Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-07-28

some Of the spectators stood about, maxi
| ing remarks. None Of these were at all
complimentary to Bob. One man went
| so far as to say:
Nobody but a derned fool would bet
| against a sure thing. no matter how
| great the oGds in his favor. Any man
| of ordinary sense wouldn't take that bet
at odds of 100 to one"
ANY man with a particle of sense
at all wouldn't" another added
| Bob heard these remarks, but appar-
| emily. they did not disturb him in the
| least. He was as calm as a summer
| breeze, and on his face was that bland,
| pleasant smile He w@s so childlike
and trusting that it seemed almost like
stealing milk from a baby to accept his
offer to bet A man more honorable
| than Blue Thompson would have hesi-
tated to take advantage of his unsophis-
ticated innocence.
When the bet was all arranged, and
the stakes properly deposited, Joe said:
Now, how and when is this thing to
be decided?"
Bob looked up at Thompson, trust
| ingly as if inviting him to answer. The
latter assuming an important, swag-
gering, arrogant air, and ignoring Bob
| entirely, said:
"A week is all the time | want for
marrying the widow. You can prepare
to hand over the stakes to me by that
time"
And if you don't marry her" Bob
tty,,, ,;,,, h.,
"Of course" Thompson answered,
| condescendingIy But, if | were you.
| would not lay awake of nights, plan
ming out how to invest it"
'Oh, won't Bob replied. Il never
lose sleep over things like that. But,
why should we wait a week to decide this
thing? Why not decide it right now?"
Thompson laughed and the crowd
joined in. Bob was certainly very
funny.
DO you think man can decide
thing like this in two minrtcs?" Thomp-
son asked.
Il can" Bob replied.
you can? How?"
"I'Il show you"
In flash Bob had pulled his gun and
held it pointed at Blue Thompson's head
The latter started back, with surprise.
and the crowd began to move restlessly.
BE quiet. gentlemen, everybody"
Bob said, and the softness and gentle
ness was all gone out Of his voice, and
the smile had left his face. This is a
little matter of business, and it is all
quite regular, | assure you"
But. there shall be no murder here"
Joe interDosed. You shall not resort
to that to win your bet. Men, disarm
him"
Several of the spectators started to-
ward Bob, but before they could lay
their hands on him he threw back the
lapel of his coat and revealed a de-
tective's badge. Those who had started
to interfere fell back.
There will be nobody hurt" Bob said,
"unless some of you try to interfere with
me in the discharge of my duty. As
said. this thing is all proper and reg
ular."
There was long and death-like si-
lence. Bob. calm and COOL looked at
Thompson. and the latter, gloomy and
covering, looked at Bob. The specta-
tors. their faces pictures of astonish-
ment, looked enquiringly from one to
the other Finally, Joe broke the silence
by saying:
What does it all mean?'
"It means, simply" Bob replied that
Blue Thompson is not Blue Thompson
at all and that, instead of being brave,
bad man. he is only common muir
derer He killed an old man, stole that
$1,000, and then ran away and changed
his name. | have been looking for him
for about year, for he is badly wanted"
In the hearts of some of those who
were admirers of the widow glad feel
ing began to creep up. 1t would not be
such a bad thing to have so formidable
rival as Blue Thompson out of the
way Some of them. who had felt their
| chances of winning the woman as hope
less. took fresh courage, and resolved
to re-enter the conteSt On the morrow,
| they told themselves, they would lay
fresh siege to her heart.
Presently, the door opened and man
| came in. Without a word he walked
| over to Blue Thompson snapped a pair
of handouts on him, and relieved him
of his pistols.
| To the men in the saloon there was
| something familiar looking about this
man, although they could not remember
ever having seen him. He was a
stranger in the fiat, beyond a doubt yet
/ somehow, they felt that it had not been
Song since they had looked on his fea-
lures But, where?" they asked them
selves, 'and when?"
The man looked around on the crowd
and saw the puzzled look on the faces.
He understood and burst into a loud,
hearty laugh.
For shame, for shame." he cried.
| ''T'm GiSannOinted in Won ALL To think