The morning times., 1897-02-21
THE MAN UNDER THE BED
BY CHARLES Is. LEWIS


and tried my identity might be revealed. y
BLAST your identity.' howled the Colo
mel
There you go again! You'd never dc
in my trade if you lost your head that way.
About those window locks, Colonel. The
principle S all right, but not being a practi-
cal man you failed to apply it, I'll come
around in a Cay or two and show you the
defect and remedy it. And about your
nerves. I've heard you spoken OF as q
man WHO wouldn't look surprised if the
earth opened and took him in, but like all
o5her club men, you affect that. It's
the proper caper, I've heard, but they ought
10 have seen you half an hour ago. Hold on,
or IN Shoot
The oIonel had jumped up III his wrath
o make a bolt fer the door. but the man
arrested him and he sat down with the
muttered exclamation:
''Ye gods! but must put up with this
"Y on must, Colonel said the man under
the bed 1--WE been ready TO come out
for ten minutes past, and you alone are
to blame that I'm keeping you up Why
no hold on to THAI peppery temper OF ours
until we can come to mutual understand
ing''
Let a robber go after he has plundered
me?'
That's what it must come to, Colonel.
AS a soldier, you see the situation.
can't get out on account OF you, while
you can't stir from that chair on ac-
count OF me. We have got each other
by the short hair, so to speak, but neither
of US is happy over it,"
Should let you GO" said the
pln oft .
should always feel that / had disgraced
my record. No, siri I'll sit right here
TIL doomsday but what I'll give you in
charged"
still on the warpath, old man."
laughed the man under the bed. There
may be a question OF honor involved, but
| think you d better waive it. The amount
OF stuff mypai took away won't fetch $500,
at the outside figure. For such sum as
that are you going TO have the police and
reporters oyerTun you with Column after
column in the papers, and a caricature OF
yourselr held up TO the world? You are
too sensible for that, old man. Never
give Yourself away for a cheap price. Be
sides"
Besides what?" snapped the Colonel,
vho was rapidly taking the robbers view
%? the case.
The family honor, you know"
What do you know about my family
sir?''
A great deal, Colonel. You had
brother George.
But he is dead"
We'll, hardly. He was supposed to
have died several years ago, but as
matter OF fact he is very much alive to-
day
And you know him?"
Like book. He's tue chap who carried
off the swag just before you came in"
You are lying, sir-I won't believe q
word OF it, exclaimed the Colonel.
off your base again! Your brother 8
middle name is Yates. He has light hair,
blue eyes, small hands, a handsome mouth,
and there is a scar on his right cheek from
a wound received when boy. The last you
heard ofhim he was in Dakota Am right,
Colonel?'
Yes. yes. Come out and tell me morei"
whispered the Colonel.
There's only this to say" said the
man, as he crcpt out and stood erect
Your brother has gone TO the dogs. That
is, he is one Of cur gang. He didn't know
llidJ THIS WIS AUuI utH, DI touiSSs Dui ne
has helped TO plunder it, and if I'm jugged
hen get the same dose, and the public
Will know his real name. DO you cotton
to that, Colonel?''
And my brother George is robber-
helongsto gang Ct Iobbers?''
straight goods, Colonel. Sorry for
9ou. hut he's doing fairly well and may
conclude to reform after he's made his
stake Can go now?''
For answer the Colonel pointed to the
door leading into the hall.
Thank YOU can find my way. Don't
take it too hard, Colonel OF course, i shall
say nothing to George. Good night. old
man"
At the door he halted to lcok back and
say:
Yes, sorry for you; but things do come
about in a curious way. Good n!ghtn'
But the Colonel had his face in his hands
and was weeping.