Christian fiction; Clergy -- Fiction; Jesus Christ -- Influence -- Fiction
At the sound of the Bishop's voice the man with the pistol started
as if he had been suddenly shot by his own weapon. With a quick
movement of his other hand he turned the Bishop's head toward's what
little light was shining from the alleyway, at the same time taking
a step nearer. Then, to the amazement of his companion, he said
roughly: "Leave the watch alone! We've got the money. That's
enough!"
"Enough! Fifty cents! You don't reckon--"
Before the man with the stake could say another word he was
confronted with the muzzle of the pistol turned from the Bishop's
head towards his own.
"Leave that watch be! And put back the money too. This is the Bishop
we've held up--the Bishop--do you hear?"
"And what of it! The President of the United States wouldn't be too
good to hold up, if--"
"I say, you put the money back, or in five seconds I'll blow a hole
through your head that'll let in more sense than you have to spare
now!" said the other.
For a second the man with the stake seemed to hesitate at this
strange turn in events, as if measuring his companion's intention.
Then he hastily dropped the money back into the rifled pocket.
"You can take your hands down, sir." The man lowered his weapon
slowly, still keeping an eye on the other man, and speaking with
rough respect. The Bishop slowly brought his arms to his side, and
looked earnestly at the two men. In the dim light it was difficult
to distinguish features. He was evidently free to go his way now,
but he stood there making no movement.
"You can go on. You needn't stay any longer on our account." The man
who had acted as spokesman turned and sat down on a stone. The other
man stood viciously digging his stake into the ground.
"That's just what I am staying for," replied the Bishop. He sat down
on a board that projected from the broken fence.
"You must like our company. It is hard sometimes for people to tear
themselves away from us," and the man standing up laughed coarsely.
"Shut up!" exclaimed the other. "We're on the road to hell, though,
that's sure enough. We need better company than ourselves and the
devil."
"If you would only allow me to be of any help," the Bishop spoke
gently, even lovingly. The man on the stone stared at the Bishop
through the darkness. After a moment of silence he spoke slowly like
one who had finally decided upon a course he had at first rejected.
"Do you remember ever seeing me before?"
"No," said the Bishop. "The light is not very good and I have really
not had a good look at you."
"Do you know me now?" The man suddenly took off his hat and getting
up from the stone walked over to the Bishop until they were near
enough to touch each other.
The man's hair was coal black except one spot on the top of his head
about as large as the palm of the hand, which was white.
The minute the Bishop saw that, he started. The memory of fifteen
years ago began to stir in him. The man helped him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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