Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-07-05

standstill approached is carriage
an threw open the door.
Err Smuts?" said, politely.
'sYa! Dot vas so,'' e said, smilin'.
"Plough 'Otel," I said. as cool as if
this was my regular business. Ave
you any luggage?''
"Nein," e said, "only my dressing
case. All, tank you"
"This way, sir,' said, gripping his
bag an rug. ''The car is just aht-
side"
"Ah, dot vos goot," e said. an like
a lamb e followed me to the exit.
Charley saw us comm an threw
open the door.
The little professor, all unsuspi-
cious, 'opped inside. The Dock
strolled up.
Porter he inquired, coolly, ''are
you the Plough?"
Eyes, MILFORD" returned, touchin'
my 'at. I turned to the professor.
''Theer is another gent for the 'otel,
sir,'' said; .'you will not mind?"
"Oh, nein, nod at all, nod at all, !" e
said, affably. And the Dock joined
him inside.
In a few moments we lad reached
the dingy side street and lad pulled
up at our destination. Springin'
from the box seized his bag, and,
needless of SIS splutterin' protests, to-
gether the Dock an rushed the lit
tie German into the house.
"Great Shermany!" e cried, excited
ly, "vot you do NIT me?"
The Dock placed is and over lis
mart and thrust i'm on to a chair.
'.MalSe the least sound and you're
dead mani" e said, fiercely. "Now,
listen. We don't wish to hurt you,
but times money. Have you such
thing as a blank cheque about your
person."
'Bud, I wus prodest,'' e shouted.
"You vas Elm pair of dirty schwin-
dlers''
"The cheque book, my good SIR"
said the Dock, coolly; and wivaht fur
ther talk the terrified little gentle
man fumbled in is breast pocket and
produced a cheque from his pocket
book.
"Your honoured name is all we re-
quire," said the Dock, politely.
"Bud, I will nod sign i'd" splut-
tered the little man.
''I'll give you just one minute to
make up your mind" said the Dock,
shortly, tazin' aht lis watch.
ST will nod to i'd" shouted the Ger
man, madly. "You vas Elm" A
wicked click came from the extend
ed six-shooter, and, as the terrified
victim caught it, in mighty hurry
e drew the form towards i'm and
! Co,.iI,h1o1 SIC in he a
Dock gave a short laugh and picked
up the slip.
Gum! A bit shaky," e said, "but
able to read it," 'E took up the pen
and rapidly filed in the date. "Pay
Mr.. Henry Martin, or bearer, the sum
of-let's see, professor; shall we say
hundred?"
GA hundred!" walled the unhappy
victim. "Scoundrel!"
ga hundred then it isl" said the
Dock. He folded the slip wiz a flour
ish and put it in is waistcoat pocket.
Partner" e whispered, 'anding over
the weapon, "you know your part.
I shall just have time to catch the ex-
press. Herr Smutts. adieu!"
wiz a owl of rage the professor
started to is feet.
''Sit down. I said, coverin' i'm
you've got to mike yerself at 'ome
for an hour or two"
e started at the glitterin' play
thin in my and for few seconds
wiz wild look in is eyes, an then
wiz gesture of despair, e dropped
down onto the chair.
"Come, now. We 'o1d the trump
card, guv'nor, an so you'd better jest
look pleasant
ever goot, sir,'' e said; 'I vas your
, hands in. Bud, dake dot ting away
from mein face. I nod like i'd
I got up and, 1ockin' the door, put
, the key in my pocket. For abart ter
minutes we sat theer wivaht word
; Ev'ry mar an again caught the pro
fessor gazing furtively at my fee
e looked the very pictur' O. despair
: And then, unaccountably, e started
forward and began ter laugh.
: 'sHimmel," e said; 'svot Elm joke!'
I stared at i'm in undisguised astorn
ishment. A joke! 'E regarded it a:
a joke! Well, that took the bun.
"'Vot for you laugh?" e asked
!, 'sMein friendt, you on the oder side
; of your face laugh presently
''Wot's the gime, Dutchy?" I said
+, sharply.
"Oh, holdings, nodings!" e replied
and laughed again. That laugh ex
: arsperated me.
: "See ere, mister" I said, "you'r'
5 playin' wiz the wrong party. Wot''
: the gime? Come, chuck it OFF yel
chest, or"
'Don'd be rash, mein friendt," =
: said. you dink you make me tt
t schtob here while dot oder get ell