Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-06-06
"why. yes; how did you know I had tho


Highway robbery he repeated, incred-
ulously.
Haven't you stole the bishops most
precious possession?' cried Barnes, with
a sudden rush of irritation.
perhaps l have assented the culprit.
shaking his head moodily.
y perhaps about it," retorted Barnes.
Then I'm under arrest"
Most assuredly."
What about the girl?" asked the pris-
oner.
Your confederate? She'll have to o.,
with us too"
Half an hour later The curious quartet
were on a train returning to New York.
They reached the city before dusk and
proceeded to the bishops house. The
prc!atc was engaged and they had to wait
a few minutes. Barnes turned to the
young man.
Let me have the ring
The prisoners face darkened. He
clenched his teeth.
Not on your life"
But you admit it's in your possession?".
cred Earnes. exultantly.
"Certainly. What object could have
III denying i;-now?'
We'll. you're II cool one" exclaimed the
chief. eyeins him admir.ngly.
~ servant came to announce that the
bishop would see them in the library.
Barnes and his prisoner started for the
''E'' 's.Ni 'i9N SiA tIidlII- III lAIc
dimiy lighted parlor. The prela,e. who
WAS seated at his desk. arose in some agi-
tation rs the two men entered.
My dear Barnes, | hoppe
one minute. Bishop interrupted
Barnes. We've got our man all right.
and he's convicting himself. a minute
ago ne admitted thai he had your ring"
Inc prisoner rose IN.
II didn'1 admit anything of the kind"
why" cried Barnes. wrathfully. you
told me with Your own lips that YOU had
the ring
Yes" smiled the young man. land +
nave The ring. but not the bishops ring"
'lhe gentleman is correct" said the
pisn"p. with some little show of agitation.
lie couldn't possibly have my ring, be-
cause have It myself"
You. exclaimed the chief.
Yes. when | arrived home this morn.
Ing found the ring inside my waistcoat,
wner" Il slipped from OFF my finger while I
WIS moppinG my head with my handker-
-chlel4-ltMoull-h he I.loca..S,,. all-s4-t4.e-
bishop plaintive,y IF it were not for the
humiliation to which it has subjected this
young man"
'iut ne posed rs u customs Inspector"
persisted Barnes.
Not at all rejoined the bishop. That
was pure Jump on my part. He
merely showed me all the attentions and
courtesy that one gentleman should show
another"
Why did you show the bishop so much
atton'ion?' snapped the chief to his pr.s-
oncr.
she asked ne to do it," he said: then,
added confusedly. II mean l thought it
the proper ching to do-to a b,shoo''
An. said Barnes. still skeptical. then
why Did YOU run away with tha; young,
w%o,nano'
"hecausc"- began the prisoner.
Now drop excuses. snapped the chie'.
ard admit that you did wrong"
We'll" WAS the stammer.ng reply. "per-
maps it wasn't just the right thing to do"
What did | tell you?'' exclaimed
Barnes tr~:umphantly to the bishop.
Was there n woman in the case" asked:
the puzzled prelate.
Yes, asserted the chief. in the tone of
a man who has gloriously indicated him
self; his confederatc; I'll bring her in"
me next moment a yelled lady vast
ushered into the bishops study. She threw
the covering from her face, and the three
men were confronted with a vision OF
fui'y brown hair. glistening white teeth.
ruby lips and big bright eyes. The bishop,
acted strangely. He grasped the edge of
his desk to support himself.
"Tessie!' finally came the eXclamatory,
greeting.
"Tessie?" interrogated Barnes.
Yes said the bishop. gradually re-
gaining his voice. My niece; she's been
missing since W. came off the ship this
morning"
Confusion sat prettily on her face and:
brow. She hung her head ever so little:i
but the humility was wonderfully becom-,
ing.
What become of You? what's the mean
ing of this?" asked the bishop.
you'll have to ask Harry?"
Harry In a tone of deep surprise.
Yes Harry Hathaway" volunteered,
that person. stepping Onward.
ssTe'c r,n& un,-J - 49, 49,
Clancy.
No was the disappointed reiotnder.,
ut looks as if we'd been fim-fiammed."
Hathaway. Hathaway unused the
bishop. scrutinizing the face before him.
why. you're the son of my old friend.
John Hathaway"
Why did you do this?'
We'll, you see. ! liked Tessie and Tessie
liked me. and were both of age. and we
feared you had some other matr,mopi,,
plans for herr
Matrimonial plans.' interrupted the
bishop. II never gave such a thing a
thought"
But 1 did" said the young man. whose
confidence was now almost at par. ..You
see. we thought it would be a nice thing TO
go up to Tessie's old home and
Never mind the rest again Interrupted
The bishop. Whats this ring you were
speaking about
Mr.. Hathaway pulled a plain gold band
from mis- pocket and gaZed on in fondlv
The bishop looked at the Episcopal ring,
on his own finger. Barnes and Clancy
made a move to retire. The prelate fol.
lowed them.
Blame me for this udicrous blunder.',
he said soothingly. and promise that
you'll come around in the morning and
witness the ceremony"
Barnes was not the man to whimper
over an occasional defeat. He loolsea ar