The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-07-30

N''N tue N' was an arranged, ana
the stakes properly deposited Joe said:
Nov how aud when is this thing to
be drcisaa9"
Bon looked MP at Thompson trust
ing,y, Us If inviting him to answer The
latter assuming an important, swag-
EcFiug, 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 II you don't marry her" Bob
said, questioningIy. Il get the money 10
"Ot course" Thompson answered.
condcsccndIngly But. If | were you,
| would not lay awake of nights, plan
ming out how 10 invest IT,
oh. won't" Bob replied, 4 never
lose sleep over things like that But.
why should we wait a week to decide this
thing? Why not decide It right now7"
Thompson laughed and the crowd
joined in, bob was certainly very
funny.
DO you think a man can decide \
thing like this In two minutes ?" Thomp-
son asked
Il can" Rob replied.
You can? How
"llI show YOU"
In a flash Bob had pulled his gun and
held It pointed at Blue Thompsun's head.
The latter started back. with surprise.
and the crowd began to move rcstlessly.
BE quiet, gentlemen, everybody
Bob said. and the softness and gentle
ness was all gone out Of his voice, n
the smile had left his face. This is a
little matter Of business, and II Is all
quite regular. / assure you"
but, there shall be no murder here"
Joe i%ntorposfdr YOU shall not resort
to that to win your bet. Men, disarm
him
Several oEtthe spectators started to-
ward Bob. but before they could lay
their hands on him he threw back tho
lapel Of his coat aud revealed a de-
teetlye'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
There was. a long and death-like ST.
Ionce. Bob, calm and cool, looked at
and the latter, gloomy and
covering, looked at Bob. The speeta-
tors, their faces pictures Of astonish-
ment, looked enduiringly from one to
the other. Finally, Joe broke the silence
by saying:
"Wha does II all moan?'
1T means, simply" Bob replied, that
Blue Thompson Is not Blue Thompson
at all, and that, instead Of being a brave,
bad man. he Is only a common muir
lerer He killed an old man, stole that
s. 900, and then ran away and changed
MS name. | have been looking for him
or about a year, for he Is badly wanted
In the hearts Of some of those who
we're admirers Of the widow a glad feel
ng began to creep up. II would not be
such a bad thing TO have 80 formidable
rival as Blue Thompson out OF the
way. Some of them who had fell their
Of winning the woman as hope
css, took fresh courage, and resolved
o re-enter the contest. On the morrow,
hey told themselves, they would lay
resh siege to her heart.
Presently, the door opened and a man
anne In, Without a word he walked
'ver to Blue Thompson, snapped a pair
handouts on him, and relieved him
# bis pistols.
TO the men In the saloon there was
OmethIng familiar looking about this
nan, although they could not remember
yer having Feen him. He wal a
trhnger III the flat, beyond a doubt, yet
omehow, they felt that 1t had not been
oug since they had looked on his fea-
ures. But, where?" they asked them
land when2" 3EE#E
The man looked around on The crowd
nd saw the puzzled look on the faces.
Ie understood and burst into a loud,
earty laugh.
For shame, for shame!" he cried.
I'm disappointed In YOU all, To think