The Cairo bulletin., 1905-01-27


HE DISPLAYED HUGE ARMY REVOLVER.
If Bill should glance into 1T tragedy
would instantly result, but Bill, the
back number, was staring blankly at
the silver cup from which he had just
slipped his last brief taste of the lux
uries of wealth.
TO Wilmot's great surprise, Murdoch,
instead of sprinsing upon Bills back,
suddenly pulled a chair out from the
table and sat down in ii. AT the same
instant he displayed a huge army re-
vover. Bill made noise between a
groan and gasp and stretched forth
his hand for his own weapon, but to
touch it was death, and he shrank
back, 3,aN wtsGS lNN tO]
ave been listening at the door," said
Murdoch calmly, ''and I've sized this
thing up, / saw. this fellow proving
around the house earlier in the even
ing. Took you prisoner, eh? And
lectured you on socialism over my
wine? Well, well! Give me that little
gun of yours my friend" pulling Bilfs
weapon toward him along the table.
ut is the modern rule that the greater
absorbs the less"
He waved his enormous revolver
gently TO emphasize this remark, and
then, taking the burglars cheap weap-
on in his left hand, he looked at it with
contempt
Expected to do me up with this
thing, eh?' said he. well, you are a
back number Say, why didn't you
bring an Injunction? Then you'd have
been up TO date. If I'd tried to take
that away from you I'd really have
been in trouble, and old man Harrison
would have paid you for serving it.
He'd have paid you twenty times what
that stuff Is worth" And he pointed
with Bills revolver at the silverware
upon the table.
mo, no, Bill,'' he continued; lit won't
do. A back number? You're dodo,
that's what you are You're a jailbird
of an extinct species. And now, Will
mot. have you got the money!
Already the clerk was Juggling at the
belt with weak and frantic haste, and
he answered the question by flinging
it on the table.
How much?" demanded Murdoch.
-Four hundred thousand"
Bill, the back number. gave CUR
Cling groan and fell forward upon the
table.
brace up!' said Murdoch, straighten
ing him up with hand upon his
shoulder. Brace up. You may live
to steal the United States treasury
yet"
81 amt at to live at all after this"
gasped Bill.
ooh, yes, you are" responded Muir
dock Courage. my friend. And
now" he added more seriously, Il
shall have to ask you TO excuse me.
I'm expecting friends
He rose and motioned to Bill TO do
the like The burglar moved heavily,
as il he were old and i'll. while Muir
dock escorted him to the side door.
lighting the way with Bills own dark
lantern.
I'm going to let you GO" be said.
"You can't do me any harm"
Bill paused a moment on the thresh-
old. and ne spoke as IL to himself:
"I've been up against Jim Murdoch"
he said, IAN / amt lost nothin' but q
four dollar revolver an a secondhand
bullseye lantern. It's better n had
a right TO expect,
He stepped with heavy and despond-
ing caution into the dark vestibule and
went stumbling and staggering along
the tagging toward the gate. Some
men got under the darkest shadow Of
the trees TO let him pass. and he did
not see them They were Murdock's
friends-three aldermen Of the more
respectable sort and a we'll known p0-
iltieal leader who IS also a judge.