The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-07-28
stealing milk from baby 10 accept h;s

be declded!
Bob looked up at Thompson, trust
ingly, as if inviting him to answer. The
latter, assuming an important, swag'
gering, arrogant air, and ignoring BOZ
entirely, said:
"A week is all the time want fol-
marrying the widow. You can prepare
to hand over the stakes to me by that
time"
"And If you don't marry her," Bot
said, questioningly, Il get the money.
"Of course" Thompson answered
condescendingly. But, if I were you
l 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 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 a man can decide a
thing like this in two minutes?" Thomp-
son asked.
81 can," Bob replied.
"You can? How?"
"I'll show you"
In a 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
little matter Of business, and it is all
quite regular, assure you"
But, there shall be no murder here,
Joe interposed. 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 a long and death-like ST.
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?"
at 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
$4,000, and then ran away and changed
his name. l have been looking for him
for about a year, for he is badly wanted. u
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
a 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 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 doubt, yet
somehow, they felt that it had not been
long 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.
'I'm disappointed in you all. To think
that not one of you recognizes me, when
you have seen me every day for weeks.
and some of you have protested to ad-
disappointing that men should so soon
forget the loved features of the one they
profess to adore!"
There was a long and awkward pause
then some one said:
TT is the widow"
The man looked up with smile.
YES" he said, 81 was the widow, but
now, am detective. I'm sorry if any
of you feel disappointed, and 1 trust
that shall leave no broken hearts. here
when I go away. You have all made IL
very pleasant for me, and to show that
am not ungrateful want you all to
come up and have one with me-"
At first there was some hesitation, for
the disappointed lovers felt sore, but
presently, they thought better of it, and
treating the matter as good joke, lined
up at the bar and had, not only one, but
several.
ALWAYS F.