The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-12-31

! the nat package against his foot.
81 wonder" Brown said, whether
: you will ever know how glad am that
| met you, bshop2 You will, at al
events, never know how much | have
learned to like you"
my dear boy" said the bishop
how nice of you. It's so pleasant tc
| be liked. and | am often lonely
enough. AS for you-if | were as
| young as you are, ] would not be alone
at Christmas time"
IL think you would If you were me-"
Brown said, slowly.
The train had stopped for water
! and the conversation Of the Bishop
and his guest ran along in n desultory
| way for some moments.
"Thc train Is stopping for long
| time" said the bishop. Brown nod
ded his throat was parched and dry.
II wonder why" said the bishop,
| and Just then the conductor of the rear
sleeper came in.
"It's Il hold-up" he said. "Thcy
have gotten the engine and express
away. We must make an effort to fol
low them"
The bishops face was full OF anxl.
ETY..
How terrible" he said. "and to
| happen right here In my working line.
Let us go at once to the aid of those
poor fellows; they may be killing
them"
They've no time for that" the con-
| luctor said. I'VE were carrying n big
sum of money-they evidently knew
that-and that is what they want"
"We ought to hurry" Brown said.
"Wait just n moment until l can get
my revolver-it's in my valise." He
delayed them moment or two easily.
Leaderess and excited. no one knew
just what to do, and when the little
body of men got started he knew the
others were safe. But as they saw the
missing train, the engine moved slow
ly backward to meet them. They were
soon talking wildly, shaking their
heads over the shattered remains of
the once sturdy express car, and lend.
| ing a helping hand to the daZed eX-
| press messenger. Nancy was able to
| sit up, but he was speechless. and of
the robbers there were only the marks
of their horses hoofs heading for the
river. The train moved on toward Me-
| dora, and Brown went back to the
| bishops car with him. The bishop was
much overcome.
MY dear boy" he said, what a
| dreadful thing, and how nearly | lost
| my little all. How can ever be crate.
| full enough that you made me keep the
money!"
THAT is one of the few good i'm.
pulses ever had" Brown said.
at is the beginning" said the bsh-
op, will you not say so?"
II will remember" Brown said.
At Medora they parted. The bsh-
| Dps car was laid Off.
| "Do not forget me-" the bishop said,
and thank you for the Christmas tree
and everything"
"Good-by," Brown sad;"buy very
arge doll for that little maid" And
he watched the bishops car eagerly
until it was out Of sight.
And some days later, in one of their
numerous retreats, he met with the
others to divide the spoil. Their plan
was to go over to England or Aus
| tralia, where the notes would not be
| recognized, and could be easily eX-
changed. They were loud in their
praises of his shadowing, proud of
their own success. They divided the
money up fairly and put each portion
in fiat canvas bag.
Brown looked at his slowly and then
he counted out some notes and threw
them ON the table. They stared ut
| him.
That's yours" he said; divide it
up among you"
| Rawley looked at it.
1.-TWO thousand dollars he said,
'for what?' We divided up square,"
Brown nodded.
ITS yours, | said" he continued,
because there was $4,000 you might
have had but for a bit of foolishness
ON my part 1t makes little difference
| just how YOU missed ii, but you did.
OF course, you would never have
known it, but you remember the old
| saying, honor among And now
there is one more thing. I am booked
to help you in your Virginia raid.
want to be let off. And as fair eX-
change, | offer this"
He threw the bag with his share of
the booty on the table.
Let that buy me off. | haven't
gone crazy, as you may think, but I've
had all want of this, and | am think.
ing Of turning honest for Il change.
There isn't any need of my making
promises to secrecy. You all know me
well enough, and you've been good
pals to me, and | sha'n't forget it. Go
your way, and let me go mine. Per.
haps some day / may come back
again"
After he had gotten away from them
he thrust his hands into his pockets
joyfully.
Free" he said, softly. "And now
VI. I