The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-05


1T certainly is very kind of you to
warn me Of my danger" replied Peter
gratefully. THE light of your lantern
you had gun. But, really, won't you
please point it IN some other direction
1t makes me nervous, you know, and
when l get nervous my memory fails
me quite suddenly. 1 might forget
where 1 put my money. l always ex-
perience considerable trouble in re-
membering what I do with all my
money anyhow"
Come, come" said the man. Hand
1t over. Fork 1t out. l can't stay here
all night 1 want to be going"
"Since you speak of it." replied Pc
ter YEARLY, 81 really wish you would
go. 1 would enjoy going back to sleep.
you know. I'm tired. You see, was
out to the lodge last night Do you
belong to any lodge? No? Well, the
union, then-you belong to the union,
Of courseY'
II see very plainly" said the man
resolutely. that you do not intend to
give me that money peacefully. Guess
I'd better
"why, my dear sir" responded Peter
naively, 81 haven't refused, have I?
Really beg your pardon IL have ap-
peared backward in complying with
your most natural and reasonable re-
quest. I am not unmindful, you know.
that you are at this moment q guest In
my house, and certainly meant no
disrespect. How much money do you
want?'
"All you have" replied the man
grufly.
But. my dear sir" protested Peter
humbly. "If you could just manage to
get along with a tribe less-Just a
trine, you know-perhaps some time In
the future l can repay your kindness
and consideration. You see tomorrow
morning before breakfast Is the day
and the hour when our cook expects
her weeks wages. Possibly you lack
the experience that would enable you
to thoroughly understand the situation
but really. you know. cannot imagine
any position more embarrassing in
which a man could be placed than to
be forced to face his cook on such q
momentous occasion without a cent In
his pocket. and my cook unfortunately
is a very robust cook. Really / shud-
der to even think Of such q predica-
ment"
ITO thunder with the cookv' replied
the man shortly. Il want to know II
you're going to-
And, then. there are the gas man
and the iceman." resumed Peter. "Of
course I realize that you have nearly
as much claim upon my money as they
have-really 1t is rather difficult to dis
criminate between you-but 1t wouldn't
be just right. you know. to give you all
the money and not save cent for the
other holdup men. now. would It? OF
course / understand that between you
all you will get all my money anyhow.
and I'm really not much concerned
who gets the most. only I don't want
to appear partial. you know"
you can do just as you please" re-
piled the man determinedly. You
have your choice between giving me
all your money and taking the conse-
Quences. I'm not here for my health.
I tell you"
"Oh. we'll. II you feel that way about
It" said Peter resisnedly. you'll fpd
my trousers on a chair at the foot of
the bed. My purse is in the hight hip
pocket"
The man with the mask walked to
the chair. slipped his hand in the pocket
indicated and pulled cut a black wal
let Empty 'ug the contents upon the
bed, he counted them deliberately.
See here" he said Indignantly,
there is only S1o24 here"
what" gasped Peter breathlessiy,
leaping out upon the floor. How
much-did you sayT
Ten dollars and twenty-four cents. I"
replied the man.
"Are you sureY' demanded Peter In
an agony Of despair Are you certain
you haven't made a mistaken"
NO" said the man. That's all there
is"
"Oh. dear. dear" walled Peter. 81