The Storyteller A DOUBLE HOLD-UP

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 5, 31 January 1907, Page 3

The Storyteller A DOUBLE HOLD-UP

(Concluded from last week.) ' Halt ! Throw up your hands, or you'll be alimping- in earnest in about a second ! ' Turning suddenly, -tlie young man felt the cold touch of the pistol against his" forehead, and', taKeu so completely by surprise, he obeyed orders fully as promptly as had his victim of a few moments earlier. — Uhe old pislol was certainly a most formidable looking- weapon, and the persistency . with" whicli Uncle 'Hewitt.- pressed it, to his forehead. was terrifying,' to say the least. _-' > ' • . . ', 4 I'll taKe your revolver first,.' Uncle Hewitt said, firmly, ' and' you , needn't maice any resistance, for I •aiiow how use this old-fashioned kind all .right.' 'ihc shining revolver was transferred without delay ? from/ the young man's pocket to Uncle Hewitt's'' pocicot.- - ■ y -' Now I-'ll trouble you -for that little sack of mine,' and' the sack changed pockets. Then, with a .twinkle in his .eyes,- Uncle Hewitt said : * 4 Thamk you for your kindness: You may keep .your watch ; ■ it's a bit slow.' He raised the shining revolver on a . level with young man's eyes and, with lAs finger on the trigger, asked • 4 Shall I try this thing, to see if it is in_ working ' order ? ' ~ " .-„--- The young man's -face gjjew' "Tashy white. 4 For heaven's sane don't ! \ he pleaded. '- 'Oh, -that's- ail right, 1 wo.n't.S. I just wanted to < know if it would work. Mine wonr't. It hasn't been loaded for more thair ten years, afld it' couldn't be _ loaded,'" for the inside is" out of repair. I just carry it . to satisfy, my wife,., but hereafter" I'll feel the need of a good one. I'll be more "generous with you than you were with me; Til exchange, I want to keep ' this shiny pistol as a liltle souvenir- of our pleasant acquaintance. Good-bye, Mr. Bunco ! ' Uncle Hewitt started on a clumsy run down "the rqad.'ojvertiookj t-he slow-moving, wagon, .climibed in over the tail-board, and cfiirrupecf^bo old Bets, who had not missed him. The young T Tnan, when he had looked .dazedly after the, wagon,, threw the heavy, old pistol as far "as he could : send -ft into the bushes • by the roadside. r "Aunt Mandy listened with wide eyes to the story of Uncle Hewitt's adventure,- and at Hts close she said in somewhat shaky tones,- into which there crept a distinct note of satisfaction, however : " ' Hewitt, you know I always warned you. to be careful, and I always, told you there was danger of meeting a highwayman. Maybe you'll pay more heed • to mv warnings after- this..' "\ "-"'•- . 4 Highwayman ! He wasn.'^ none of them highwaymen like you've always »been warning me about ! ' snorted Uncle Hewitt. l Didn't I tell you he was dressed like ~a gentleman, and was just as pleasant as pie-? Andas for your warnings, I guess I proved I'm able 1o tal-'C care of myself. 1 Then lie added, triumphantly, 'I told you I'd never carry that" old- horse pistol with me again, and I won't.'— 4 Catholic Columbian.'