The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-17
CHAPTER xxx.
Wolves In the Eold

ing: Excuse me, Mr.. Robber. Come
here, please"
The curious gallant edged her way.
Keeping sharp watch along the line:
What d'you want?"
Marjorie leaned nearer, and spoke
In low tone with an amiable smile:
THAT lady who wanted to kiss you
has bracelet up her sleeve"
The robber stared across his mask
and wondered. but laughed, and
grunted: Much obliged.~ Then he
went back. and tapped Kathleen on
the shoulder. When she turned round.
IN the hope that he had reconsidered
MIS- refusal to make the trade, he in
1ur1ated her by growing: Excuse
me, miss. overlooked a bet"
He ran his hand along her arm. and
found her bracelet, and ACCOMPLISHED
what Mallory had failed in, it's re-
moval.
Don't, DON'T" cried Kathleen. ITS
wished on"
Il wish 1t on," the villain laughed.
and 1t Joined the growing heap in the
feed-bag.
Kathleen. doubly enraged, broke
out viciously: you're a common.
sneaking-"
Ah. turn round!" the man roared.
and she obeyed In silence.
Then he explored Mrs. Whitcomb.
but with such small reward that he
said: "Say. you'd oughter have a
pocketbook somewhere. Where's 1t
att"
Mrs. Whitcomb blushed furiously:
None Of your business. you low
brute"
Perdooce. madame" the scoundrel
snorted, "perdooce the purse, or Ill
hunt for it myself"
Mrs. Whitcomb turned away. and
after some management of her skirts,
slapped her handbag into the eager
palm with a a'wrathful: You're no gen.
tleman, sir!"
III / was. I'd be in Wall street." he
laughed. Nov you can turn round"
And when she turned. he saw q bit
OF chain depending from her back
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 a heartsick ap-
peal:
Cant you spare those? Didn't you
ever have 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.
"Aw, 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 thundered:
stop it, Bill. You tend strictly to
business, or I'll blow your mush-bowl
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, maam, but business Is bdsi.
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 l
ever saw for hell-fire!"
Mrs. Temples grief changed to hor.
ror at such a 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, DR..
Temple, you are "a minister"
Yes, my boy" the old man con-
fessed, glad that the robbers had re-
heved him Of his guilty secret along
with the rest Of his private properties.
Mallory looked at the collapsing Mar
1orie and groaned: "And he was In
the next berth all this time!"
The unmasking of the old fraud
made second sensation. Mrs. Fos.
dick called from far down the aisle:
"Dr. Temple, you're not detective"
Mrs. Temple shouted back furious
ly: How dare you?"
But Mrs. Fosdick 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