St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-04
open and my eyes bullying out, until
my visitor laughed outright.


the man on the bed and suiting
the action to the word, he lay him
self out at full length
FL. was cooi hani. I knew hui
man nature well enough to know ha
had plenty Of nerve behind his
cheek
1t wasn't all put on AS he lay
there 1 noticed a revolver in his
hand. Then L began to understand
The evening paper had given a
portrait of Smith, and 1 saw this
was his double. 1t dawned on me
all of a sudden that he was the
identical chap.
You were under the bed when 1
came in?" 1 queried, as we sat look.
ing at each other, and l was wonder
ing how to reach the bell.
Exactly" he replied.
and you heard what the reporter
said and the detectives?"
Every word
And, to come to the point, you're
the man they want?"
Il am
How the dickens did you get
here?"
Il didn't choose this abode for itf
comfort" he said, nor for it's COM
pany. 1 had other plans, in fact.
But they miscarried. lodged into
this hotel in search of temporary
asylum, and it looks as if I'd found
lunatic asylum. Did you ever see
$4,000 in one pile? It's a refreshing
sight. See here" ,~ee
He watched me with his piercing:
eyes, and though he was toying
with his revolver carelessly enough
L saw he had his finger on the trigger
all the time. He bent over from tho
bed and picked up bundle of notes
from the floor. e1 ea
This means visit to the tailor's.
quail on toast with champagne. a
long trip to America or the CONT
nent, and he fondly patted tho
money So they've got an account
In the papers, have they? I'd like
to read it. Thanks
lie SKINNED through the article with
esiuent enjoyment, now and then
cnuckling to himself. Then he said:
Pretty close shave, that. I'm sorry
loi the cashier, but | suppose he will
"rlggle out of the responsibility some
now Excuse my asking the question,
put what do you do for a living?"
I'm a traveller in calicoes."
'Married?"
NO
Ever been abroad?"
NO"
Look here, old chappie," he went on
WIN easy familiarity, as he stretched
himsef on the bed, you've given me
shelter, and i'll do you a turn. Hand
III your resignation and come with me.
II VIII do you good and open your ewes.
MS httie pile will do US ffrst-class for
a year"
III see you hanged first, you cheeky
Vlilain,' L shouted. I'm not making
tours with bank thieves and jailbirds
Your trip will end in prison, if it doesn't
start there
100 peppery, altogether too peppery
Tor the head traveller to a respectable
hrm, he quietly observed. And do
you thlng I'll be arrested, as you know
so much about it?"
Certainly. I'm going to take you
down stairs and hand you over to the
police
That's lie,' he said, as he swung
his feet off the bed and stood up. .T
oon blame you for refusing a trip to
| America, but please don't make an idiot
Oh yourself in other ways.''- tf5 49,.
How do you mean?" / asked also
getting up and trying to keep my head.
Just look at things straight and
you ii see. I'm no chicken Having
played for big stake and won it. am
not likely to let myself be baked by
Kid like you. I'm armed, as you see.
You re not so keep your back hair on.
Even without arms could do you, be-
ing the larger Of the two"
You cold-blooded scoundrel," / NUT
tered.
No, don't call names It's low"
he said pleasantly. Lets consider
what is your path of duty. I've got the
best of the bank. And how MANY
people has the bank got the best Of
before? Last year over twenty banks
closed their doors in the face of depos-
itors. Every failure was brought
about by some kind of fraud.
And don't flatter yourself that you
owe duty to the public The public
would let you starve or freeze and not
move finger. You won't get any
thanks, whatever you do for them.
You owe duty to yourself. 1t is to
take a change of air And now's
your chance. Preserve the present
state of your health, that's my advice.
and very good advice, too"
All of which MEANS" I interposed
that you will shoot me ifI give the
alarm?'
Precisely"
Then 1 shan't do So"
Il thought as much
He climbed again onto the bed and
continued: 81 thought / was right
when l sized you up. We have now
come to an understanding. I've got
one or two favors to ask, but / won't
keep you long, and 1 see you want to
go to bed. All, there are your scis-
sors. L must sacrifice my mustache.
Please sit over by the window
He laid his revolver on the dressing
table and cut off his fine chestnut mus
tache, l sat watching him, and wonder
ing if l had gone off my mind, or if,
perchance, L was dreaming
You shave yourself, don't your he
finally asked, as he turned round and
faced me-
L pointed to my razor and strop, and
in barely another moment he stood be-
fore me clean shaver.
He had sandy hair. while his eye
brows were almost red. There was a
bottle of black ink on the table He
dipped his handkerchief into it and
painted his eyebrows. With the same
fluid he made as neat a black eye as
any prize fighter would care to boast,
and he was chuckling as he turned to
me:
Just one thing more, old mana suit
OF clothes l must get off this blue
serge. Perhaps it will fit you. Your
Oldest suit, please. / will pay cash
for it,
l handed over a much worn suit.
Rather tight fit, but it will do"
he said. Here's $25 for It,"
Il don't want your dirty money" l
said Savapaly