The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-21

CHAPTER XII
nisAtsousDes shall 20 before him and shall ct
Eota ths vsy of his sseps
The bishop was not in the habit OF
carrying much money with him, and
ne man with the stake. who was
searching him. uttered an oath at the
man amount Of change he found. As
- uttered 10 the man with the pistol
0yagciy said: 'Jerk out his watch!
We might a. well get all we can ont of
10 Job"
The man with the stake was on the
point Of laying hold Of the chain when
thers was the sound Of footsteps coming
toward them
''0et behind the fenrel We haven't
half searched him yet. Mind you keep
shut now II you don't want
The man with the pistol made a sig-
ni6cant gesture with II. and his COM
yGnion pulled and pushed the bishop
DOWN the alley and Though ragged
hroken opening in the fence. The three
Atood still there in the shadow until the
footsteps passed.
Now. then. have you got the
; watchr' asked the man with tho pistol.
mo; the chain Is caught some
wherer And the other man swore
again-
'sBreak it. theni''
mo; don't break il" the bishop
aid. And it was the first time he had
spoken "The chain Is the gift of a
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 ly 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 q step nearer. Then, to the evil
dent amazement OF his, companion. he
aid 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
ny another word he was confronted
with the muxxle Of the pistol. turned
NON the bishops head toward his own.
Leave that watch be and put back
the money too This Ia the bishop we've
heid up-the bishopl Do You hearf''
''And what Of itf The president of
Tho United States wouldn't be too good
% hold up IT,
81 say. you put the money hack. or
In I'VE minutes IN blow hole through
your head that Il lot In more sense than
you have to spare now." said the other.
For second the man with the stake
seemed to hesitate at this ST ange turn
IN events. M IL measuring his compan.
Ions intention. Then he hastily drop
ped the money back into the bishops
pocket
"You can take your hands down.
mr." The man with the weapon low.
cred 10 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
ne two men. In the dim light it was
difficult to distinguish fosturea He was
evidently free to go his way now. but
10 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
snt down on Q stone The other man
stood viciously digging his stake into
the ground
That's just what I'm staying for. g"
- tod tIa xfSkD
bcsrd that projected from the broken
fence.
"You must ike our company. II is
hard sometimes for people to tear them
solves away from us the man stand.
ing mp said. laughing coarsely.
"Shut rpr exclaimed the other
Were on the road to hell. though
that's sure enough We need better
company than ourselves and the devil "
"lf you would only allow me TO be
Of any help The bishop spoke gen
tly. even lovingly. The man on the
stono stared mt the bishop through the
darkness After n moment of silence he
spoke slowly. like one who had finally
decided upon course he had at first
rejected.
''Do you remember ever seeing me
bcforei'
''No. said tho bishop. 'The light is
not very good, and I have really not
had n good look mt you.
''Do you know me nowp' The man
suddenly took off his hat and. getting
mp from the stone, walked over to the
bishop until they were near enough to
touch each other.
The mans hair was coal black. ex-
capt ono spot on the top of his head
about rs large IA the palm Of the hand
which was white.
The minute the bishop saw that no
started. The memory of 70 years ago
began to stir In him. The man helped
him.
Don't you remember one day back
IN 'sl or 80 An ,noV .a,nn a. x.n.,. A.