The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-01-17
,pleasc, and you may keep your watch
Uond aflor 20 I'm hloeD

tpleasc, and you may keep your watch
Pand other valtmhles."
Uncle Hewitt started to open his
mouth, but the lc.ok in the young mans
eyes and q little click near his own
eyes caused him to open his vest In
stead, and hand over the little bag
containing the precious funds.
The young man bowed politely; then,
as he climbed from the wagon, he said,
II wish to thank you for your kind
ness. and in return let me give you q
bit of advice. Don't make 1t a Gus
tom to take In strange passengers and
give them your confidence. Good-by,
Mr.. Hayseedw
And he started back toward the city
with no sign of limp.
That appellation of "Mr. Hayseed"
was the last straw added to Uncle
Hewitt's blazing temper. 1t was bad
enough to lose so much of ones hard
earnings, but to be ridiculed afterward
was intolerable. He sllowed old Bets
to plod on, but he reached down, and
cropping under the seat, brought out
the old horse-pistol, and slipping out
over the tail-board of the wagon, he
started in pursuit Of his former pas
senger. The rattle. of the wagon and
the thud of old Bets feet drowned the
sound of his approach IS he gained
on the fellow. He came up behind
him, and shouted suddenly:
Halt! Throw up your hands, or
you'll 1e a-limping in earnest in about
q secondr
Turning suddenly, the young man
felt the cold touch of the pistol against
his forehead, and taken so completely
by surprise, he obeyed orders fully as
promptly as had his victim of a few
moments earlier. The old pistol was
certainly O formidable-looking weapon,
and the persistency with which Uncle
Hewitt pressed it to his forehead was
terrifying, to say the least.
"Ill take your revolver first" Uncle
Hewitt said, firmly, "and you needn't
make any resistance, for know how
to use this old-fashioncd kind all right"
The shining revolver was transferred
without delay from the young mans
pocket to Uncle Hewitts pocket.
"Now I'll trouble you for that little
sack Of mine," and the sack changed
pockets. Then, with a twinkle of his
eyes, Uncle Hewitt said:
THANK you for your kindness. You
may keep your watch; it's bit slow"
He raised the shining revolver on a
level with the young mans eyes and,
with his finger on the trigger, asked;
''Shall l try this thing, to see If it is
in working order?"
The young mans face grew ashy
white. "For heavens sake, don't!' he
pleaded.
ooh, that's all right won't. 1 just
wanted to know if it would work
Mine won't. 1t hasn't been loaded for
more than ten years, and 1t couldn't
be loaded, for the insides is out of re-
pair. just carry it to satisfy my wife,
but hereafter I'll feel the need of a
good one. I'll be more generous with
you than you were with me; I'll eX-
change weapons. l want to keep this
shiny pistol as little souvenir of our
pleasant acquaintance. Good-by, Mr..
Buncov'
Uncle Hewitt started on clumsy run
down the road, overlook the slow-mov-
ing wagon, climbed in over the tall
board and chirruped to old Bets, who
had not missed him. The young man,
when he had looked daZedly after the
wagon, threw the heavy old pistol as
far as he could send it into the bushes
by the roadside.
Aunt Mandy listened with wide eyes
to the story Of Uncle Hewitt's adven-
ture. and at its close she said in some
what shaky tones, into which there
crept a distinct note of satisfaction,
however:
Hewitt, you know 1 always warned
you to be careful, and / always told
you there was danger of meeting a
highwayman. Maybe you'll pay more
heed to my warnings after this"
"Highwayman! He wasn't none of
them highwaymen like you've always
been warning me aboutp snorted
Uncle Hewitt. "Didn't l tell you he
was dressed like gentleman, and was
just as pleasant as pie? And as for
your warnings, l guess 1 proved I'm
able to take care of myself" Then he
added, triumphantly, Il told you I'd
never carry that old horse-pistol with
me again, and won't." t."--Youth's Com
panion.