The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-21
CAUGHT RED HANDED.
BY FRANK H. SWEET.

during the past week they had lost three of their best animals But the prisoner was improbable. even when in the first excitement of discov- cry she had fired a bullet across his shoulder as a warning to accept the capture without protest. He had turned calmly, but with an odd look of amazement in his eyes, and as he raised his hat-with his left hand and tried to say something about wan derinR into the valley by accident, she had cut him short, with a curt, Move on ahead there. and don't attempt to touch your weapons"
 If you will excuse me. miss" he observed quietly, after they had cov- cred half the distance to the house, isn't 1t rather odd to build such home as yours in so wild a place? I did not suppose there was even a log cabin within a hundred miles"
 My father likes the location" the girl said coldiy "and so do 1. Here we are now-that is my father on the piazza"
 As she spoke they passed from be- hind a hedge of transplanted New EnEand barberry bushes. brilliant with their scarlet clusters of seedy fruit directly in front of the entrance. Her father had half risen and was looking down at them inquiringly.
 This is 8 man I caught in our horse stable. father" the girl ex- plained. He says he was looking in out of curosIty, but I believe he Is the thief who has been taking our horses. You can talk with him though, and find out. Watch him closely, for he's armed. will go round to the kitchen and see if the Chinaman has got dinner about ready"
 As she disappeared in the house the stranger turned away to hide smile. These people were not very experi- enced in thief taking.
 ''You will excuse my not rising. sor," the host was saying courteously. "but unfortunately I am at present a little indisposed. Please step up on the piazza and take that chair. Place the books upon the table"
 There were several small tables on the piazza and a number Of chairs, and tables and chairs were all occupied by books. The prisoner went to the chair indicated and removed the books to the table at the mans elbow. As he did so he gazed at the thin, smooth. 1y-shaven face with puzzled look that was half recognition.
 But the keen, quiszlcal eyes were piercing him through and through
  that he was back at college and his professor was probing him for the truth of some misdemeanor. Soon however, the mans face cleared and the searching eyes lost their look of fixed inquiry.
 You are blameless, sir" the incis- i've voice declared conclusively, and I apologize for my daughters suspi- cion. Perhaps, though, 1t was natural .gm you will stay to dinner. May I ask your name |"
 Reynolds Phillips"
 All the time the man had been speaking Phillips gaze had been wandering longingly over the pro- fusion of books. They were famS1- far avenue back into his past. Invol- untarily he reached out and picked up one, opening at the hy-leaf. AS he did so he uttered a surprised exolama- ton.
 this2"
 'Yes. Do you know him?'
 He was my college president"
 "Whatw The man half rose in his chair. T have been a professor in his college a good part of my life, When were you thereT
 T graduated nine years ago.
 Nine years Let me see--yes I was in Europe a year or two about that both have been in the college during your undergraduate days at some time. Phillips Phillips-the name seems familiar"
 Yes. we were together nearly three years remember you perfectly now. You were my professor of literature. l half recognized you when l first stepped upon the piazza"
 The professors hand was suddenly l extended. Let me shake hands with | you, Phillips" he said. T never ex- | pected to see any of my students | again. It Is delightful. What?" as | Phillips put out his left hand some what awkwardly, lis your right arm | disabled? What is the matter?'
 Just a little scratch" hastily. | Men hunting in a wild country like | this are runping Into something all | the time. you know"
 "Recent?"
 This morning"
 Been attended tor
 "N-no. not yet. But 1t doesn't | matter. I will attend to it as soon as | [ so away. I don't mind little thing | ike this"
 Mary shall look after 1t at .once." lecisively. She Is a very good sur ] geon. and included medicine in her | ,irriculum Mary! Oh. Mary"
 Really. 1t doesn't matter in the ! east" interposed Phillips hastily. T | would much rather not have 1t looked | lfter just now"
 But the professor paid him not tLe | least attention. When hls daughter l Appeared he nodded toward Phillips | light arm.
 ''Wounded." he said. and from the | looks of that round hole in his coat | sleeve I should say it was a bullet. | That kind Of cloth does not show | sIood saturatlon much, or Ithink we l would have noticed it before. To think of him sitting here all this time with an arm too disabled to use, and not alluding to 1t. Mary, you must sut the sleeve away at once and att tend to it"
 The girIs face had grown white