The Detroit times., 1912-10-16
CHAPTER XII.
Continued.

'Iinh.r said the man DULY, gazing
rom the key to the Watermelon.
The second man took II. Whlch
door does Il ft?" he asked.
.@The front door" said the Water.
melon promptly 60 try II II you
want proof"
.'Not SO fast," said the second man
who had taken the affair into his own
fruuds IT you know the Browns, tell
me something about them? No, you
Ichuffer feller, hold on. back there,
Don't try to slip by, for you can't
Nou antomobilists think that the Lord
Ecreated Heaven and earth for your
benefit and then rested on the seventh
lday and has been resting ever since.
That's better Now, then" turning
again to the watermelon-"how many
I'm the family?"
How many" queried the Water
lmelon. Il don't know | only saw
1Afa and Pa and the three kids Dick
land Lizzie and Sarah. Sarah was a
lyoung lady about 20, II I remember
lrightlys -IIizsie- was eight. and DICK
Twas q bit older, 10 or 12--12. think
NE said l remember his birthday
lcame. in January. anyway,'...-
4 We'll, goldarn II" laughed the first
man, thoroughly convinced. Well,
cay, amt we the easy marksy
Don't blame yourselves" said the
Watermelon gently. Father used 10
say tEaf Anything colossal. even
stupidity, was worthy OF admiration"
"Wbat did- Dick look -like?" de-
fsnanded the second man, loath to
give up.
The Watermelon Strengthened up.
'See here. .-my man" said he. sternly,
1--WE are In q hurry. You have detain-
ed us long enough j have told you
as mneh as I. am going 10 about the
Browns. It's a year ago this summer
I. that j was. there. and haven't been
dwelling on their beautiful counte-
nances In rapt and joyful contempla
tion ever since. | have seen a few
people during the interval. Dick was
fairly good looking. but Lizzie was
the Giitest. l'took them through the
COW lane to show them how they
could go Tor tiTe cows in motor-car,
farming rup-to-date. see. Now move
aside.-arfd. let us-pass, please.
sNo, You don't" returned the man
sharnly "I.et that. chnffer- feuer in
the. back car .cnme.-np To the house
with me while try this key. Tom,
you keep the Others here, til ! come
back $1,000. .--.-.
The watermelon leaned back
wearily Indifferent and drew out his
cigarette papers AIphonse climbed
E6SdI1EIry from the car, With his
ar-TmpefyurpabiIfty Calmly and
vfsnngfy nr-scafed tte stUne wall and
set on acroSs'-tlfe field with his cap
tori Tom -tAe1ght kaiiy examined his
gun. one eye on the motor cars.
The esnsrals, desire to, explain was
a far
TO get away. The grim faces of the
two men Impressed him with the
graYity of the. event, III they were 20
escape. now was the time, when the
forces of the enemy were divided,
but there was his car. He could no.
Ieave that behind and the man In the
road was a fairly good reason for him
TO remain where he was and make
no. attempt 10 reach II. Batchelor
had put up clever BLUM. but IL had
been' called. and they had -to~sit there
untfi. the return of F. the other man,
swhear they. would be exposed, for OF
course the key wouldn't At. That
,second man was a stubborn brute.
The Lord had made mules. He didn't
intend men to be
The general turned irritably and
glanced at the watermelon. lolling
gracefully in his seat and humming
ridiculous little song between airy
BnKs OF his cigarette.
Henrfetca- Fepressed-a wild wish TO
scream afUud Never never again
would she 90 into another mans
Fhouse unless expressly asked to do
go by the owner She glanced be-
hind. up the hill, toward the house.
iAlphonse- and his- -captor had Just
into ai0ht again and vEara
sturping through the field. Henrietta
tbreathed heavily. This was awful.
When the two reached the stone wall
she hoped she would faint She
Knew size wouldn't, She never tainted
ithe turned around that she might
not see them. Nothing could be done
tapparently- but simply wait for the
ahand-of -the law to fall upon them
! sThe--NhrateF4nelo had made a. good
.giiess az 10 tha- children, II seemed;
why hads,t- he been content to let II
.igo at. that. Why had he hauled ont
lthat -useless key? She had ceased 10
feel. 10 think. She looked at Billy.
Billy was frozen dumb, This was the
end Bartlett glanced at the man in
the road and fried 70 figure mis- price.
The waterfnelon turned carelessly
and spoks-to -ffenrtetta That was a
pretty bird up there, Did you see it9"
-''Yes,"- said Henrietta automatical.
.ly.-thoHels che had seen- no bird She
heard the two men now right behind
the car and she sanl~ back Imply. All
s'hB over 49, .F ..
'well2" queried the Watermelon.
by gum admitted the man with
the key. 1T fts."
CHAPTER KIN.