The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-29

going to arrest him single-handed.
MY stars, Hump Skinner!" gasped
the Witherspoon boy, but what luck
you do have! They tell about Wash
ington crossing the Delaware, but he
wasn't in it. Do you expect the crimi-
nal to resist ?"
ITO his last breath
s'Then I'll come along and see the
conflict
At the corner they met the Brady
boy. and a little further along the
Stevens boy. The case in hand was
explained to them, and shivers Of ex-
element imm ediately began racing
I'D and down their spines. They had
fallen in behind Humpy and were gaz-
ing at the back of his head with the
greatest reverence when he suddenly
lodged behind a shade tree and point
ed across the street. A man with a
straw hat was beating a rug on the
lawn. From head to heel he had the
look of criminal. He would whack
the rug and then look around in q. fur
tive way He would whack again and
/ then follow the movements of a cat
on the fence. Guilt was plastered over
him foot thick. Humpy was not over
seventeen seconds making up his
mind that he had run his quarry to
earth, and a lump rose up in his throat
and he felt himself turning pale. There
was the man before him. but
ssHumpy, are you going to rush in
on him and grab him by the back of
the neck Qu6TleQ one OF the DOSS-
Don't wait too long or he'll take the
alarm and skip" added a second.
IF I only had a gun and a pair of
handouts" replied Humpy as his chin
began to work.
perate man you are a desperate boy.
You've got the law on your side, and
we are here to back you. Hump Skin
ner, don't you let that man escape to
devasta other sections Walk right
70, n i'm, hn161xv q { If a CT
guns and twelve pairs of handouts
There was no escape for HuHpy un-
less he turned and ran, and that would
mean swift and total loss of prestige.
He had to shut his teeth hard to keep
them from clicking, and there was a
strange weakness and wobble about his
knees as he crossed the street. 1t was
his first attempt to arrest desperate
criminal
well, sonny. what's wanted ?" quer-
led the rug beaten
II want you to come along with
me-
where to? ~
1.-THE police station"
whats up at the police station 20
Il am doing detective work. / ar
rest you for drinking up Mrs. Morri-
sons milk and then winking. at her"
The man looked at the boy to see If
/ he was serious, and then burst out
| laughing.
s'Get a neck hold on himi" was
shouted from across the street.
Don't let him bamboozle youi'
Hes making ready to bolti'
Spurred on by these calls Humpy
took courage and laid a hand on the
mans arm Next moment the man had
/ him by the collar. There was an old
chair out there, and he sat down on it,
drew the boy detective over his knees
and spanked him good and sound.
Humpy fought and yelled, but what
I can a boy of fourteen do against a
desperate athletic criminal in the
+ prime of life? The other boys ran
down to the corner. and after awhile
the fearful, squirming Humpy followed
them to be greeted with:
you are nice sort of detective, you
are!''
"Tn bet they could hear you boiler
a mile away"
You squalled like a babyl''
What vhas all dis row around here, 7
demanded an old German as he stuck
] his head out Of the window.
why. replied the Witherspoon
boy. this here Hump Skinner sets out
on the trail of desperate criminal
II see dot trall'
''He follers It, and with our help he
/ runs his man down"
II see dot mans
1T was up here IN the middle of the
block, and the desperate was beating
a rug"
II know dot rug for ten years. He
yhas in der city tax office. Go on"
Hump went to arrest him. but he
| wouldn't be arrested
dot vllas slust like dot rug: hs
don't like to be arrested. What he does
Ell p
why. he gives Hump Skinner the
awfuliest spanking a boy ever got II
this world, and he cant tell vet bui
what there will be fatal results"
sHoi seel also see dot some boy.
vhas here yesterday ind wanted K