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

ing to his feet and waving his bat. "The
gendarmes are on themi Now for
freedom and blow for It'll Now to
be rebels against robbersl Come,
don't let us leave everything to the po-
lice; that IS SO dreadfully modern. Fall
on the rear OF these ruffians The gem
darmes are rescuing US. Come, friends,
let US rescue the gendarmes /"
And, throwing his hat over the trees,
he drew his cutlass once more and be-
gan to escalade the slope up to the
roae Frank Harrogate jumped up and
ran across 10 help him, revolver in
hand, but was astounded to hear him
self imperatively recalled by the rau-
cous voice of his father, who seemed
to be in great agitation.
Il won't have it" said the banker in
choking voice; Il command you not
/ to interfere"
But, father" said Frank warmly.
an Italian gentleman has led the way.
You wouldn't have it said that the
English hung back"
1T is useless said the Older man,
who. was trembling violently. TT IS
hopeless. Wesmust submit to our lott
Father Brown looked at the banker.
! then he put his hand instinctively as if
/ on his heart, but really on the little bot
/ tie OF poison; and a great light came
| into his face, like the light of the rev.
elation of DEATH
| Muscari meanwhile, without waiting
/ for support, had crested the bank up
/ to the road and struck the brioand
king heavily on the shoulder, causing
| him 10 stagger and swing round. Nom
! tano also had his cutlass unsheathed,
/ and Muscari. without further speech,
! sent slash at his head which he was
/ compelled to catch and parry. But
even as the two short blades crossed
and clashed, the King of Thieves de-
hlberately dropped his point and
| laughed
What's the good, old man?s he
farce will soon be over"
What do you mean, you shufier?"
painted the hre-eating poet. rs your
esy?"
Everything about me is a shari." re-
sponded the ex-courier, in complete
good humor. 7 am an actor; and If
| ever had a private character, I have
forgotten it | am no more a. genuine
brlgand t an | am genuine courier.
l am only bundle of masks, and you
can't fight a duel with that" And he
| laughed with boyish pleasure and fell
into his old straddling attitude, with
hi. back to the skirmish up the road.
Just as he was rolling his eyes in
bewiidcrment, the poet felt a touch on
his elbow, and found the odd little
priest standing there, like a small Noah
with large hat, and requesting the
favor of word or two.
Signor Muscari," said the cleric, ''in
this queer crisis personalities may be
pardoned. You will permit me the i'm
pertinent intimacy. But do you care
about that girl-care enough to marry
her ane make her a good husband, I
meant"
i Does she care about yeu?'
Il think SC" was the equally grave
Then go over there and offer your
self, said the priest. "OffeT her
everything you can; offer her heaven
and and s! earth TIT i you've got them. The
letters.
Because" said Father Brown, 'ter
doom is coming up the road.
Almost as he spoke the hedges were
broken all along the ridge by a rush
OF the escaping brigands. They Owed
into bushes and thick grass like de-
teated men pursued; and the great
cooked hats OF the mounted gendarm-
erie were. seen passing along above the
broken hedge. Another. order was
ing, and tall officer with cooked hat,
a gray imperial, and a paper in his
hand, appeared in the gap that was the
gate Of the Paradise of Thieves. There
was q momeutary silence, broken in an
extraordinary way by the banker. who
cried out IN a strangled voice:
Robbed I've been robbed"
Why, that was hours ago." cried his
son in astonishment-"wIen you were
robbed of two thousand pounds
Not OF two thousand pounds" said
the financier. with an abrupt and ter
ri6ie composure; only of small bot
The policeman with the gray imperial
was striding across the green hollow
IN his path. he clapped him on the
shoulder with something between a
caress and buffet. and gave him a
push that sent him staggering away.
/ You II get into trouble, too" he
said, IF you play these tricks"
4 Again. to Muscaris artistic eye, it
seemed scarcely like the capture of a
grea' outlaw at bay. Passing on, the
policeman halted before the Harroeate
g:cup and said
/ Samuel Harrogate, I arrest YOU. in,
the name of tue law, for enbezzlement
Of the funds of the Hull and F9udders-
fel Bank"
The great banker nodded with an odd
air of business assent, seemed to re-
fleet a momenG, srl0 before they could
interpose took a half tf1rn and a step
that brought hi:1 to the edge of the
outer mountain wall. Then. fiinging
- Els hands. he leaped, exactly as he
fa1 leaped out of the coach But this
time he did not fall into a little
meadow just beneath, but fell a thou
sand feet below. wreck Of bones in
: the valley
fhe anger Of the Italian policeman.
= which he expressed vo1ubly to Father
, Brown, was largely mixed with admir-
alton. It was like him to escape at
las;," he said. "He was a great brig
; and If you like This last trick of his
1 hc1icrn be af,rnl.-.ei., t.anr,-a... 49,.