Evening star., 1900-10-06

1t is also to be remarked that they were
not called on to pay percentage Of their
winnings to the wise" Indeed, the three
were so pleased with their success and so
confident of the innocence and ignorance of
their constituents, mat they determined to
combine interests and make a run on
cided that the easiest way to achieve the
run was to approach the building
through subterraneau passage and the
three started to- dig a tunnel
When affairs Were in this posture and
the tunnel nea rly completed Ruderick Nc
klowd stepped one day off a train which
had brought him ont of the beyond The
Great Idea had taken him away from Corn
willie soon after Herbert Renshaw was
elected mayor, and it was the Great Idea
that brought him back. With the letters
of Introduction and recommendation that
he had in his pocket when he stepped of
the train he was officially a much more re-
spectacle parsonage than when he left
Cornville, but in essentials he was still
Ruderick Mcklowd. the slick Chi gun.
He went straight from the train to the
front office" and called on the chief.
Mr.. Cowles,' Ruderick began. Il have
been given to understand that you are
looking for a new man for your detective
force. / have had considerable experience
In the detective business, and l should like
to be your new man, If you're satisfied with
my credertia Is.
Il see that you are certified TO as being
a very wise man." remarked Mr.. Cowles,
after hasty perusal Of Ruderick's papers.
Il suppose that word wise Is merely
technical term in police parlance."
That's what IT is. Mr. Cowles. A wise
man in the police business is just wise.
that's ALL"
You have some acquaintance, have you,
with the criminal classes? We very much
need a man who understands the ways OF
thieves"
..Of course. don't get myself up as any
thing extraordinary. Mr.. CoWles, but you've
GO. my record in those papers,
We'll, Mr.. McKlowd, I'll take your name
into consideration Good afternoon, SIR
Three days later there was astonishment,
bewilderment and profanity in the Under
World. Ruderick Mckiowd had been appoint
ed chief of detectives in the town of Corn
vile, and the Under World wondered what
the appointment meant When inquisitive
the Under World is like child-it walks UP
and asks questions; and Ruderick Nc
klowd's office was beseged by guns" who
desired to know what was what and what
was doing" Among the rest were the three
who had come by special summons. So far
the Great Idea had progressed exactly as
Ruderick had hoped it would. The financial
value of the idea was still to be demon
strated. The three bad men were Invited
into Ruderick's private office, where, by
judicious questioning, they were made to
declare that they had nothing whatever
"on" and had not done any business in the
town since the reform administration went
into power and that they had been ditch
ed by Ruderick's idea and were sick of the
place and ready to quit 1t. To all of this
Ruderck listened with a politeness which
was exemplary in a public officer and an
old friend. When they had finished his re-
ply too. was exemplary and significant.
"Blokes" he said, Il amt much on chew
in the rag, but I'm moren a little glad o
what you've told me, n that you're sick
OF the town. I'm particular glad you're
not mixed up in that tunnel business under
Englar's bank. The feller that's done that
has got to choke il off, see? can't stand
for it. Anythin' else It's been done here
fore / got here amt any o my business.
For yourselves, my tip as an old pal is,
since you're sick o this town, to get shut
OF il by the next rattler I'm responsible
for what's done here from this on, an III
have to make a pinch If you hand around,
so you'd better try to mooch guess
you've made your pile here, anyhow, an.
it's time I you got your graft In elsewhere l
amt maxim no passes at you nor nothin',
but IL you sprint you can catch that 7:D
this evenin'. 1t 'ud give me a pain to see
you here after o'clock tonight So long,
blokes; take care o yourselves.
III.
Judge Barwood had the name of being
able TO go with impunity the breadth OF a
hair closer than any other man In Corn
Vile TO the line that would have imperiled
his own and his clients liberty to cross. 1t
was said OF him that he made 1t a point
OF honor never to turn away and never to
fail to help, and to profit by a client.
One evening-six days and a fraction, to
be accurate. after Ruderick's historic warn
ing to the three bad men-Judge Barwood
was summoned from his bed by an impor-
tunate visitor. who made himself agreeable
by opening his business with the tender Of
a retaining fee. The fee was bundle of
$50 notes; the man was in appearance per-
haps sixty years of age, powerful, de-
formed. inordinately slouch-hatted, great
coated. long haired and whiskered.
THE bills. to the best OF my belief. are
genuine; your beard. to the best Of nay be-