Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1911-04-27

and felt assured that the Blttinger dol
lars would receive his early attention.
ION second thought" said. assum-
| ing a reflective air. perhaps it would
be well, brother. for us to unite our
persuasive efforts on Bittinger To
gether we might accomplish what nei-
| Their could do alone"
| He did bit of reflection himself,
knowing his thoughts perfectly. With
out my assistance he would break into
| the room / had described from with
| tut and take the risk of getting shot.
| With me he might be able to pick the
lock of the door TO the room and get
away with the Doodle like common
thief Besides, he enjoyed playing
| part.
al think, brother" he said after con-
siderable weighing of the advantages
on either side, 1--WE will work the-I
mean we will make the attempt to
soften this mans heart together"
"Then / will join you there" | re-
piled. There are several places on the
! way at which | wish to leave tracts.
Suppose we meet there for the mid
day meal"
| My colaborer agreed, and |, getting
out my horse, rode away. i wasted no
| time distributing tracts, but rode
straight TO the Bittinger ranch. where
l found the owner and prepared him
for 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 / feared that. after all.
he suspected trap and would fail to
walk into it. But just as was giving
him up / saw him coming on the road.
Dismounting at tne steps, he walked
to the veranda. where l was waiting
for him. and Bittinger came out See
ing two parsons instead of one. the lat
ter put on n feigned scowl. saying:
II suppose you two lazy rascals have
come down on me for dinner. | don't
mind feeding you if you'll let me off
from your efforts to convert me.
wish you to understand that I'm
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 i'm case any shooting took
| place.
Blttinger, so long as we refrained
from any effort to convert him. made
a 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. My plan
was that we two parsons should spend
the night in the house, Wagstaff would
pick the lock of the supposed treasure
room and go in. and would see that
he didn't get out without surrender.
"Mr. Warbury," l said at table.
dropping In presence of our heather
host the prefix brother, II would like
tomorrow. If Mr.. Bittinger will keep
us till then, to have you visit with me
some persons in this neighborhood to
whom / have been endeavoring to ad
minister spiritual comfort. I think
you will be able to add largely to their
consolation
II don't mind" he replied
ooh. you can stay here IL you like"
put in Bittinger. 1--WE 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 it exclusively for guests"
/ 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 floor to work
out the problem without disturbing
any one.
All was going well when 1. who sat
facing window, saw two men riding
into the premises, one Of whom knew
and who knew me. It was evident
that my role Of parson would he play
ed out as soon as he came In and
recognized me for sheriff. There
was no time to head on the new
corners. l must think and act quickly
/ dreaded in shooting match that
| Bittinger or some one else in the
house might get hurt. but the matter
must be settled then and there
"Hellow exclaimed. There comes
Nick Edwards"
Wagstaff turned like a fash, at the
same time putting his hand under his
coat. When he faced the table again
my weapon was within an inch Of his
nose.