Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-10-30
NO. Z.

4NOO ~
lawed by society and upon whose head
there was an Increasingly heavy price
dead or alive" as the bills of reward
read.
Pete escorted her nearly to the hotel
by short cut, and not until she came
upon the hotel piazza and heard them
discussing tho holdup of that morning
did she realize again that this was the
man with whom she had been spend
ing the afternoon.
Then followed weeks of lndecision.
Sometimes Olive would declare to her
self that she would never see Black
Pete again. At such times she hated
herself for having given her love to a
breaker of the law, but love had been
given, and love is powerful above the
law. Her periods of revulsion were
sure to be followed by penitential
moods, when she was glad to pass
through the leafy aisles of the forest
to their tryst.
The guests of the hotel prohted by
the absorption of the bandit, for days
passed when no holdup was recorded.
and the attendance began to fall Off.
Olive was glad that the depredatlons
were less plentiful, for these were
largely responsible for her moments Of
self accusation. Finally, after one Of
his most brilliant feats. she at last de-
cided to go where she might try to for
get that she had ever loved him.
With eyes heavy with unshed tears
she made her way to the little cave
where they frequently met. Here they
would say goodby. Pete had taught
her to move 30 lightly that her foot
falls scarcely were audible, and so 1t
happened that she came upon two men
talking in the shadows Of clump OF
pines without betraying her presence.
Her heart almost ceased to beat for
moment as she realized that the two
men were Pete and Portman. the pro
prietor Of the hotel.
"You will have to do better than
this" Portman was saying. you
have only pulled or two holdups this
week. 1t Is getting too tame for the
guests"
l know It," admitted Pete. but l
have been busy"
81 pay you for your time" was Port
mans angry retort. you were to give
me at least one holdup a day. My
guests are disappointed II 1t doesn't
happen, and you've got to earn your
salary"
"I'm tired of the game" said Pete
shortly. go get some one else to be
your outlaw. I'm DONE"
"Now, don't get hot and throw up the
job like that" urged Portman. you
know | can't break In new man
right in the middle OF a season. 1t
would take him u month to learn the
paths, and the sheriff would catch him
the iirst thing and spoil 1t all didn't
mean to be 30 short. I'll give you $40
more a month"
"Do you think that IL money was I'm
object I'd be an outlaw for $50 IA
month"; demanded Pete. mo. You
go get some one else on the job"
Portmans face was the picture Of
despair. His hired outlaw bad been
the making Of the hotel. 1t would not
be possible at short notice to find any
one who could be trusted to rob the
guests and who had sufficient wood
craft to escape capture.
He was still seeking new argu-
ment to advance when call from the
underbrush caused both men to start.
Pete went bounding into the thIcket
to confront Olive.
$50 you've found out what farce !
am p he cried.
"And am so glad" declared the girl.
II knew in my heart that you were
worthy. Pete, can't we have n honey
moon here In the woods? You can do
the holdups In the morning, and I'll
help. 1t will be such fun"
Pete's eyes twlnklcd. "Tll make
Portman give me week off," he cried,
"and then wen resume operations nt
the old stand"
"There will be an awful time with
father" mused the girl, and Pete
laughed again.
mo trouble there" he assured. you
zee, I'm really Robert Pnrkman. We
have some business deals on together,
| 80 he knows me. I'm only playing
bandit because It promised more fun
| than a mere camping out trip"
Olive gasped. She had heard Of the
eccentric millionaire. As Parkmnn
took her IN his arm the sheriff went
galloping past on his way to join the
posse In It's afternoon Jaunt inter the
outlaw.
"You beat the sheriff." he declared,
with tender laugh. you have cap
tured the outlaw for life"
at looks M though II were the other
way about" corrected Olive demurely
as she glanced at the imprisonina
arms. my outlaw has captured me-