The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-01
s e|e AZ
Published by Arrangement with First Inc and Frank
Lloyd Productions,

ing some Of the precious yellow par
ticles. Modification changed toanger
when the owner cried, sharply:
"Hcy! Got cashiers ague, have
you? Just cut out the sleight-of-
handI' ..-.
Pierce smothered retort; silently
he brushed the dust back into the
blower and set the weights upon his
scales. But McCaskey ran on with
an insulting attempt at banter:
I'm onto you short-weighers.
Take your bit out of the DRINKS;
I'm sober"
When Pierce rad ;retied the sack
and returned it he looked up aud
into Joe's face. His own was white,
his eyes were blazing. .~
Don't pull any more comedy
here" he said, quietly. THAT short
weight joke doesn't 60 at the RI
alto" ....
"Oh, it don't? Joker McCa,-
key snorted. Il s'pose it's a joke to
spill dust-when you can't get away
with it. Well. I've spotted a lot Of
crooked cashiers in this town."
mo doubt. It takes thief to
catch a thief"
McCaskey started. His sneer van
ishcd. Thief! Say" he blus-
tered, angrily. "D'you mean"
The clash, brief as it had been, had
excited attention. Noting the fact
that an audience was gathering, the
speaker lowered his voice and,
thrusting his black, scowling eoun-
tenance closer to the cage opening.
he said: You needn't remind me
of anything. I've got good mem-
ory. Damn good! After mo-
ment he turned his back and moved
away.
When Pierce went off shift he
looked up Lars Anderson and re-
ceived confirmation OF the Hunker
strike. Lars was in a boisterous
mood and eager to share his tri-
umph.
II knew that was a rich piece OF
ground" he chuckled, land l knew
was handing those boys good
thing. But a fellow owes something
to his friends. doesn't he?"
Il thought you said it was low
grader"
Low grade!" Big Lars threw
back his head and laughed loudly.
II never said nothing OF the kind.
Me knock my own ground? Why,
Id have banked my life on
Hunker!'
Toward the close of the show
Laure found him braccd against the
bar; the face he turned upon her
was cold, repeller. When she
urged him to take l,er to supper he
shook his head.
whats the matter?" she in
quired.
big Lars never told you Hunker
was low grade" he declared.
The girl flushed; she tossed her
dark head defantly. well, what
II it,"
Simply this-Tom and Jerr, and
the McCaskeys have struck rich
pay"
"Indeed?"
"You lied to me-
Laure's lips parted slowly in
smile. what did you expect?
What would any girl do?' She laid
a caressing hand upon his arm. II
don't care how much they make orr
how poor you are
Pierce disengagcd her grasp. II
care!' he cried, roughly. give lost
my big chance. They've made their
piles and I'm-well, look at me-"
you blame me?"
He stared at her for a moment.
whats the difference whether, I
blame you or myself? I'm through.
I've been through for some time,
but-this is curtain.
"Pierce!"
1mpatiently he flung her off and
strobe out of the theater.
Laure was staring blindly after
him when Joe McCaskey spoke to
her. "Have dancer" he inquired.
She undertook to answer, but her
lips refused to frame any words;
silently she shock her head.
whats the idea? A lovers quar-
rel?" McCaskey eyed her curiously.
then he chuckled mirthlessly. "You
can come clean with me. I don't
like him any better than you do.
mind your own business"
stormed the girliin sudden fury.
That's what I'm doing, and
minding it good. I've got lot of
business-with that rat. Joe's sin
lister black eyes held Laure's in spite
of her effort to avoid them; Il was
plain that he wished to say more,
but hesitated. Maybe it would pay
US to get acquainted" he finally sug-
gested. Frank and me and the
Count are having a bottle o. wine
upstairs. Better join u"
# WILL" said Laurie, after a mo-
ment. Together they mounted the