The Weber Literary Journal crawl out of it." "But but." "But nothing you liar, get out of it. You never did a day's work in your life. The hardest work you ever did was swipe dimes from a blind man's cup. Did you hear me Get Out." "But m' dear, you aint goin' to turn me out after after playing that trick against me two years ago," Rusty wailed as best he knew how. Laura was furious. "Consider yourself lucky do as I say move on!" Just outside the door, Sadie hid around the corner for fear the man would come tumbling out of the door at the hands of his furious wife, but the door did not open and she again resumed her post. "I'll never mention that again, Laura dear, if you'll only give me a five." "I'm through giving money to you understand through. I make men earn their living from now on." "You don't mean you've got a job to pull off do you?" Rusty yelled. "Oh the old days! Laura, why don't you give this up? Come back to the old game. I can't make a go of it since you left you and your innocent face with them we could put over any thing. Do you mean you've actually got a job to pull off?" "Maybe." "A safe one?" "I thought you wanted some coin." "So I do my dear, I do. What portion is due me, then?" "A third." "Say-" "A half fifty fifty then." "But m'dear." "I thought you was in this game to get some money," she gently reminded him." "So I am again I am. I was merely dickering with you like I used to." Laura's voice took on a tone of independence. "Well then take it or leave it." 30 The Weber Literary Journal "Taken." "And talk about easy jobs." Laura laughed a mocking laugh. "Remember, about three years ago when we relieved the Center Junction groceryman of about five hundred berries? We thought that was an easy job, and there was a safe to contend with, while here I know this rube doesn't know what a safe is. And do you remember that we skinned out of Brook-town a thousand to the good, leaving the post-office a thousand to the bad?" "That was some of the coin I just got a feel of and niver saw again," said Rusty, shyly. "Shut up!" Laura's voice rang out; "Don't worry about the past so much." "Yes, m'dear, yes m'dear er what's the program for tonight?" "As luck will have it, our cashier is the stage-manager so I suppose the box-office will not be watched so closely. Well, get the coin and meet me after the show. ' "Sh-h-h, don't talk so loud." The key turned in the lock and Rusty looked out of the door just a little too late to see a frightened girl dive down the dark passage-way into the dungeon-room, the first hiding place she came to. Sadie shuddered at the very coldness of it and willingly emerged from the haunting, spooky place when again the door of Laura's dressing room closed behind the plotters. She rushed to tell Jeremiah what she had heard, but the ticket office was having its busiest time. Jeremiah was selling tickets to the impatient crowds as fast as his stiff fingers would permit him. "Don't bother me, gal," he said. "But I must tell you something," insisted Sadie. "Fer heck sake, gal, lemme alone." "But listen," cried Sadie in desperation, "It's for the safety of your money please listen." "You gals is alias' gettin fool ideas in yer heads to worry you the money's safe enough in the locked drawer." Sadie still hung on, "You don't understand, please." "Get out and stay out!" he yelled frantically; "Get out or 31