The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-06-01

| $1,000 otOPttNN diid ldctu his Dl
suer. lie was dressed in black, his ia
was clean shaven and dcathly pale. an
he trcmbled visibly. With rcvoly
ieveled full at the mans face pl
shouted:
Hands up or you are dead mar
The man looked into Pills fac
glanced down the cleaning barrel
the revolver which was within a fe
inches OF his nose and threw up h
hands
Still holding his weapon aimed {
the mans head, Phil thrust his disc,
gagged hand into the mans pocket, too
out the watch, tore the chain free frol
Its fastening, slipped watch and chat
into his pocket, and then sternly sale
Go down this street and don't fur
around
There was deadly menace in hi
tone, and the man headed westwar
down the street and vanished in tn
distance.
And now feeling akin to terro
came over Phil The exhilaration O
excitement passing away left him nerv
/
"Robberies and murders are not un
common in the city and in the ter
ritory about the fair grounds. Ever,
shadow was to him an assassin. every
noise a stealthy footstep! The thiei
might have confederates. He could see
afar off the light of a coming car. but
what might happen before the car
QOIIld ranch hsx,O
the theater had left him.
AT first he walked rapidly, then
broke into run, keeping in the mid
die OF the street, and heading for his
own rooms. Breathless, he dashed into
mis- wife's presence and nervously
bolted the door behind him.
what in the world is the matterY
she cried.
Then he regained his balance. With
something of pride he told her of the
crowded car, the stranger, and dra-
matically gesticulating with the re.
volver in his hand. he described the re-
covery OF his stolen watch.
with amazement upon her face and
alarm in her voice. she exclaimed:
40, Phil! What have you done?
There is your watch upon the dresser!'
"And there it was lying where he re-
membered now to have laid it.
Startled, frightened, he plunged his
hand into his trousers pocket and
drew forth-another mans watch aud
chainl
poor Phil collapsed.
1.-The morning papers contained an
account OF peculiarly daring highway
robbery committed the night before.
Rev. Somebody forget his name
from somewhere in Illinois, being in a
crowded car, had taken off his valu-
ible watch and chain-tokens of the
affection OF his beloved congregation
ind held them in his hand for gYeater |
security. A highwayman, having
seen them, had boldly con-
ronted him. The reverend gentleman
'eing taken by surprise and being,
moreover. man of peace, had yielded
hem up under the muzzle of a re-
oliver. But the police had clews which
would lead to the detection of the per-
etrator Of the outrage. The robber
vas strikingly handsome man, of
ne presence and wore full, blonde
card. He had been identified by the
treet car conductor, as one who, &C
by a well-dressed little
.dy, had ridden with him several
mes before. Also, man answering
, the same description had been seen
it'll the same lady upon the fair
rounds.
This finished Phil and he wired me
my hotel to come to them. l found
lem shut up in their rooms. He
ouldn't let his wife go to the restau-
mt for her breakfast. l had to ar
'nge to have their meals brought to ,,
em. 1t ever mans appearance could
nvict him, his would have sent him
the penitentiary.
81 urged him to make clean breast
the whole matter, but he would not
nsent. He said it would ruin him. :
zen II he could escape criminal liabil-
7, he could not survive the ridicule 6
lich would follow. No, he must :
old detection.
The first thing was to return the =
operty. | packed it in box. and .
liled it to the police department. Z,
e receipt of this only called ont h
ssh deluge of newspaper comments. | 3,
was sagely announced that the thief, 4,
the impossibiiity of eseap- =
: arrest, had made PREPARATION in n
n effort to delude the detectives, but =
It he was known and would be APP -
blended within twenty-four hours. 4,
There was great danger that the in
pile in the house would observe the CT
lilarity in Pills appearance to tho ia
olished description of the robber." fo
Why didn't he go home?" fe
! urged him to do so and SO did his w
e, but he imagined that every paper Sc
the country would be full of the
", and that his presence there ne
lid suggest likeness which would W,
to discovery. He was like ve
ted hare. He dared not stir from in
room. Every voice in the house to
some one inquiring for him, every re,
} an officer coming to arrest him. sis
'as pitiable. At length, in spite Of SIN
'remonstrances, be decided to 60 sm
BAD till the thing blew over. He sn,
nped up an excuse for his wife to an
at home for his sudden trip. She, in
ely yelled and with as much change ex.
possible in her apparel, left the foe
se and went to hotel in the city. pei
shaved off his beard, and, wearing inc