dodge they have when relieving a man of his watch or pocket-book. I
hastened to feel for my watch. It was gone."

"Why, Fred, your watch--"

"Stop! Don't interrupt me. Wait until I've done."

The girls exchanged looks--mirthful first, anxious after.

"In a second I was after him. Presenting my revolver, I bade him hand
me the watch. He resisted. I covered him with my pistol, and spoke
again in a tone which convinced him I was in a dangerous mood.

"'Hand me that watch.'

"Out it came; and without taking a second look at me, he left. And
thanks to my little beauty here," tapping his revolver, "I am home
again, no worse off than when I started. Now, what say you?"

"Oh, Fred! Oh, my dear, what have you done? Oh, you have robbed that
man of his watch! Yours is on the bureau. You left it home," Nellie
cried, in a voice of real agitation.

"What? No! Surely not!" exclaimed Fred, growing very red, and starting
toward the bureau.

Fannie handed to Fred his own watch, at the same time fairly shaking
with the laughter she had tried so hard to suppress.

"Oh, Fred, forgive me. I'm only human; I must laugh or die."