St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-12-19
quite beside the point All you have

l -
| DR.. Bigworth's cheeks went drs
grey and then purple. He was nc
used to any tone of authority excep
his own. Let this fellow be mad O
sane, he must be taught his place
He swelled himself out to the full ex
tent OF his pompous size. Are 20,
aware who l ann" he demanded, N
voice that had been wont to max,
over-oficious curates shake in theil
shoes.
Il have formed" coolly rejoined thu
man with the beard, mo theories
whatever about you. Your dress viii
be useful to me, and that's all cart
about" AS he spoke he felt leisurel,
IN his coat pocket, and then-as il
there was nothing outrageous in thu
action-he produced a revolver and
held 1t up to the window, pointing |,
and closing one eye as if to try it's &C.
curacy.
The bishop gave smothered excla.
nation, and fell back Imply in his
corner of the carriage.
"This will tell you that I'm in ear
nest" said the stranger. Nov, when
are you going to begin?"
"B-b-begin what?"
ITO undress. %
"M-m-my dear SIR" demonstrated
the unhappy prelate, abruptly dropping
his dictatorial tone for one of extreme
humility, "this-this must be some RI
dfculous j-jest."
/ BY way of reply the stranger gently
moved the weapon round till its muz-
zle was on a level with the episcopal
brow. "Undress!" he repeated, in ex-
actly the same tone.
With groan of impotent terror the
bishop took off his silk-lined overcoat
and laid it on the seat beside him.
will that satixfy you?" he asked,
| nervously.
Satisfy me? MOI" roared his COM
panion. 81 want every stitch you have
| on-every stitch. Now, no more shilly-
shallying; off with those gaiters!"
He advanced the weapon another
hairs breadth nearer and fingered the
trigger suggestively. With a spas
modic jerk his lordship bobbed down
and hastily unbuttoned the insignia of
his Office. ~ eco 81 $
But you're not going to- leave me
without = without c-clothes? he
moaned. It was not yet eight o'clock,
and the morning was chilly and raw.
The man with the beard did not re-
ply in, words, but with his sdisengaged
hand he drew towards him a large
travelling bag. dexterously undid it
without moving his weapon, and
whisked out in brisk succession dirty
flannel shirt, pair Of villainous plaid
kerchief, and a rakish-looking billy
cock hat.
With meaning gesture he pointed
towards them. M
Dr.. Bigworth paused in his disrob-
ing to look with horror-struck eyes at
the obnoxious garments, and then en-
treatingly at his tormentor; but the
man simply tapped his revolver impa-
tiently and signified that he was in a
hurry. With, shaking fingers the
bishop reluctantly took off his remain
ing clothes, and then very gingerly he
picked up the loathsome things that
the man had thrown down and pro-
ceeded to put them on. When he was
dressed his companion surveyed him
critically. Then he burst into a short,
sinister laugh. Capital" he said.
Again he plunged his disengaged hand
into the bag. and brought out this
time small black leather case. "Your
obedience deserves some reward" he
observed, and opening the case he dis
played to the blinking gaze Of the
half-stupefied bishop pile of costly
gems-mostly diamoDds-that lay glis-
tening inside.
Now" he remarked, calmly, you'll
perceive why am not anxious to be
myself. Ten minutes more and I've
done with YOU He shut the case
with snap and pushed it down to the
bottom of the bag.
For Heavens sake, what next?" de-
manded DR.. Bigworth, in a terror
stricken Tone e.
"I'm going to shave you.'
TOT lew ulOueulS tucEc WdS
quivering silence, then the bishop gave
a cry of absolute agony. He fell down
on his knees and squirmed at the mans |
feet. mot my beard" he begged;
FOR PHYS sake, not my beard!" i
Nonsense" snapped the stranger.
as with q quick movement he restored
the revolver to his pocket and brought |
out razor. you've got your lucky |
stars to thank that I hold strangely |
views about murder or |
shouldn't have taken all this trouble.
I don't want to resort to extremes,
but if you don't sit still He made |
an expressive gesture, first drawing the
razor across his own throat and then
throwing out his arms as if casting a1
heavy body out of the carriage door.
'But my beard!" cried the wretched
bishop. Think, il you shave mel
-" and then his voice failed; the
crooked light in the mans eyes looked
20 ominous and the razor cleaned SO
sharply bright in the sunlight that for
he first time in his SIS years he fell for
ward in dead faint. When
he came to himself some time later
he train was still buzzing and rocking
through space and the whistle was
'hrieking cheerfully. He felt uncom-
til l