Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-12-09

usual, but he SLllI preserved MS COM
posture, tho"eh an unpleasant sensa-
ton like ...o Lric.Aling of cold water
E22de itself teit suddenly in the region
OF his pulse. "tIave the goodness to
explain yourself he said, as stif1y
as he could.
Possibly you think I'm lunatic?"
suggested the man in the corner, play
fully
The bishop had his suspicious, but
he didn't think it wise TO give voice
to them. Il have formed" he replied,
in an icy tone, mo theories whatever
about you. Be good enough to tell me
Tiff 1 can serve you, and permit me
to go back to my paper"
A light-an ugly, crooked light
leaped ali at once into the strangers
eyes; he stood up holding on to the
hat-rack to steady himself.
You can serve me-" he said, in a
low, vibrating voice. How clever OF
you to think of it! l want your
| clothes"
Sir" gasped the amazed divine,
likewise standing up, you must be"
Mad! l knew you'd say so. You're
| wrong, as it happens. However, that's
quite beside the point. All you have
| to do is to undress.''
Dr. Bigworth's cheeks went first
| grey and then purple. He was not
used to any tone OF authority except
his own. Let this fellow be mad or
sane, he must be taught his place.
He swelled himself out to the full ex-
tent OF his pompous size. Are you
aware who l ann" he demanded, in a
voice that had been wont to make
Over-Officious curateS shake in their
| shoes.
II have formed" coolly rejoined the
| man with the beard, mo theories
whatever about you. Your dress will
be useful to me, and that's all I care
about" AS he spoke he felt leisurely
in his coat pocket, and then-as if
| there was nothing outrageous in the
| action-he prSduced a revolver and
held it up to the window, pointing it
| and closing one eye as if to try it's ac-
! curacy.
The bishop gave q 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. 'tNow, when
are you going to begin?"
"B-b-begin what?"
ITO undress."
Mummy dear sir" demonstrated
the unhappy prelate, abruptly dropping
his dictatorial tone for one of extreme
humility, "this-this must be some ri
dicuNeus j-jest"
By way Of reply the stranger gently
moved the weapon round till it's muz-
| zle was on 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 satisfy your" he asked,
rervously.
Satisfy me? MOI" roared his COM
panion. 81 want every stitch you have
on-every stitch. Now, no more shiliy-
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.
But you're not going to leave me
without - without c-clothes?" he
moaned. 1t 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 disengaged
hand he drew towards him a large
travelling bag, dexterously undid it
without moving his weapon, and
whisked out in brisk succession a dirty
flannel shirt, a pair of villainous plaid
trousers, pea-jacket, scarlet hand
kerchief, and a rakish-looking billy
cock hat.
With meaning gesture he pointed
| towards them.
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 OF 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