The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-06-05

at once. and Mr.. Hardy watched on
with Alice.
VIII slept irregularly, being troubled
with his dreams of the accident. Mrs
Hardy woke and begged her husband
to lie down and get little rest He
did so, but was aroused about 10
o'clock by the doctor coming in. He
had Just finished visit near by. He
saw the light and was anxious, as the
case was an extraordinary one, to come
In. He examined Clara's face very
keenly and then sat down by the bed
for an instant. After giving certain
medicines he found that he was in
need of another article, which was at
his house.
Il will go and get it, doctor. It's not
far, and I think little fresh air will
do me good and help me to remain
awake better" said Robert.
He went down stairs, and the doctor
followed him as he went out into the
hall and flung on his overcoat. Mr.
door:
Doctor, tell me the truth about my
girl? Wbat is her condition?"
lit is serious, but more than that
cannot say. There is possibility that
by means of slight operation the dis
astrous consequences Of the shock to
her eyes may be averted, and it is pos
sible that the other results which
| limited may be altogether different. 1t
I to- t. - 4
certainty"
| So MIR. Hardy went out into the night
with a glimmer Of hope In his breast.
1t was showing again, and strong
wind was blowing, SO he buttoned his
| big coat close up, drew his hat down
over his brows and, leaning forward,
walked as rapidly as he could against
the wind in the direction of the doc
tors house. The streets were almost
deserted. The lights at the corners
fickered and showed pale through the
lamps.
| AS he turned down a narrow street,
intending to make short cut across a
park that lay near the doctors, he was
suddenly seized by three or four young
men, and one of them said In a tone
which betrayed drunken debauch:
Hold up your hands and deliver!
You've got. plenty Of chink, and we
haven't! So no squalling, or Wen
shoot you for itp'
Mr.. Hardy was taken completely by
surprise. But he was vigorous, ath-
letic man. and his first impulse was to
shake himself loose, to knock down
two of his assailants next to him and
make a run for 1t. His next glance,
h4wever showed him the nature of
not professional robbers, but young
men about town who had been drink
ing late and were evidently out on a
lark and were holding him up just fol
fun.
Mr.. Hardy guessed exactly right
What could be do? Two of the young
men were known to him, the sons OF
the Bramleys, who were well to dc
people in Barton. Mr.. Hardy's nexi
impulse was to discover himself tc
them and beg then to quit such dan
gerous fooling and go home. The three
other young men were in shadow, and
he could not tell them. All this pass
ed through his thought with a flash
But before he had time to do anything
a police officer sprang out of door
way near by, and the group of young
men, dropping their hold Of Mr.. Hardy
fed in different directions.
The officer made pursuit and aftel
a short run captured one of the young
men, whom, after vigorous resistance
he dragged back to where Mr.. Hardy
stood, exclaiming:
Here's one of the rascals, sir.
heard 'em when they held you up
We've been looking for this gang som,
time now. Just identify this one If h'
is the one that Just now grabbed you
sir"
Under the light of the lamp the po
liceman dragged the form Of his vic
tim and roughly struck up his hat. A
that instant Mr.. Hardy looked into hi
!: face and cried out:
, George! Is it you"
And the son replied as he starte,
| back:
Father
i. The two looked at each other in 81
lence, while the snow fell in whirlinI
!, fakes about them.
, And this was the end of Robert HaI
dy's third day.