The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-12-27


fore he could say a word he heard the well
known voice Of Clayton say eagerly:
SIS that you, Brewsters Have you got
the money, and did you have to kill the
kidl / thot ! heard shots"
Tom was almost dazed with surprise.
He had never dreamed of connecting the
manager with the robbery, altho he had
never liked him. But he quickly recov-
cred himself, and said firmly, as he COW
cred the man with his revolver. ''Throw
up your hands, Mr.. Clayton. Brewster
failed to kill the kid and 1 don't want to
have to kill you."
"Great God, Toni Is that your Oh,
don't shoot-er-er. What do you want?'
cried the manager, completely taken off
his guard.
"UntilI saw you, | didn't know | wanted
anything, but you seem to know what I
was going to tell you, about the attempted
robbery, and / guess / want you now"
replied Tom. "Just walk on ahead of me
into town, and you may avoid some
trouble"
"But, Tom," protested the manager,
"what do you want me for? Has there
been a robbery? You surely don't sus-
pect me of it. Why, / was just"
"You we're just asking if Brewster had
the money and had killed me" interrupted
Tom. THAT bluff won't go. Better
move on"
And the manager did. He walked a
little ways in silence, evidently thinking
how he could extricate himself from this
unexpected and decidedly uncomfortable
position. Finally he decided Ito use
buster.
See here, young man, don't you know
that you'll get yourself into a peck of
trouble by having me arrested? OF course,
no one will believe you against me, and
they will let mego at once, and then where
will you beS' If you want to hold your
job, you'd better let me go at once. D'yu
hear?"
Yes, Tom heard and wondered if his
word would be taken against the man
ayers. He thot, under the circumstance
that, perhaps, it might, and anyway he
had gone too far to back out now, after
all he had heard. So he said nothing.
The manager tried to turn around to
address Tom, for it was hard to argue con-
vincingly with his back to the person ad-
dressed.
"Better move on" said Tom, and he
turned back again.
But town was getting closer and closer
and he tried another tack.
"Say, Tom" he said, in a w~heedling tone,
"In give you a thousand dollars if you
will let me go"
No answer.
1.-Two thousand, then. Oh, Tom, think
of my family! Think of the disgrace it
will bring on them. I didn't mean to have
you killed. Really 1 didn't. Let me go,
and I'll disappear and the company will
reward you for preventing the burglary,
Please, Tom. I'll give you five thousand
dollars. Right now, on the spot. Oh,
Tom, -m 1t was as hard to plead to a
person behind as it was to argue, so he
again attempted to turn around. But
Tom stopped him and sent him on in a
hurry. .s- ,s
"Mr. Clayton" he said, "this gun goes
off rather easily, and 1 guess you had bet
ter keep quiet"
The managers last offer had set him
thinking. How did Clayton happen to
have five thousand dollars on him unless
he had taken some of the company's
money himself. He got a good salary,
but was somewhat extravagant and was
never known to save very much. Tom
concluded that there was something be-
hind all this, and hat the manager was a
good man to keep hold of.
They trudged on in silence thru the
Toms fingers got very cold and
numb, but he held the revolver steadily
pointed at the man in front of him. The
distance to town never seemed so long
before, but at last they reached the city
hall, where the jail was. Then the man
ager made a last effort.
"What are you going to do with me,
Tom" he whined. LET me go and I'll go
halves with you"
LOLh GllOOh w uGhN anu gave ~ hIC
bell a sharp tap to call the night watch.
By the electric light Tom could see that
Clayton was trembling all over. 1om was
surprised at his own frmness. The night
watch came running up.
"Why, what's all this - he cried, as he
saw Clayton covering before Tom, who
still kept his revolver pointed at his man.
"Er-er-its all a mistake, Mr.. Carey"
said Clayton, eagerly. "Tom thinks I'm
a burglar and he wants to arrest me-" and
he laughed Historically. snake him take
that gun down, Mr.. Carey, ana let me 60"
The night watch looked at Tom in blank
amazement. "Why, what in -" he
began.
"rhere is no mistake" said Tom. "Mr.
Clayton, with two others, has attempted to
rob the safe at the mine office. 1 think he
has some of the money now. Put him in
Jail and come with me to get the Others"
"Why, surely. you are mistaken" said
the dumfounded night watch.
"Y-e-e-s, i-t-ts all a mis-ta-a-ke" broke
in the manager, with his teeth chattering
wildly. "You won't da-are t-to-t-t-a-ak-
Ike hiss wo-or-d agains- st m-mine will
your"
sits no mistake, insisted Tom, firmly.
Lock him up till morning, and then come
with me aad I'll convince you that what l
have said is true. I'll take all response
bility." Then, as he saw the night watch
still hesitate, "Do what I tell you" he
commanded, more sternly han he would
have supposed he could have spoken. This