Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-02
BY Charles M. Sheldon.
CHAPTER XII.

Ssh~AASE ~ASe SAAS eAooSS
carrying much money with him, ana
the man with the stake, who was
searching him, uttered an oath at the
small amount of change he found. AS
he uttered it the man with the pistol
savagely said: .sJerk out 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.
SECT behind the fencel 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 there in the shadow until the
footsteps passed.
CHOW, then, have you got the
watch2" asked the man with the pistol.
"No; the chain is caught some
wherep' And the other man swore
again.
tsBreak it, thenl'
.sNo; don't break it," the bishop
said, and it was the first time he had
spoken s'The chain is the gift of
very dear friend. I should be sorry to
have it broken
At 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 bishops 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's enough.
..Enoughi Fifty centsl You don't
reckon
Before the man with the stake could
say another word he was confronted
with the muzzle Of the pistol, turned
from the bishops head toward his own.
s'Leave that watch be and put back
the money too. This is the bishop we've
held up the BISHOP Do you heart"
t'And what Of It'll The president of
the United States wouldn't be too good
to hold up if
81 say, you put the money back, or
IN five minutes I'll blow hole through
your head that Il let in more sense, than
you have to spare now, said the other.
For second the man with the stake
seemed to hesitate at this strange turn
in events, as if measuring his compan-
ions 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
sered 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 go on. You needn't stay
any longer on our account" The man
who had acted as spokesman turned and
sat down on a stone. The other man
stood viciously digging his stake into
the ground.
"That's lust what I'm Shaving for. >,
replied the bishop. He sat down on a
board that projected from the broken
fence.
esYou must like our comnanv II il
hard sometimes for people TO tear them.
selves away from u.s. /" the man stand
ing up said, LAUGHING coarsely
s.shut uplp exclaimed the other
"We're on the road To he'll tbongh .
that's sure enough. We need bett q,
company than ourselves and the devil. .
ssIf 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