Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-23

tried he had been beaten every time he
had made the attempt. He was without
lnnuence. But ne was, young, ana ne had
his career before him. and he was not dis
couraged He worked hard and to the
purpose.
had established himself few years before
In the place where he was now, and he
had stayed there through thick and thin.
He could not assure himself that his busi-
bis spirits up. He hoped against hope; he
worked away and squared his square jaw
uncompromisingly at fate
Constitutional Smith had once entered
the shop OF John Lorimer, the chemist
That was upon the day preceding the night
when Ellington ,O'Keefe met his fate in
the dark street. Constitutional had worn
no chain, but Lorimer had mistaken him.
nevertheless, for Ellington OKeefe. Smith
had counted upon this, and he had pur-
chased. without any inquiries on the part
or Lor1mer, few ingredients with which
he had saturated that little rag few hours
roform-there was too much tendency IN
the victim to gag and strange. He had
little recipe of his own which made the
dose an easier one, and which for his own
dedication he was wont to call by the
name of "Constitutionals dope" Lorimer
little knew to what task his chemicals
were to be devoted If he had, 1T Is
question. as subsequent events will show,
Lorimer possessed one quality that few
men TO-DAY possess. He had a peautl1ui
baritone voice-not the church or concert
voice, but a voice which was unframed and
had In 1t all the tones of the free air and
the hills. And he had an old-fashioned
habit-when he was alone he sang at his
work. And he sang old-fashioned songs;
and they were mostly songs of sentiment.
And there was reason for all this. For
within small box within his room In
the rear Of the little shop, John Lorimer
the casual observer had had an opportunity
to examine this correspondence he would
have found that much of it was signed
with the name Of a girl who wrote in a
Margaret Robeson," forsooth. And by
that token the song that he most often
sang was an old song that ran about like
this:
When first sweet Peggy
Twas on market day,
low backed car she drove
And sat upon truss Of hay;
And when that hay blooming grass
And decked with flowers of spring.
No flower was there that could compare
win the charming lass sing.
As she sat in the low-backed car
The man at the turnpike bar,
But just rubbed his his poll poll.
AND looked after the low-backed car.
"a rather own that ear, sir,
With Peggy by my side
Ihan coach and four. and gold galore,
Anu u lauy Tor bride
For the lady would sit forninst me-
&C., On cushion made with taste.
But Peggy would sit beside me
win my arm around her waist.
As she sat in the low-backed car,
Tie man at the turnpike bar
But just rubbed his poll.
Ana looked after the low-backed car
1t was song that mothers sang to their
sleepy children; that nurses crooned to
babies; that old grannies warbled over a bit
OF mendlng or pot of tea
BEt John Lorimer sang it when he was
alone and it became his song.
And he was singing it on a certain day
when his back was to the door, and for
an instant he had forgotten his surround
lngs. Unknown to him. man had entered
ana stood silently waiting. noddng his
head to the tune as Lorimer sang it.
Il don't know" began this individual.
LtoiliIsr swung about in establishment, and
then flushed to the roots of his hair. half
III anger and half in embarrassment
/ don't know" went on the visitor Tex
actiH who Sweet Peggy is, but I'll bet dol
lars to doughnuts that she's sweet enough
TO be sung about in that way
Lorlmer saw that the man was Ellington
y heefe-Billington O'Keefe, but without
the golden chain.
Lorlner assumed short. sharp manner.
- W nat can | do for you?'' he asked shortly
The visitor plunged Immediately into the
present business. He had small list of
things that he wanted. Lorimer lifted his
Ss Snio"s as ne looked them over He had
half notion to ask this man for what pur-
pose he wanted these chemicals. Then he
changed his mind. He knew O'Keefe was
constantly engaged In experiments, and he
knew further that O'keefe would consider
it bit of impertinence for him to ask.
So he made them up In the shortest pos
sibe time and handed them over, as he
thought, to Ellington O'Keefe.
Much obliged" said Ellington OKeefe
FOR these and for the-the song about
Sweet Peggy"
His visitor retired and strobe down the
street. He was not Ellington O'Keefe. He
was Constitutional Smith. And he left the
shop with enough dope" to stupefy a half
lar explosive to blow up half dozen safes.
1t Is always safer, Constitutional
thought to himself to have too much than
too little. This was the day, as has been
lington OKeefe, in a supine condition.
boarded the Sarah Margaret for parts
unknown.
This was the first time that Constitutional
Smith ever came into contact with John
Lorimer the chemist.
Smith not an unapprec1at1Ve man,
and his success in life had been largely due
to his rarely failing judgment of men In
general, from their manner and appearance
at first blush; and he appreciated John
Iorimer the chemist, a young man at
once businesslike and correct, and artistic
and unusual in the bargain.
At the corner he stopped for moment
and looked back at the quaint little shop
and nodded his head art a az ROW T. he
marked to himself 'and an all right sort Of
fellow in it, too Then the man Smith
turned the corner and, as Smith, disappear
ed completely from the face OF the earth.
(To be contlnued)
DEWEY WILL TO BE CONTESTED.