Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-10-12
CHAPTER XXI.


searching him, uttered an oath at the
small amount of change he found AS
he uttered it the man with the pistol
tavagely said Jerk ont his watch
We might as well get all we can out of
the job.
The man with the stake was on the
point of laying hold of the chain when
there was the sound of footsteps coming
toward them.
"Gct behind the fence. We haven't
half searched him yet. Mind you keep
shut now if you don t want -
The man with the pistol made sig
nificant gesture with it. and his com
panion pulled and pushed the bishop
down the alley and through a ragged
broken opening in the fence. The three
stood still thcrc in the shadow until the
footsteps passed.
Now, then, have You got the
watch ?" asked the man with the pistol
"No; the chain is caught some
whercl" And the other man swore
again.
"Break it, thenN"
ono; don't break if" the bishop
said and it was the first time he had
spoken. Tho chain is the gift of n
very dear friend. | should be sorry 70
have il broken.
AZ the sound of the bishops voice
the man with the pistol started as if he
had been suddenly shot by his own
weapon. With quick movement of his
other hand he turned the bishop head
toward what little light was shining
from the alleyway, at the same time
taking a step nearer. Then, TO the evil
dent amazement of his companion, he
said roughly:
Leave the watch alone. We've got
the money That enough.
"Enough Fifty centsl You don't
reckon 49,
Before the man with the stake could
gay another word he was confronted
with the muzzle of the pistol turned
from the bishops head toward his own.
leave that watch be and put back
the money too This is the bishop we We
held up-the bishop Do you hear?'
"And what Of it? The president of
the United States wouldn't be too good
to hold up if
Il say, you put the money hack, or
in five minutes | II blow hole through
your head that Il LET in more sense than
you have to spare now" said the other.
For a second the man with the stake
seemed to hesitate ut this strange turn
in events, as if measuring his cOmpan-
ion intention. Then he hastily drop
ped the money back into the bishop
pocket.
You can take your hands down,
sir The man with the weapon low
cred it slowly, still keeping an eye on
the other man and speaking with rough
respect. The bishop slowly brought his
arms to his side and looked earnestly at
the two men. In the dim light it was
difficult to distinguish features He was
evidently free to go his way now, but
he stood there, making no movement.
"You can 20 on. You needn't stay
any longer on our account. The man
who had acted as spokesman turped and
sat down on stone The other man
stood viciously digging his stake into
the ground.
"Thats just what I m staying for, -
replied the bishop He sat down on a
board that projected from the broken
fence
You must like orr company. 1t is
hard sometimes for people to tear them
selves away from us, the man stand
ing up said, laughing coarsely.
shut upI' exclaimed the other
"We're on the road to hell, though
that's sure enough, We need better
company than ourselves and the devil. "
"If you would only allow me to he
of any help The bishop spoke gen
tly, even lovingly. The man on the
stone stared at the bishop through the
darkness. After moment of silence he
spoke slowly, like one who had finally
decided upon IA course he had at first
rejected.
"Do You remember ever seeing me
before2'
No" said the bishop. 1.-THE light is
not very good, and l have really not
had good look at you.
"Do you know me now" The man
suddenly took off his hat and getting
up from the stone, walked over to the
bishop until they were near enough to
touch each other
The mans hair was coal black, ex-
ccpt one spot on tho top of his head
about as large as the palm of the hand,
which was white.
The minute the bishop saw that he
started. The memory of u years ago
began to stir in him. The man helped
him.
Don't yOu remember one day back
in 81 or 's2 man came to your house
and told story about his wife and
child having been burned to death in a
tenement fire in New YorkY'
Eyes; | begin to recall now," muir
INJURED the bishop. The other man
seemed to be interested. He ceased dig
ging his stake in the ground and stood
still, listening.
do you remember how you took me
into your own house that night and
spent all the next day trying to find me
a job and how, when you succeeded in
getting me "A place in a warehouse as
foreman, l promised to quit drinking
because you asked Inc to-"
81 remember it now, - the bishop re-
piled gently. 81 hope you have kept
your promise,
The man laughed savagely, Then he