The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-08-14
Sehrobiker's Biz Scare.

Sehrobiker was detained at his place
of business the other night until after
The lust car had left, and was obliged to
walk home. When very near there he
concluded to cut through an alley to
save considerable walking, but shortly
after. he entered the same he telt some
Tina like a streat Of cold ait go all
2k,dgh his frame as he noticed a dim
fHgtfe approaching IN the distance.
Sohrobiker is not what might be called
a coward-though little woman scarcely
tall enough to chin the mantel rules like
law in the house he pays rent for-but
still, he didn't exactly like the idea of
facing a foot-pad in a dark alley, for he
was unarmed and had some money with
him. He didn't give so much thought
to that, though, as he did to the un-
pleasantneos of being banged over the
head with q slung-shot, or laid up with
q pistol ball wound in hot weather.
Neither did he like to beat an inglorious
retreat, without at least getting a good
view of the antagonist he was running
from. It would take a tolerably good
sized man to make him craw6sh in day
light, and he didn't like to be haunted
forever after with the suspicion that he
might have skunk away from q little
weasel he could pitch over the fence
with one hand tied behind him. These
thoughts went through his head like q
woman in spring hats scudding before a
shower, and put his heart in a high
Autter, but he kept on until he came
within some fifty Or sixty feet of the ap.
preaching mystery. Then he paused
and breathed hard. The other man did
the same. He revived his courage a lit
tie, and took a few steps forward. The
figure progressed about the same dis
lance, and came to a stop also. Schro-
biker theh put a few more steps behind
him, and took q position as close as he
could get to the fence on the right,
keeping q close eye on the dark object
before him. The other party likewise
moved up a little cautiously ,, and Rugged
the fence on the left. Schrobiker again
advanced q few PAGES, and steadied him
se,t against the wall. His breath came
quicker and he realized that the conflict
was near. The adversary made q slight
and very stealthy advance, and Schfobi.
ker would have sworn he could see fire
swapping from his eyes. The man
paused, made a quick motion with his
right hand, and-eneezed with o loud,
quick and explosive sound.
Schrobiker jumped back about six
feet and clapped both hands over his
mouth to keep from screaming. For as
much as a second he thought he was a
murdered man, dead sure, but he didn't
feel the ball strike, and felt easier the
next instant. The other party slipped
with the recoil and fell backward to the
ground, but just as his victim was
tempted to risk all and dart by on q run,
he jumped to bis feet, pulled his hand
kerchief and blowed his nose with a
bugle blast. To Schrobiker's strsined
imagination it was a signal for reinforce
ments, and he felt his knees giving away
in despair beneath him. He took an
other step or two forward, and felt his
breath growing chilly, but the next mo
ment glorious hope was again IN his
breast, for out of the darkness came a
voice shaky with agitation, saying:
"Do you want my pocket-book? In
heavens name take all I've got and let
me 60 home"
With an overpowering feeling OF Joy
and relief Schrobiker sprang forward
toward the other man, who seeing the
dropped on his knees with a
despairing cry, and begged for his life.
"Oh, get up" said Schrobiker, grab
bling him by the collar, and fetching him
to his feet. "I wouldn't harm a hair OF
your head for a thousand dollars. Here,
take my hand and shake, stranger; shake
for you've saved me by just
about fifteen seconds from making one
of the confoundest asses Of myself that
ever wore breeches. If you'd a. kept
still another minute I should have been
offering you my pocket-book. But don't
you never lisp it, or I'll lay for you with
q shot gun. That's just what I'll do"
And an old head in q night.cap poked
itsels out of an upper window and
to know what two irredeemable
fools meant by going round disturbing
peaceful slumber, laughing in that rip
iackass fashion. - Cincinnati
Table.