The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-07-10
THE DRAGONS RUBBER COAT.

glass windows Of his little store IfOnL The street was empty, and though it was but o'clock in the afternoon the low, driving storm made the place very dark. Furlong lighted his gasoline lamp, got out cigar and began to smoke. He had been a gambler at Leadville, got rich enough to turn legitimate" during the early days of Cripple Creek, and had come to Brace vile with the first rush. Knowing Something of gems, watches and such valuables, the jewelry business ap- pealed to him as his best venture, and during the six months of his residence here he had prospered. The varying fortunes of a mining camp had forced him into pawn-broking as a side line, and he saw that it was very profitable field.
 T wish I could find good man to come in on that department, he was saying, when the door swung in and wet gust of wind logged the glass of his counters A stranger, his hat pulled down, an umbrella in his hand and his rubber coat dripping with water, closed the door behind him and walked into the store. Furlong got down, laid aside his cigar and said: i Good evening; bad weather. isn't it?"
 The visitor was tall. we'll favored young man, with an oddly constant
 gaze and the suggestion of sad smile about his handsome mouth.
 "A wretched evening"" he murmured, 1 looking out for an instant. II want
 good, white solitaire for this finger" He put his right hand on the counter and Furlong noticed that 1t was muscu- lar but soft and white. He got out his measure and took the size of the ex-
 tended finger, noticing how steady were the nerves and how frank the glance of his customer. Then he got out his tray
 and picked up a beautiful gem.
 "How does that strike you?" asked Furlong.
 T like it and it fits,' said the strang-
 CT, slipping on the ring and holding it
 up to the light "It looks perfect; 1t is l perfect! What do you want for it?''
 An even hundred for that" said the | jeweler.
 "I'll take it." and while Furlong put
 back the tray the stranger funbled utlu6T HIS TuDUSI SOal. w iAOI1 NAAS "" l eler looked up there was a pistol
 peeping blankly over the edge Of the
 glass case, big, blue-barreled, busi- ness-Iike forty-flve, and behind it the
 steadfast hand and sad, wistful smile of the stranger
 "Is it a hold-up?" said FurIong, very
 calmly and smiling back at his foe.
 That's what it is. I'm hard up
 and have to do it, I don't want to
 kill you-don't move!" | "Oh, you won't have to kill me-" 1 laughed the gray-haired, imperturbable
 jewe1er; you've got the diamond and | haven't a gun in the place. Besides, don't believe in gun plays. So you're hard up?"
 | The robber was puzzled. but he didn't lower the pistol. He looked at Furlong narrowly, and Furlong looked back kindly into his alert eyes.
 "Yes, I'm hard up said the robber, his voice a trife husky. i've got to get out of this camp. I meant to work a beggar, do IF"
 You don't look like robber either" softly answered Furlong. There was a sound of passing foot steps, but Furlong paid no heed except
 to notice his enemy's quick glance toward the door.
 Don't worry" said the jeweler ''It's past closing hour, and nobody is likely to come in. Besides, I'm not going to
 do anything. But you? What do you
 intend to do with the diamond"' Pawn 1t and jump the camp" an-
 swered the stranger, wondering and almost reassured.
 This is the only pawnshop in Brace l ville," said Furlong, getting easily l into his high stool. ''I was thinking 1 perhaps you'd rather have the cash.
 I'll let you have $75 on that ring"
 "All right!" calculated the outlaw, 1 not knowing what to expect, but keep 1 ing his man covered, "trot out your money"
 Furlong went to his safe, pulled out five $10 biIs and made up the rest l from his pocketbook. He came back
 very quietly, and, without seconds hesitation, passed the money over to the robber. The latter looked scared, hesitated a moment, drew off the ring 1 and, passing it over to his gentle vic
 tim, gasped'
 i "Well, I'll be damned!" You're no robber," smiled Furlong, I putting away the ring, which he wiped | tenderly with the chamois; "now, on | the square. stranger, is it just case l of hard luck?'
 The intruder began to look bit
 sheepish. He had slipped the money into his pocket. Then he turned sud- denly to Furlong and, grasping the pistol by the muzzle, held it's handle toward the jeweler The latter took
 it without word looked it over, said.
 Pretty nice artillery" and handed it | back.
 | "Why didn't you--' l "Oh, fiddlesticks, stranger!' laughed l the old gambler I've seen enough of the gun play in my day. Tve-but
 never mind what I've done with those plaything. I've staked you to $75, 1 haven't I new?'
 Wees, you have but" and he pulled out the money, 1T don't believe I'll keep | It. You're the rummiest chap--I thought you were bluffed at first, but 1 see you just don't care cuss. If you'll loan me twenty I'll go. Maybe I'll send it back from Denver I think I can get job there with Joslin's-' "Joslin? Are you a jeweler, then?' CT x,,ae r,;+I, rTGffop,, for fo,,, o~ G..