Sunday morning globe., 1901-11-17
BENEDICT GORDON.
By REVERE RODGERS.
Written for the SUNDAY GLOBE
CHAPTER l.

In the fast-deeping twilight Of an
evening in the early part of April two
men alighted from the cars at Rock.
vile, and after giving a hurried look
about them Immediately struck off in
the direction Of the bustling little city
of Georgetown.
Both men were roughly clad, and
wore their hats well down upon their
faces as If to avoid recognition from
any chance wayfarer. The shorter of
the two men was coarse brutallook-
ing fellow, with sloping shoulders, and
great powerful limbs that spoke of vast
physical strength and endurance; his
short bull-like neck was collarless, and
his striped shirt, open at the front. di
! played to view a hairy animal-like
/ chest His age might have been thirty
| two or three, but his herculean build
made him appear somewhat older, as
| Is often the case with men Of large
make. He strobe along at a swinging
/ Face, with his neck crouched low. and
his arms hanging loosely by his sides
/ His massive jaws marked him as a man
of determination, while his bulging
| forehead and deep set eyes showed
him to be a man Of evil and british
! propensitives.
His companion, who appeared TO
have great difficulty in keeping abreast
] Of him, was trihe above the average
| height and of a strong athletic make,
| though not stoutly built. He was
| dressed much the same as his ruggedly
built companion, but from a general
air Of gentility that hovered about the
man, his garments seemed to have been
| selected more as a means Of disguise
than for any preference the wearer
could have had in the matter. Aside
from a sneer that seemed to constantly
hang about the mans face, he might
have been considered good looking,
even handsome. He appeared to be a
trifle younger than his companion, and
in different clothes. would have easily
been mistaken for a gentleman, such
as the world accepts the meaning Of
the term.
The two men trudged along in sill
ence for perhaps a quarter Of an hour,
when finally the younger one with an
oath, remarked upon the roughness Of
the road
aye" replied the other, gruHy,
Rough It is, but it'll be a d-mn sight
rougher afore we're there so get a
move on you, Saunders, and come on"
"Oh, it is all right for you to say
come on" answered the one addressed
as Saunders in a sulky voice as he
limped along "but you know / am not
exactly used to these pedestrian eXer-
cises, Ross"
"If you amt used to it, said Ross
surlily, you'll have to get used to it,
and what I say to you is to come on,
If you want to get there tonight
"Yes. but hang It all, man." eXpostu-
lateu Saunders, limping painfully in
las endeavor to keep up with his faster
companion, Il tell you / am not used
to this devilish way you have of getting
over ground | am tagged out now
with tramping through this blasted
muck and mire" he added, falling back
into a slower pace while his COmpan-
ion did the same
"Now, look here Mr.. Saunders"
sneered the man Ross, as he accommo
dated his stride to suit that of his COM
panion, "If the jobs to be done at all,
its got to be done afore one o'clock, so S
We'll have plenty Of time to get under
cover afterwards"
"I know that" said Saunders in a
petulant tone of voice, "but hang It all
man you run on like a veritable steam
engine, we will get there before one
o'clock without the necessity Of this
race-horse gait, won't we?'
But that amt the thing, said Ross
with an impatient toss of his head,
what we want is to have plenty of
time to look over the premises afore
we get down to business"
well, | cannot 90 any faster than
/ am going now" demonstrated Saund-
ers with an oath "anG what's more /
am not going to try. It is nice situa-
tion anyhow, for a man of my position
to be placed in" ne added with half
fearful glance at his companion.
"A man Of your what?" glowled
Ross. as he spat contemporary.
Il said a man Of my position" re-
peated Saunders. Here / am" he
proceeded speaking rapidly, "the only
son Of rich parents, who never let a
wish of mine remain ungratihed; ex-
pensively educated, an entree into the
best society and always enjoyed the
best things this life offered, to be
found at this day tramping along
u--luu lhuuug Iodub III Nolhpuh9 WIN
a."
"In company with a crook, is that
what you wer going to say, partner?'
Interrupted Ross with an ugly leer |
upon his brutal countenance, "is that |
your idea? II it is partner, don't mind |
me, but speak right out, cause I'm all |
attention sonny" he added stopping |
suddenly and turning about so as to |
face his companion.
"Oh," said Saunders, with an i'm
padent toss Of his head, 81 did not say |
that Ross, bul consider the matter
yourself. doesn't It seem strange to !
you, that man who has been reared |
as have ben must at last find It neces |
sary to resort to robbery in order to |
keep up his end among his friends? |
/ don't know how 1t may seem to you,
but hang me If it don't seem pretty |
rough on me- he added as he thrust |
his hands down deep into his trousers
pockets and glanced inquiringly at his
companion.
"Now. see here, Saunders" cried
Ross. angrily, facing about in the road,
'If you keep up this d-mn baby busi-
ness. III throw the whole thing up,
and I'll tell you now once for all, I'm |
An nN u