The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-15

III -
~ present, Lisle Prankerd was making
hi, way to lodgings along one of the i'll
lit streets in the outskirts Of Omaha.
He carried in his waiscoat pocket his las;
hank note, and hadn't an Idea IN his head
where the next bank note was to come
from. When at an obscure corner he
was summoned to "t'row up his hands
he laughed aloud, but he obeyed.
Keep EN- up now, young man, keep
en- up" the knight Of the
road. 4 got some more dates tonight,
an 1 can't linger with you long"
Hope they'll bring you in more than
this one" answered Prankerd, while the
stranger rified his pockets, taking from
him his lone bank note and gold watch.
You might be fatter," the robber ad-
mitted, stepping back with the plumber III
his lett hand. "Beggars can't be choosers
though, can they?"
Don't you want to give me back that
watch? My best girl give me that"
I'd like to accommodate you, pard, but
] need it in my business. Besides, you'd
prob1y hook it tomorrow, you're so hard
up. so long, blokey; glad 1 met you;
take care o YOURSELF"
Il guess that won't be hard now that
you've got all | had that was worth tax
ing care Of. If it's just the same to you
won | NINA IL we uOn [ meet again,
What measures the following day Lisle
Prankerd took to fill his pockets need not
be told. The point is that for the time
being they were wholly unfruitful. and
that evening also he stepped lightly
and briskly homeWard humming a bit OF
a tune. He mad not a cent in his pocket,
but he had dined-by in-vitation-and he
had telegraphed collect" for money,
which would be delivered to him in the
morning. Having at the moment nothing
to worry about, and when at the same
obscure corner he was once more sufa-
moned to ''t'row up" his hands he
laughed even louder thar before.
You're a merry one, too" said the
rcbber, advancing to inspect Prankerl's
pockets. Keep yer hans up; | can go
trough you without help"
Seems to me that | have heard that
voice BEFORE returned PrankerG.
"P'raps you have; let's swap looks DIT
each other under this glim here" And
the robber drew Prankerd toward the
street lamp. wy, you're the bloke /
touched last night the stranger eX-
claimed on verifying his suspicious. "Y'
oughtn't to keep such late hours"
You oughtn't either, pard," said Prank
erd, IF you don't get any more tor your
pains than you'll get from me tonight
Cant tell my boy, till I've looked
you over. Amt sewed everythin' up i'll
the linin' of your coat?"
Again the robber rifed Prankerd's peck
cts, but this time without getting even
a cent of plumber.
You are dry the robber exclaimed,
still covering Prankerd with the revolver.
I almost feel sorry for you. Come
nearer the lamp an femme get a good
squirt at you. Say, you amt such a bad
SORT. Amt you got no one you cFn
tCuch?'
Prankerd laughed. "No, I'm up against
it. all right. Suppose you let me put my
hands Town.
Not on your life; you're more comfort
able with 'em where they are! You're
young, too, amt you?"
Not so young as you
"Pard, don't get passin' them remarks
about or 7 might get generous. Say, O.
the level, are you really busted?"
If hadn't had an invite tonight
couldn't "a dined."
is that straight?'
straight as l can make it."
The rObber lowered the revolver an(
dr. y Il fye-dollar bill from an inside coat
pocket. Dine on me tomorrow, pard,'
he remarked, handing Prankerd the banl
note. The watch l needed in my bust
ness, as | told you, but l amt goin' tt
have you runnin' around hungry on my
account. When you're in luck, p'r'aD:
III touch you up again. Take care o
YOURSELF
Same to you" said Pranerd, and thu
two separated again.
A year later Lisle Prankerd consulted
with his wisdom and learned accordingly
he had found his fortune; he was at leas
l--1 $685., r. ~ ~
fast as the New York-Chicago expires!
could bear him. 1t was Il momentar.
check to his satisfaction that he fount
as the train was drawing toward Colum
bus that he had lost his purse. Column
bus is no place for a man who has fount
his fortune and lost his purse, and Prank
erd knew it, and he told the conducto
that he knew it. He told him also tina
he knew the general superintendent, an
that this gentleman would not be please
to hear that passengers on his tran
We're deprived Of their purses. Fortunate
~ for the conductor the detective OF tn
division was on the train and he wa
Immediately advised OF the theft.
How much dough was in that purse?
he asked Prankerd.
What has that to do with you?
Prankerd counterquestioned. A 20
Itpu 10 KNOW 10 Iudl nave S1I NiciiN
and that | want my purse back.
Think you'd know your leather agar
If you saw it," IZod queried with JUS
tifable sarcasm.
Find it and see said Prankerd.
The first thing that a WISE copper o.
a train does on learning that a passenge
has been touched" is to go through til
train and see whether he recognize
among the passengers any known thieves
Izod began in the smoking car and wen
through the train to the last pullman
III the last seat of the last pullman h
saw and recognized his old acquaintance
Peggie Niven. He bowed, shook hands
and sat down beside her, not at her IN
v~itation. Wise detectives get on witt
out invitations.
Suppose you've thrown the leather Oh
O the window, haven't you, Peg"
What leather ?" demanded Peg.
The leather t you pulled in the mex
car
Sir she said, Fif you do not leave m