Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-10-29
Copyright 1911, b b. Z Fly O..
CHAPTER xxx.
Wolves In the Fold,

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
his refusal to make the trade. he in
furiated 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, its re-
! moval.
Don't, don't" cried Kathleen. its
wished on
Il wish it off," the villain laughed,
and 1t Joined the growing heap In the
feed-bag.
Kathleen, doubly enraged. broke
out viciously: you're q 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
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 III
hunt for 1t myself"
Mrs. Whitcomb turned away, and
after some management of her skirts,
slapped her handbag into the eager
palm with 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 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
sulped hard as he drew the back OF
his hand across his eyes.
Jaw, hell" he whimpered, that
amt fair. II 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
a display of human sentiment. did not
intend to be cheated. He thundered:
"Stop it, Bill. You tend strictly to
business, or Ill blow your mush-bowl
Of 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
trinliets into the satchel. 1t was too
much for the little old lady's little
old husband. He fairly shrieked:
Young man, you're damned
scoundrel, and the best argument l
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 a 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 IA Minister"
Eyes, 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 unmesking Of the old fraud
made a second sensation. Mrs. Eos.
dick called from far down tho aisle:
"Dr Temple, you're not detectives"
Mrs. Temple shouted back furious.
~: 'How dare your"
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
again, however, with ferocious:
Here, hands up!" But they did not
see Mr.. and Mrs. Fosdick steal a kiss
behind their appraised arms, for the
robber to whose lot Mallory fell was
gloating over his well-hlled 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 you?"
The robber handled 1t as If 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 Il should say not. Keep 1t.
Turn round"
Meanwhile the other felon turne~
up another beautiful pile Of bills in
DR.. Temples pocket Not SO worse
for parson," he grinned. You must
be one Of them Fifth avenue sky.