Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1912-11-07

Oh cualn depending from ner Ddck
hair. He tugged, and brought away
the locket, and then proceeded to
sound Ashton for hidden wealth.
And now Mrs. Temple began to sob,
as she parted with an old-fashioned
brooch and two old-fashioned rings
that had been her little vanities for
the quarter of century and more.
The old clergyman could have wept
with her at the vandalism. He turned
on the wretch with q heartsick ap-
peal:
Cant you spare those? Didn't you
ever have a mother?"
The robber started, his fierce eyes
softened, his voice choked, and he
gulped hard as he drew the back OF
his hand across his eyes.
saw, hell" he whimpered, that
amt fair. If you're goin' to remind
me of me poor old mo-mo-mother--"
But the one called Jake-the Claude
Duval who had been prevented from
display of human sentiment, did not
intend to be cheated. He Numbered:
"Stop it, Bill. You tend strictly to
business, or I'll blow your mush-bowi
off. You know your Nav died before
you was born"
This reminder sobered the weeping
thief at once, and he went back to
work ruthlessly. "Oh, all right, Jake.
Sorry, ma'am, but business is bust
ness" And he dumped Mrs. Temples
trinkets into the satchel. 1t was too
much for the little old lady's little
old husband. He fairly shrieked:
Young man, you're a damned
scoundrel, and the best argument /
ever saw for hell-fire!"
Mrs. Temples grief changed to hor-
ror at such bolt from the blue:
''Walter!" she gasped, 'such Ian
guage!"
But her husband answered in self
defense: Even minister has right
to swear once in his lifetime"
Mallory almost dropped in his
tracks, and Marjorie keeled over on
him, as he gasped: Good Lord, DIR.
Temple, you are IA minister"
yes, my boy" the old man con-
fessed, glad that the robbers had re
lieved him of his guilty secret along
with the rest of his private properties.
Mallory looked at the collapsing Mar
jorie and groaned: And he was in
the next berth all this time!"
The unmasking of the old fraud
made second sensation. Mrs. Eos
dick called from far down the aisle:
Or. Temple, you're not detective?''
Mrs. Temple shouted back furious
ly: How dare your"
But Mrs. Fosdiclr was crying to her
luscious-eyed mate: "Oh, Arthur, he's
not detective. Embrace mel"
And they embraced, while the rob-
bers looked on aghast at the sudden
oblivion they had fallen into. They
focused the attention on themselves
again, however, with a ferocious:
Here, hands up!" But they did not
see Mr.. and Mrs. Fosdick steal kiss
behind their appraised arms, for the
robber to whose lot Mallory fell was
gloating over his wellfilled wallet.
Mallory saw it go with fortitude but
noting piece of legal paper, he said:
Say, old man, you don't want that
marriage license, do your"
The robber handled it as IL 1t were
hot-as if he had burned his fingers
on some such document once before,
and he stuffed it back in Mallory's
pocket. II should say not. Keep it.
Turn round"
Meanwhile the other felon turned
up another beautiful pile OF bills in
DR.. Temples pocket. mot SO worse
for parson," he grinned. You must
be one Of them Fifth avenue sky
shaffures."
And now Mrs. Temples gentle eyes
and voice filled with tears again: "Oh,
don't take that. That's the money for
his vacation-after thirty long years.
Please don't take that"
Her appeals seemed always to find
the tender spot Of this robbers heart,
fer he hesitated, and called out:
Shall we overlook the parsons wad,
podner?"
Take it, and shut up, you molly.
coddle!" was the answer he got, and
the vacation funds joined the old gew-
gaws.
And now everybody had been
robbed but Marjorie. She happened to
be at the center of the line, and both
men reached her at the same time:
Il seen her first" the first one
shouted.
You did not" the other roared.
Il tell you ! did"
II tell you ] did" They glared
threateningly at each other, and their
revolvers seemed to meet, like two
game cocks, beak to beak.
The porter voiced the general hope,
when he sighed: "Oh, Lawd, II they'd
only shoot each other"
This brought the rivals to their evil
senses, and they swept the line with
those terrifying muzzles and that
heart-stopping yelp: Hands up!"
Bill said: You take the east side OF
her, and I'll take the west"
"All right"
And they began to snatch away her
side-combs, the little gold chain at
her throat, the jeweled pin that NAL
lory had given her as the first token
of his love.
The young soldier had foreseen this.
He had foreseen the wild rage that
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