The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-01-02

gratefully. "The light of your lantern
blinds me so that | had not noticed
you had a gun. But, really. won't you
please point ii in some other direction?
1t makes me nervous, you know. and
when l get nervou my memory fails
me quite suddenly. | might forget
where l put my money. | always ex-
perience considerable trouble in re-
membering what | do with all my
money anyhow
"Come, come" said the man.. Hand
it over. Fork it out. l can't stay here
all night, | want TO be going"
"Since you speak Of it," replied Pc
ter YEARLY, 81 really wish you would
go. l 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 course?"
81 see very plainly" said the man
r%esolutely, 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 /?
Really ! beg your pardon If | have APP
peared backward in complying with
your most natural and reasonable re-
quest. | am not unmindful, you know,
that you are at this moment a guest in
my house. and | certainly meant no
disrespect, How much money do you
want?"
"All you have" replied the man
grufily.
"But. my dear sir" protested Peter
humbly, "if you could just manage to
get along with a trihe l1ss-iust q
trife, you know-perhaps some time in
the future | 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, l canuOt imagine
any position more embarrassing in
which a man could be placed than to
be- forced to face his cook on such a
momentous occasion without q cent in
his pocket, and my cook unfortunately
Is a very robust cook. Really | shud-
der to even think Of such a predica-
ment"
ITO thunder with the cookI' replied
the man shortly. Il want to know If
you're going to-
And. then, there are the gas man
and the iceman." resumed Peter. "Of
course | realize that you have nearly
as much claim upon my money as they
have-really II 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 a 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 | don't want
to appear partial, you know"
"You can do just as you please" re-
piled the man de~terminedly. you
have your choice between giving me
/, all your money and taking the conse-
quences. I'm not here for my health,
1 tell you"
"Oh, well. II you feel that way about
It." said Peter r~esignedly. you'll find
my trousers on a chair at the foot of
the bed. My purse is in the right hip
, pocket"
The man with the mask walked "a
the chair, slipped his hand in the pocket
indicated and pulled out a black wal.
let. Emptying the contents upon the
bed. he counted them deliberately.
"See here" he said Indignantly
there is only S1O.24 herey'
what" gasped Peter breathlessiy
leaping out upon the floor. How
%much-did you say7'
Ten dollars and t%wenty-four cents
replied the man.
, Are you sureY demanded Peter ii
an agony Of despair. "Are you certain
you haven't made a mistaken"
NO. said the man. ''Thats all there
is"
"Oh. dear. dearv' walled Peter. -
see il all. l didn't want to believe It
but 1 guess It must be true. 1t really
is too bad. l don't see why she diC
It. She might have known
"Shef" said the man. "WhoY'
my wife replied Peter t%earfully
Il am exceedingly sorry. but she bea.
I, you to It, you know"
We'll" said the man. rather disap
polntedly, Il reckon this will have t
do then. But next time
Pardon me" interrupted Peter. wh,
+, ted followed him to the door. "bu
really l am afraid you win fall dow
the stairs. II is so dark behind tina
/, lantern. Wait ] Will turn on the light
There; nov you can watch me and Sc
where you are going at the same time.
THANK you" said the man, 5scsinI
slowly down the stairs. his revolve
still in his hand. As WIS going 4