The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-01


every crossroad m the hills. will not !
weary you with the verbalism, since
you will be able to check it; the sub
stance Of my proclamation IS this: l |
announce first that have captured the
English millionaire, the colossus of
finance, Mr.. Samuel Harrogate. next
announce that have found on his per-
son notes ard bonds for two thousand
pounds, Nhich he has given up to me:
Now, since it would be really immoral
to announce, such thing TO credulous
that it should occur without further
delay. I suggest that Mr.. Harrogate,
senior. should now give me the two
thousand pounds in his pocket"
The banker looked al him under low
ering brows, red faced and sulky, but
seemingly cowed. That leap from the
falling carriag. seemed to have used
up his last virility. He had hung back
in hangdog style When his son and
break out of the brigand trap. And
now his red and trembling hand went
reluctantly tc his breast pocket and
passed bundle of papers and envelopes
to the brigand.
Excellent" cried that outlaw gayly.
$50 far we are all coy. 1 resume the
points of my proclamation, so soon to
be published to all Italy. The third
item is that of ransom. I am asking
from the friends of the Harrogate FAM
| lily ransom of three thousand pounds
which l am sure IS almost insulting to
that family in its moderate estimate of
their Importance. Who would not pay
triple this sum for another days asso-
citation with such a domestic circle? l
will not conceal from you that the
| document ends with certain legal
| phrases about the unpleasant things that
may happen if the money is not paid;
but meanwhile, ladies and gentlemen,
let me assure you That l am comfort
ably well off here for accommodation,
wine and cigars, and bid you for the
| present sportsmanlike welcome to the
| Injuries of the Paradise of Thieves.
All the time that he had been speak
| ing the dubious-1ookin men with car
Dimes and dirty SLOUGH hats had been
gathering silently in such, preponder-
ating numbers that even Muscari was
compelled to recognize his sally with
the sword as hopeless. The priest sat
down within yard or two.
We'll" said the poet tartly, "do peo-
pie still think me too romantic7 Are
there, l wonder, any brigands left in
the mountains?"
There may be-" said Father Brown
agnostically. II am puzzled about Ezza
or Montana or whatever his name is.
He seems to me much more inexplicable
as a brigand even thar he was as a
courier"
But in what way?" persisted his
companion. Santa Martial I should
have thought the brigand was plain
en ugh"
81 find three curious difficulties" said
the priest in quiet voice. Il should
like to have your opinion on them.
i First of all, must tell you was
! lunching in that restaurant at the sea
side AS four of you left the room,
talking and laughing; the banker and
the courier came behind, speaking
sparely and rather low. But l could
not help hearing Ezza say these words ::
| We'll, let her have a little fun; you
know, the blow may smash her any
minute" Mr.. Harrogate answered
nothing; so the words must have. had
some meaning. On the impulse of the
moment l warned her brother that she
might be in peril; l said nothing of its
nature, for did not know. But if it
thing is nonsense. Why should the
brisand-courier warn his patron, even
by hint, when it was his whole pur-
pose to lure him into the mountain
mousetrap? It could not have meant
that But, if not, what is this other
disaster, known both to courier and
banker. which hangs over Miss Harro-
gates head?"
Disaster to Miss Harrogate" ejacu-
lated the poet.
"Ali my riddles, however. revolve
priest rehectively. "And here is the
/. 7 y Wtx, l. - -
prominently in his demand for ransom,
the. fact that he had taken two thous-
and pounds from his victim. on the
4 spot? 1t had no faintest tendency to
evoke the ransom. Quite the other
way, in fact. Harrogate's friends would
be ;ar likelier TO fear for his fate if
they thought the thieves were poor and
desperate. Yet the spo1iation on the
4 spot was emphasized and even put first
in the demand. Why should Ezza-
/ Montana want 81 specially TO tell all
before he levied the blacl1mail?"
Il cannot imagine said Muscari.
''The third objection" said Father
Brown, still in meditation. "is the bank
we are sitting on. Why does our brig
and-courier call this his chief fortress
and the Paradise of Thieves? II Is
Certainly soft spot to fall on and a
sweet spot TO, look at. 1t is also quite
true, as he says. that it is invisible
from valley and peak and is therefore
a hiding place. But I IS not a fortress.
1t never could be fortress. think
it would be the worst fortress in the
world Whatever is the meaning of
this odd little nook of grass and flow
ers, it is not a. entrenched position 1t
is something else; it has some other
strange SORT Of importance. some value
that ] do not understand. Il is more
like an accidental theater or a natural
green room; it is like the scene for
some romantic comedy: II Is like"
AS the little priests words length
ened and lost themselves in dull and
dreamy sincerity. Muscari, whose ami
/. NAL senses were alert and impatient,
, heard a new noise IN the mountains.
, Even for him 'he sound was as vet
very small and faint; but he could have
! sworn fhe evening breeze bore with Il