Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-27
that's all. Hang it, i hate to ask you

| Aoh6 ~ Hdto W dSh yOu,
but I've got to do it,
The man at the table toyed lightly with
a metal paper knife. The plain clothes
with the knife in his hand, smiled and
spoke.
Would you mind" he asked. telling
me just what those marks were?" The
chief looked at the plain clothes man and
the plain clothes man fcoked at the chief
They We're" said TIE plain clothes man,
the initials H. s. and a dancing girl and
portion of the body
The man at the table thoughtfully poised
the paper knife in the air.
MIR. OKeefe," said the chief. you've
had your own troubles, and l nate 10 ask
you to do it, but there are some things
that we police offcersahase got to do to ac-
commodate others. Is il too much to ask
you to strip here in our presence ana iet
way it's a good deal to ask, but
The other had risen. He frowned 1T is
a good deal to ask, gentlemen ne began.
He to his full height. The PLAIN
clothes man and the: chief instinetlVey
placed their hands upon their hip pockets
The other man hastily tore off his coat
and vest. Then started forward suddehiy
and took off his linen shirt. How easily II
would have been for Constitutional smith
to leap upon these two men, throw them 10
the floor, leap through a window ana es-
cape. But no such move was mace. ne
chief and the plain clothes man backed OH
little and kept tight hold OF their re-
volvers.
Il suppose" said the other man, paus ng
an instant, that 1 must accommodate you
Well here goes, and good luck to you.
Then he did something that caused the
chief and the plain clothes man to stand
stock still and look on. Their hands fell
nervously from their guns Iher eyes
bulged out.
And for apparent reason. For all that
this man had done was to remove his inner
shirt and exhibit to them his breast ana
arms. But upon this breast and these arms
there were no such designs tattooed such
as they had described. Upon the chest
there quite a different design. And
the marks upon the arms consisted of two
words and that was all. And these two
words were 'Billington O'Keefe,' and moth
ing more.
For this was not Constitutional
Smith. 1t was none other than Ellington
O'keefe-the real Ellington o'Keefe-come
back after many months to claim his own
-I'n-be-hanged"' exclaimed the
plain clothes man. He grunted with dis
appointment. II could have sworn he
though l will confess he added, that in
this light you don't look so much like him
as l thought you would"
The chief burst into an embarrassed
laugh. MI. O'keefe," he said, holding out
his hand, don't give this away to anybody
Wen be the laughing stock of the place
There's a wine supper and big one due
you from me and Mr.. Huckleback."
Later in the headquarters the cn1ef called
for the two toughs. you're pretty pair
of liars" he said, knocking their heads to-
gether, this cooks your goose. After this
you'll go up for the biggest term you can
get; and, by George, after that I'll follow
you up close You fellows'n never get
chance to lie to me again. I'll tell you
that" He knocked their heads together
once more, just for good measure and then
sent them back.
Mr. Huckleback reluctantly telegraphed
in detail to New York Next day he was or
dered back home and he went Back in
the O'Keefe house, Ellington OKeefe was
once more donning his wearing apparel.
and while he was about it the door below
was opened from the outside with the aid
of a key, and a man assembled the stairs
and entered the den. This man was Consti-
tutional Smith.
Now it may seem queer that Ellington
OKeefe, who by this time knew the whole
story about Smith, did not give Smith up
to the chief and his gang, for the punish
ment that he deserved. 1t will appear
later why he did not
Constitutional Smith stepped inside the
room and shut the door. ''Who the devil
are you?" asked Constitutional Smith, land
what the devil are you doing in my house?"
He might have pounced upon O'keefe at
cnce, had he so desired, but he did not so
desire. 1t would involve noisy scufle, and
the house would be alarmed, and it would
end in his ruin. Besides, Ellington O'Keefe
was holding a revolver in his hand. Con-
stitutonal Smith had determined upon a
much holder scheme.
What the devil are you doing in my
house?" demanded Constitutional Smith.
I'm Ellington OKeefe," answered the
other. You know that well enough by this
time
know it?'' retorted Smith, "of course I
don't know it: 1 am Ellington O'Keefe.,
Prove it," returned O'Keefe. Smith
smiled. Il don't have to prove it, he an
swered. My people will recognize me as
O'Keefe They will know me- It's up to
you to prove that youare Ellington O'Keefe
and that 1 not"
Il guess that's a simple matter returned
O'Keefe, for you have your initials and
the Goddess of Liberty and dancing girl
tattooed on your body-foolish of you, too"
Smith started. How did you know that?'
he demanded. OKeefe smiled He did not
answer the question. He tore off his shirt
once more And these are the marks that
1 have upon my body" he continued.
Constitutional Smith stared. He was
beaten and he knew it. And what was more,
Ellington Okeefe knew 1t. But he adj
mired genius. You're clever fellow" he
said to Smith. Smith bowed. II am" he
admitted. $50 are you, yourself"
O'Keefe beckoned with his hand toward a
chair. "St down. said Ellington Okeele
to Constitutional Smith, come now and let
us reason together
CTo be continued.)