been opened by the COM
hination in the proper way. People must
have begun to talk. for one afternoon in
/ comes Allce-thats my wite-snd the boy
aud girl. and Alice stamps her foot and
her flash and she PTiaG 81
lying wretCbes -Tom. Tom % and ] catch
h-r m faint, and bring her round lit
tie by little, and she LAYS her hes1 down
and cries and cries for the first time
since she took Tom KingmaD's name aud
fortunes. And Jack and Zilla-the
youngsters-they were always wild as
tiger cubs TO rush at Bob and climb all
over him whenever they we're allowed TO
come 20 the courthouse-they stood and
kicked their little shoes. and herded to-
gether like scared partridgeS They were
having their first trip down into the
shadows Of life Bob was working at
his desk, aud he got UP and went out
without a word. The grand jury was in
session then, and the next morning Bob
went before them and confessed that he
stole the money. He said he lost IL In
a poker game In fifteen minutes they
had found 4 true bill and sent me the
warrant to arrest the man with whom
Ia been closer than q thousand brothers
for many a year
Il did it. and then I said to Bob.
pointing There's my house. and here s
my office, and up there's Maine and out
that way is California. and over there is
Florida-and that's your range III court
meets. You're in my charge and take
the responsibility. You De here when
you're wanted
Thanks. Tom he said. kind Of care
lessly: / was sort Of hoping Won
wouldn't lock me up Court meets next
Monday so. II you don't object. III Just
loaf around the office n2tlI then I've
got one favor 10 ask. If II isn't too much
II you'd LET the Kids come out in tie
yard once in q while and have a romp
Id like It,
why notT answered him. They're
welcome, and so are you. And come
70 my house, the same as ever You, see.
Mr.. Nettlewick. you can't make a friend
of thief. but neither can you make a
thief Of a friend, all at once"
The examiner made no answer. At
that moment was heard the sbrill whistle
Of locomotive pulling into the depot.
gauge road that struck into san Rosario
from the south The Major cooked his
ear and listened for a moment, and
looked at his watch The narrowgauge
was in on time-10 80. The Major con
tinued
$50 Bob hung around the office. read
ing the papers and smoking. I put
another deputy to work In his place. and.
after While. the rlrst excitement OF the
case wore off
"One day when we were alone in the
office Bob came over to where J was
sitting He was looking sort Of grim
and blue-the same look he used 10 get
when he'd been up watching for In
dams all night or herd riding.
Tom. SAYS he. It's harder than
standing off redskins; It's harder than
lying in the lava desert forty miles from
water; but I'm going to stick II ont TO
the end. You know that's been my style
But If you'd tip me the smallest kind of
a sign II you'd just say, Bob. 7 IN
derstaud.' why, It would make It lots
easier
Il was surprised 4 don't know what
you mean, Bob. I said. OF course, you
know that I'd do anything under the
sun to help YOU that I could. But you've
got me guessing.
"'Au right. Tom was all he said. and
he wnnt back to his newspaper and lit
another cigar
at was the night before court met
when ! found out what he meant. I went
TO bed that night with the same old.
light headed nervous feeling come back