The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-05-14

that if he wanted to know what he was l could tell him. did tell him in four words. omit the words.
 Never in my life have had such d thrashing as got then. He hit only with the open hand; if he had used his fists he'd have killed me. There was nc getting away from him, and no giving him anything back. It was dirg-dona all over my face and head until dropped in heap, bleeding like pig and nearly sick. It finished me.
 "You're boss" I said. "You can give your orders. I only wanted to see."
 He stood there smiling, as if he had rather enjoyed himself.
 "Pick up your boots," he said, "anG put them on."
 On entering the window I had my boots hanging round my neck by the faces; they had fallen off when he first knocked me over. While was putting them on he turned back his cuffs and washed his hands at the sink. When he had finished he pointed to the sink.
 "There you are," he said. "You can repair damages"
 Twas bleedig from my nose, and from cut lip, but the cold water soon stopped that. When I had finished he asked me if was all right.
 Pretty well," I said. "Tm bit shaky on the !egs-that's all. Yon gave me good doing."
 "Take the candle, then, and go in front of me into the study. I expect you know the way" Of course I did. Show me the outside of any house, and the inside is no puzzle to me.
 He picked up my knife, the revolver. and the small jemmy, and followed me into the study. He lit the lamp. gave me the knife back again, and locked the revolver and the jemmy away in Il drawer.
 And now," he said, "won't you sit down?" He spoke to me as if were a lady visitor. I sat down, and he, taking a chair opposite me, began to fill little old clay pipe.
 q really can't make this out" he said. you're so small and clumsy. You've got nasty temper, but you're not very plucky. What on earth made you think of trying to be a burglar?"
 "I don't know," I said. "But there's one thing I'd like to ask you, and no dis respect. What made you think of being a parson-a man of your build and strength, and so handy with your fists ? I ask pardon, but you might have done better"
 He didn't seem to take that as cheek at all. For moment he didn't answer, and sat sucking his little clay. Then he sighed and said: "I have sometimes thought so myself. But it is quite cer- tain that you might have done better. How did you come to this?"
 "I had no bringing up, and read penny trashy novels"
 He tapped his foot impatiently on the carpet. "Well, well--go on."
 "Then was led away by bad com p,inions and took to drink and gam bling, and not knowing what it was to have a mothers tender"
 He got up and interrupted me. "Now drop all that" he said. q want facts; tell me the story of your life. How did you come to this?"
 Partly from admiring the man, and partly from whim, did not tell him the story, and told him the plain truth too. It was pretty strong, but left nothing out, and he never stopped me. When I had finished he thanked me.
 "Then," he said, coming of decent people. and with fair education and d good chance in life, you none the less have been from your earliest boyhood just about as bad as you are now--bad all through-always bad"
 "That is about the mark" answered. Then thought to myself that it would be one of two things-either he would take me out and hand me over to the po- lice, or else he would ask me to join him in prayer. l expected the latter. He did neither. He walked up and down the room, with his hands behind him, saying to himself: And preach ser Suddenly he smiled again in that queer way of his. "You've kept me up very late," he said, "and in consequence I've become uncommonly hungry. What do you say? Will you come and help me to get us some supper? Very well, then, come quickly. I don't want to wake the rest of the house."
 So I went with him into the kitchen and carried things from there into the study. He laid the table-clean, white cloth, silver forks and everything of the best. There was a cold game pie, ripe Stilton, and Q bottle of Burgundy. I never had better supper in my life. He passed me everything I wanted and filled my glass. For the life of me I couldn't help grinning.
 "Now then" he said, whats amusing you?"
 "I was only thinking, that's all. It seems queer way for person like you to treat chap like me. came here to crack this crib, you fairly get me, and no word about the police-never word. First you give me thrashing and then you give me supper"
 "Well, you can't deny that you want ed them very badly. What else should