Mexico Missouri message., 1909-09-02
The Highwayman
Unmasked s,.... B. B, s,.p.

The man with the black mask made
the nickel-plated revolver fairly CLEAN |
as he fourished 1t in Marshalls face. |
Marshall shivered, though the very |
fine eyes and the very pleasing tones |
of the highwayman hardly went with
things such as killing.
II have my hands up" Marshall |
finally expostuated.
The masker chuckled, but continued |
to move the revolver about in a grad
ually narrowing circle.
you can trust me if you play no
tricks" he purred."
Somehow the highwayman's soft &C.
cents soothed the man with elevated
hands. He felt no imminent danger
yet the revolver was a very grim
thing
The masker dived into Marshalps
vest pocket and appropriated his
watch. The light from little lantern
was sufficient to show a massive gold
time-piece, bearing q picture of deer,
and attached to a chain that weighed
half a pound The highwayman re-
turned the thing, while a derisive
light shone in the very blue eyes.
You have no taste in Watches" he
said why don't you carry an eight
day clock?"
And Marshall took comfort in his
own inelegance.
Next the highwayman levied on a
pin from MarshalPs scarf-a perfect
gem in a setting of exquisite gold
carving. The blue eyes were pleasure
lit now.
II take 1t this is a gift" he COM
mented. 1.-THE barbarian who bought
the watch would never see the opal"
And this time Marshall, with the lit
tie steel circle lowering evilly in his
| face, bemoaned the fad that called for
costly opal pins in wonderful settings
of gold.
Then the highwayman scoffed at a
signet ring and jeered at a massive
button in the blue, green and red of
the Ardent Sons of st. Timothy But
sparkling diamond of price and
ring of finest emeralds appealed to the
| fantastic robber, and also the wallet
| of his victim was very fat-and you
know fat wallets are negotiable from
Boring sea to the Friendly islands.
So that altogether Marshall would
have done better to have avoided this
lonely open road.
The masker reached the bullying
side pockets now, and he examined
certificates of copper stock and a
budget of Wheeling As with equal dis
gust.
Very pretty engraving" he de-
clared, "and vastly desirable for Mr..
-With-His-Han maybe, but
an honest gentleman of the road
makes poor coupon clipper. I'll leave
these"
After the stocks and bonds came
gaudy periodical of bulk, with a wom-
an in flaming red taking the whole of
the cover. The highwayman glanced
idly at the thing and would have re-
turned 1t, but he caught the words,
"The Adorner," on the flaming cover,
and he hesitated.
Lets see what the women are
wearing" he suggested. Hold steady
now" and the highwayman turned
the pages as best he could with one
hand. The light from the lantern,
placed on the fence, revealed skirtish
things and waistish things and gay,
nodding hats and other dress-treasure
of quality, cut bias, cut V-shaped, cut
zig-zag.
well, / declare" remarked the
masked man, "the polonaise is COM
ing back. I always detested the
things"
The glittering pistol dropped just
the least bit.
Now these picture hats are just
dear" went ON the highwayman, and
the line of fire from the deadly circle
would have missed Marshall probably
half foot.
1t was the moment Of moments and
Marshall had the nickeled weapon in
his own hand and the highwayman
flung two delicate palms heaVenward
in about the space of three ticks of
the big barbaric watch.
s-dress-dress-' hummed
Marshall, as he tore the black mask
from pretty pink face and stripped
the rough derby from coils of glorious
yellow hair. at is the frills and fur
bellows that ever catch you women"
The lady of the highway sobbed as
Marshall took back the jewels of
price.
ooh, do take care" she walled,
you are mussing my hair up dread
fullyl"