Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-06-21

and feds assured nat N unur1ur ~.
iars would receive his early attsntaon.
On second thought" I eaiA a.uum-
mg rsdsct3ve air. psrhape Il vould
p wen. brother, for ~ to unite our
psrsuadve efforts on Bittinser. 10.
gsthsr ws might accomplish what nd
ther could do alone
He did . bit OF reelection hinseif. I
knowing his thoughts perfectly. with.
out my assistance he would break into
the room had described from With
out and take the risk Of gsttine shot.
With me be might BE- able to pick the
lock Of the door to the room and rs<
away with tho Doodle like a common
thief. Besides, he enjoyed playing Z
part
| 7 think. brother" he said after con-
siderable weighing of the advantages
on either side, I'VE will work the-I
mean we win make the attempt to
soften this mans heart together"
Then ] win join you there" re-
Piled There are several places on the
way at which I wish to leave tracts.
suppose we meet there for the mid.
day meal"
My colaborer agreed. and /, getting
out my horse, rode away. wasted no
time distributing tracts, but rode
straight to the Bittinger ranch, where
found the owner and prepared him
Tor Mr.. Warbury's coming. The ranch
man entered heartily into my scheme
and agreed to play his own part in It.
The villain Of the piece was late In
arriving, and I feared that, after all,
he suspected a trap and would fail to
walk into It. But Just as l was giving
him up saw him coming on the road.
Dismounting at the steps, he walked
to the veranda. where I was waiting
for him, and Bittinger came out. See
Ing two parsons instead of one, the Lat.
ter put on a feigned scowl. saying:
II suppose you two lazy rascals have
come down on me for dinner. I don't
mind feeding you II you'll let me OF
from your efforts to convert me.
wish you to understand that I'm q
heather. and, what's more. you can't
make me anything else"
Dinner was waiting. so we all went
in together. Since a Desperate was
guest no other members Of the
family. except Bettinger. were present,
and he was secretly well armed. The
women In the house were all put up on
to the top story. where they would not
be injured in case any shooting took
place
Bittinger. 30 long as we refrained'
from any effort to convert him, made
pleasant host. but as soon as we
made the slightest effort in that direc-
ton. or, rather. when did so, for my
colleague, being solely interested In
getting his hands on the plumber. left
this part Of the performance entirely
with me. our host grew grim. Ny plan
was that We two parsons should spend
the night in the house. Wagstaif would
pick the lock Of the supposed treasure
room and go In. and would see that
he didn't get out without surrender.
mfr. Warbury," l said at table,
dropping In presence of our heather
host the prefix brother, II would like
tomorrow. II Mr.. Bitttnger will keep
US till then, to have you visit with me
some persons in this nelghborhood to
whom l have been endeavoring to ad-
minister spiritual comfort. think
you will be able to add largely to their
consolation"
II don't mind" he replied.
ooh. you can stay here II you like"
put In Bittinger. I've got two rooms
vacant, one on the second story. the
other down here. The one down here
Is the only bedroom on this floor. We
keep 1t exclusively for guests"
I gave quick glance at the villain
and saw an expression of satisfaction
on his face at the prospect Of being
assigned room near the treasure and
being left alone on the door to work
out the problem without disturbing
any one.
All was going well when I, who sat
facing a window. saw two men riding
Into the premises, one Of whom knew
and who knew me. 1t was evident
that my role Of parson would be play
ed out AZ soon as he came In and
recognized me for a sheriff. There
was NO time to head OF the new.
corners. I must think and act quickly.
dreaded in q shooting match that
Bittinger or some one else In the
house might get hurt, but the matter
must be settled then and there.
"Hellor' I exclaimed 'There comes
Nick Edwards"
wagstan turned like lash. at the
same time putting his hand under bis
coat When he faced the table again
my weapon was within an inch Of his
NOSE.
I saw by his eye that he understood
he had been trapped and was mediate
Ing whether to die then or later, but I
had my eye nxed on his and could de-
tect his resolve In 1t before he could
even raise the revolver on which he
had rot his hand Within q few mo-