The times., 1897-12-05

fifst hahd grasping u short iron bar.
Then came the arIn-the body-tlie head
and feet of man. and tie arm reached
out and delivered blow which sickened
me as it fell upon the bare head Of the
man ut the table. Over he went vita
crash, and 1 saw before me a man even
nlGTe rough ia dress and tougher in general
looks than the two who had prccrded him
They shouldn't have done it, lie
said as he shut the door behind him and
hooked about the room. This was ny
jot, and if Two such bIokes as these tr.;.s
10 cut me out. they must take what gives
cm. III lie this one up as d match for tlc
other"
There was plenty OF cord left for this
purpose and in two minutes he had my sec
ond caller alongside of the first. Then lie
turned TO me ana ordered me To prepare hila
a supper He was by far the ugIest of the
trio, but when No. = came to his senses and
joined No. ! in cursing and abusing him
he onl laughed at them. Ishould have triei
to get ont 0: the house after his advent, hit
he purpOsel ycut off the only way OF retreat.
He had much to say to the men giving
them as good as they sent, but not wordto
me until he drew up TO the table Then
hc gave NE = bid y OtNl anu o.i3ti
y never hurts kid unless the sid wants
to be hurted Then l hurts mm in wa
to cripple him fur life. II YOU don't want
to be hprted you viii git out the old mans
money l'uX afore have done eating
There is no money box in the uoIise,
replied.
That's so, and I'll swear to it," added
the two men on the floor in chorus.
Number Three as he leered at me, ''bnt
has to differ with you. It'seither themoney
box or takes you in hand and teaches you
to speak the truth. Come, now. but be
lively about it,
There's a dish down cellar with little
money in it, said as he began deyouring
the food but Uncle Tom has no money
box"
Yer needn't say no morel" growled
the man as he pointed his finger at me.
I'm about two minutes I'll be ready to at
tend TO your case. If ye gifts cut and slashed
and burnt don't blame me fur it,
Then a silence fell upon US all, and ,or
the next two minutes l could hear every
beat Of my heart. / was getting terribly
frightened, and had almost made up my
mind 10 give up the box, When the kitchen
QOOi SN uilS Udch Win q Dang ana IN
walked -four policemen from the village sta
ton. Each one had a pistol in his hand,
and the man at the table wheeled around
to realize that he had no show. The two
on the floor broke out with reicicings.
''Well, gents" said Nimoer Three as he
turned t., his knife and fork, I'm 10 fool
to fight four incn, and when / finishes
this grnl Wen take a walk together and
have no hard feelings about it. The three
of us dropped In here to git out of the rain.
and We'll drop out cause we wants to git
wet"
1t was the last-comer who had been
seen prowling around, and spotted as a
suspicious character, and the police had
tracked him about until they located him
at Uncle ToIE's. The three were taken
away together, and on my testimony they
got five years apiece in prison. The first
two had nothing to say, but the last one
savagely growled:
''If I'd only gone at the kid and made
dog's-meat of him afore supper, I'd have
got the money and bin a mile away afore
the bcaks showed up"
CHARLES B. LEWIS.