A DOUBLE HOLD-UP

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 4, 24 January 1907, Page 7

A DOUBLE HOLD-UP

Down 'the path t toward I/he barn trudged XJncle -has lantern casting splashes- ot ligiJi-t out into.- the darkness of "that hour which comes just before daybreak. -"^ . ;~ ' The wagon had been loaded with produce the night before; so "that when .. he bad harnessed old- Bets ~ he would! 'be. ready to- start on. hiis drive of twenty - miles to the city". He was ~ congratulating lumself . upon his early start- when" the kitchen, door opened - with a' creak, and Aunt Mandy called in cautious tones*- 'Hewitt, .o -Hewitt, you'll be careful on the way home, Avon't you ? ' ' Yes,. X'll be careful ! ' he called back cheerily. ' And don't forget to put your- money in the sack and pin it inside your vest with that safety pin I gave you.' ' ' I won't forget,' he answered, still walking on. The kitchen door closed, then opened quickly with a decided squeaft, and Aunt Mandy called, i-n an exaggerated stage whisper, '' Hewitt, O Hewitt Jr ' and the whisper readied him down the length of the yard. ' What do you want ? ' he asked, a trifle crossly, for he did not like to be detained. ' Are you sure you've got" the pistol ? ' . ' Yes, I'm •just as sure of it as I've been every - time I've started to the city for the last fifteen years, and just as sure I won-'Jb have any use for it, and I'll say right now that this is the last time I over intend to carry the old thing along-.' Ho shut the yard gate with a bang that - put a stop .to all further Avarn-ings from the kitchen door. - Out upon the road he started old Bets a-t a brisk trot, meaning to cover a good part of the drive before the sun came up. His lantern cast shadows upon each -side of -the familiar road, making it look strange aro'd ghostly. ' 'Taint much wonder "Mandy worries and feels uneasy about me,' he mused. 'As many trips ,as I make before day and after night, it does seem a bit risky, and always coming home with money, too ; but as for that highwayman of hers that she's • always conjuring- up, that's too ridiculous for - any use._- I guoss the day's* past for highwaymen Kn this civilised country, leastways round -about here,' "and lie chuckled as he thought of the many - times he had listened to his wife's admonition from the crack of the . kitchen door. " " The sun rose upon a glorious autumn morning, and Uncle Hewitt" jogged along into the city in time for - early market. The load of produce sold unusually well, and by a little after noon Un?le Hewitt was - ready for the return "trip. - -' After he had passed the city limits, he stopped old Bets by the roadside, and put the proceeds of his sales into the little bag, stitched by Aunt Mandy'scareful fingers for this purpose. He pinned the bag inside his vest with a safety pin,- "and then started again on the homeward trip. . • When about half-way home he saw in the road just ahead of him- a dapper young -man, who walked with a

slight limp. As Uncle Hewitt drew up even with- him, tire stranger looked up and asked, with a pleasant - smile, ' Could you give a fellow a lift for , a few miles ? '

' Well,. now, - I "reckon I can, if you think that riding behind old J3ets will, be any quicker way of getting over the" road " than- walking, ' Uncle Hewitt responded. <» 'It may_, not be any quicker, but it will certainly be easier for one who is slightly cripplod, and I'm sure I am very. -grateful to you.' . . • ' This ain't a stylish- rig,' Uncle Hewitt said, as-he moved over to make room on the .seat for .his '•« pasr senger. ' It's just -'my "market wagon, but it's a;- good one," and has hauled many a paying load for me.'; ": The young man proved a good listener.; and as Uncle Hewitt liked nothing better, than a good-" 1 is-, tener, he waxed eloquent in^ hi§ descri'p lions of the. market business and- the, management of -a..\payirig truck farm. , •. - The young man asked such very intelligent questions at" such opportune times that Uncle Hewitt's heart warmed towards , him, and he was soon . telling him with the utmost freedom of his successes of the day, of the' early selling" out, Wd of the'ro.und sum ;the produce had brought him. - _ The talk - continued on various " lines of farm" work, Tin-til in tlwy midst of ,a dissertation on the value of rotten wood -used as a- ..fertilizer- to start, swept potato beds properly, Uncle Hewitt was interrupted by 1-he young man exclaiming, « Oh, what is that over ihere, _ just 'beyond that big tree ? Look quick ! '

UncLe' Hewitt looked, but, saw - no-thing unusual. VViheii he turned again towards- his\ companion he saw something" very unusual— the muzzle , of a- shining revolver confronting him ! , " The- 'young man was .smiling,- and said pleasantly, '(I was . ofut looking for game, and I am very lucky in finding . you on one of your most successful _ days. No, you -needn't make any disturbance. -. I happen to know that the country is not thickly settled just here,- and ypu cannot -obtain --help"," J ust .- band me the proceeds for to-day, please, and you may keep your watch and other valuables.' .- . , - -

Uncle Hewitt started to open his mouth, ,but .the - look in the young man's eyes and- a little click near his own eyes caused, him to open his vest instead," and hand over the little .bag • con-baiimiiqg 1 - the precious funds. , , . . - / The) ; young- man bowied. politely; then), as he climbed from the wagon, he said, 'I . wish to ' thank you for your kindness, and in return let' me give you a bit of advice. Don't make it a " custom to take in stTasrcge passengers 'and give them your confidence. - Good-by, Mr. Hayseed ! ' And he .started back toward the city with no sign•of a limp. "" " - ■ - * " - Tina* appellation of - ; Mr. -'-Hayseed ' was -the last straw added to Uncle Hewitt's blaming temper. It was .bad _ enough to lose so much of one's hard earnings, . but to be ridiculed afterwards was -intolerable. He allowed old Bets to plod "on, but he reached down, amd, giropingi under the seat, brought out - the old horse pistol, and slipping out over"- the tail board of the wagon, he- started/, in pursuit of_ hisvlo-rmer pas-- - senger. "The rattle of the wagon and .the thud of old Bets' feet drowned the sound -oi his approach as 1 he agained on the fellow. He came. up .bel&nd him and shouted, suddenly : " " • •„-,-_.- ' ~ (To be concluded next week.)