The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-10-19
The Highwayman
| Unmasked su.,, B B, Sion.


the nickelplated revolver fairly CLEAN
as he flourished it 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.
Il have my hands up" Marshall
finally expostuated.
The masker chuckled but continued
to move the revolver about in grad
ually narrowing circle. =
You can trust me if you play no
tricks" he purred.'
Somehow the highwayman's soft ac-
cents soothed the man with elevated
hands. He felt no imminent danger
yet the revolver was very grim
thing.
The masker dived into Marshall's
vest pocket and appropriated his
watch The light from little lantern
was sufficient to show massive gold
timepiece, bearing a 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 ciock?"
And Marshall took comfort In his
own inelegance.
Next the highwayman levied on q
mi hu11 rf art
gem in setting of exquisite gold
carving. The blue eyes were pleasure
lit now,
Il take II this is q gift" he com
monted The barbarian who bought
tho 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 massive
button in the blue, green and red of
the Ardent Sons of st. Timothy. But
sparkling diamond of price and a
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
Bering 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.
Man With-His-Hsnds-Up, maybe, but
an honest gentleman of the road
makes poor coupon clipper Ill leave
these"
After the stocks and bonds came a
gaudy periodical of bulk, with a won
an in flaming red taking the whole Of
the cover The highwayman glanced
idly at the thing and would have re
turned it, but ne 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 y-shaped cut
zig-zag.
Well, | declare" remarked the
masked man, "the polonaise is com
ing back. ! always detested tile
things"
The glittcring pistol dropped just
the least BIT @
Nov 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.
II was tho 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.
'Dress-dress-dress-" hummed
Marshall. as he tore the black mask
f3ca j Pretty pink face and stripped
the rough derby from coils of glorious
yellow hair. 1T is the frills and fur.
bellows that ever catch you women
The lady OF the highway sobbed as
Marsha4 took back the jewels OF
price.
"Oh, do take care she walled
you are mussing my hair up dread.
fully"
Useless Wactn of Ennrdu