The Delta independent., 1912-09-20
me orner robber gasped,

But I'm not . passenger" Mr.
Baumann urged, with a confidential
smile, I've been going through the
train myself"
Much obliged! Hand over!" And
a rude hand rummaged his pockets
It was heart-rending sight.
"Oi oil" he walled. don't you allow
no courtesies to the profession?" And
when the tnexorable thief continued
to pluck his money, his watch, his
scarf-pin, he grew wroth indeed. stop,
stop. refuse to pay. I'll go into bank.
ruptcy foist." But still the larceny
continued; fingers even lifted three
cigars from his pockets, two for him.
self and a good one for q customer.
This loss was grievous, but his wild.
est protest was: "Oh. here, my frient,
you don't want my business carts"
Keep 'em!" growled the thief, and
then, glancing up. he saw on the ten.
der inwards of Mr.. Baumann's up
held palms two huge glisteners, which
their owner had turned that way in a
misguided effort to conceal the stones.
The robber reached up for them.
Take 'em. You're velcome!" said
Mr.. Baumann, with rare presence of
mind. Those Nevada nearIies looks
almost like real"
Keep EN-" said the robber. as he
passed on, and Mr.. Baumann almost
swooned with Joy. for, as he whis
pered to Wedgewood a moment later:
They're really real!"
Now the eye-chain rolled the other
way. for Little Jimmie Wellington was
putting with rage. The other robber
having massaged him thoroughly, but
without success. for his pocketbook,
noticed that Jimmie's lett heel was
protruding from his left shoe, and
made Jimmie perform the almost in.
credible feat of standing on one foot,
while he unshod him and took out
the hidden wealth.
There goes our honeymoon, Lu.
cretia." he moaned. But she whis.
pered proudly: Never mind, l have
my rings to pawn"
oh. you have, have you? Well, III
be your little uncle" the kneeling rob.
ber laughed. as he overheard, and he
continued his outrageous search till
he found them, knotted in a handker.
chief. under her hat
She protested: You wouldn't leave
me in Reno without a diamond, would
your"
Il wouldn't, eh?" he grunted. DO
you think I'm in this business for my
health?"
And he snatched on two earrings
she had forgotten to remove. Fortu.
nately. they were affixed to her Iobes
with fasteners.
Mrs. Jimmie was thoroughbred
enough not to vince. She simply COM
mented: You brutes are almost as
bad as the customs officers at New
York"
And now another touch OF light re-
lieved the gloom. Kathleen was next
in line. and she had been forcing her
lips into their most attractive smile,
and keeping her eyes winsomely mel
low. for the robbers benefit Marjorie
could not see the smile: she could
only see that Kathleen was next. She
whispered to Mallory:
They'll get the bracelet! They'll
get the bracelet"
And Mallory could have danced with
glee. But Kathleen leaned coquet-
tishly toward the masked stranger,
and threw all her art into her tone
as she murmured:
I'm sure you're too brave to take
my things. I've always admired men
with the courage of Claude Duvai."
The robber was taken trifie aback,
but he growled: Il don't know the par
ty you speak of-but cough up!"
Listen to her." Marjorie whispered
in horror; she's flirting with the
train-robber."
What won't some women fiirt
With" Mallory exclaimed.
The robber studied Kathleen a lit.
tie more attentively, as he whipped
off her necklace and her rings. She
looked good to him, and so willing.
that he muttered: Say, lady. If you'il
give me kiss. III give you that dia.
mond ring you got on
"All right" laughed Kathleen, with
compliance.
my God!" Mallory groaned. what
won't some women do for a diamond"
The robber bent close. and was just
raising his mask to collect his ran
som, when his confederate glanced his
way, and knowing his susceptible ma
ture. foresaw his intention. and shout
ed: stop 1t. Jake. You tend strictly
to business. or I'll blow your nose
on"
"Oh. all right" grumbled the reIuc-
tsnt gallant, as he drew the ring from
her finger. Sorry. miss, but CAM
make the trade" and he added with
an. unwonted gentIeness: You can
turn round now"
Kathleen was glad to hide the blush.
es OF defeat. but Marjorie was stiiI |
more bitterly disappointed. She whis.
nared To Mallory. MIIa didxa,f A..