The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-01-24

please. and you may keep your watch
and other ~valuabLes.'
Uncle Hewitt started to OPEN his
mouth. but the look in the young mans
! eyes and a little click near his own
| eyes caused him to open his vest in.
stead, and hand Ger the little bag
| containing the precious funds.
The ,-oung 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 a
| bit of advice. Don't make it a GUS
tom to take in strange passengers and
| give them your confidence. Good-by.
Mr.. Hayseed!"
And he started back. toward the city
with no sign of a 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 :,lowed 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 re a-limping in earnest in about
a secOnd!'
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 cid pistol was
certainly a formidable-looking weapon,
and the persistency with which Uncle
kewitt pressed it to his forehead was
terrifying, to say the least.
'Ill take your revolver first" Uncle
Hewitt said, firmly, "and .ou needn't
make any resistance. for I know how
to use this old-fashionod kind all right
The shining revolver was transferred
without delay from the young mans
pocket to Uncle Hewitt's 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 a bit SLOW"
He raised the shining revolver on a
level with the young mans eyes and.
with his finger on the trigger, asked:
"Shall 1 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.
"Oh, that's all right. I won't. just
wanted to know if it would work.
Mine won't. 1t hasn't been loaded for
more than ten years, and it Couldn't
be loaded, for the insides is out of re-
pair. I just carry it to satisfy my wife.
but hereafter III feel the need OF a
good one. I'll be more generous with
you than you were with me; I'll
change weapons. I want to keep this
shiny pistol as q little souvenir Of our
pleasant acquaintance. Good-by, Mr.
Bunco"
Uncle Hewitt started On a 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 adyeni
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 I always warned
YOU to be careful, and I 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 about" snorted
Uncle Hewitt. Didn't I tell you he
was dressed like a gentleman. and was
just as pleasant as pie? And as for
your warnings, I guess | 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 1 won't."-Youth's Com.