The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1908-05-07

| iOhesf We uDt1 py OUT lures on an GN-
eridge three dys a week doesn't WEI
while there's Jim Stockings a Travelled
from North Croydon 70 ,Battersea
Bridge and back every blessed dy for
this free mofs parst, and never pide
the company a solitary copper
i "Ah. Jim's Is a cute Jun. e is, said
the other, grinning appreciatiyely.
That is a rippin' doge as he'ye nit
on for trayelin' gratis. Never heer
nuthink to beat It. Jim's patent orl-
wys corls It, which e deserve gowid
medal for ayin' ever thorti Of any
think SO bloomip' sly. wot do ysu
think, mite?"
"Ow! It's a fair masterpiece" was
the emphatic rejoinder "Not but wot
there's risks abaht It. If yer arsks
me. And sooner or liter, Jim e Il get
cort. Yer mark my words"
Wen II e does get cort, it'll tike
a sharper bloke than oldiWig. to catch
i'm, said his companion.
Dunno. The biggest fats sometimes
blunders upon a smart cop" observed
the other, sententiously, as he knocked
the ashes. out of his short clap pipe and
then proceeded to refill II. slowly, with
shag from a screw OF dirty green pa
per.
HAhl That's right enough" admitted
the other lending emphasis to his as
sent by a particularly copious expector-
alton.
Then both men relapsed into silence.
Now to the whole of the above dia-
logue Mr.. Bouneeby had listened
though appearing to be buried in his
paper--with prieked ears and alert at
tention. And his disappointment
when the two workmen ceased their
conversation Just at the critical point,
without having divulged the secret Of
Jim Sticlings's dodge for travelling
gratis from North Croydon to Batter.
sea Bridge, was keen and poignant. If
only he could find that out and then
catch Jim Stockings in the act What
feather in his own cap! And what a
one in the eye for that self-opinionated
fool, Detective Virgins! Why couldn't
those two fellers continue their con.
versation? Perhaps they would II he
waited little. He did wait. But the
,workmen still remained silent. In fact,
one of them showed evident signs Of
nodding off to sleep. He must find out,
though II would be too notifying to
miss It. He would engage these two
workmen in conversation He would
worm the secret out of them; or, fail
ing that, he would draw 1t from them
with silver cords. Half crown went
a long way with laboring man. while
for FIVE shillings you could get him to
do almost anything However, he
would not begin by offering them a
bride, since that might arouse their
suspicion, He would rather address
them in the friendly and affable gulse
OF an innocently inauisitiYc fellow pas
senger.
So, laying down his paper, and smil-
ing upon the two workmen very bland
ly through his gold-rimmed glasses, he
cleared his throat and said
eAheml excuse me, my good fell
ers; but l couldn't help oyerhearing
that very interesting subject OF which
you were talking Just now, and-ahem
do you know, you rather aroused my
curiosity" .-s
He looked from one to the other
smiling pleasantly as he spoke. They
met his smiles with stolid and perhaps
rather suspicious stares. r..r-
,eYou viii pardon me-no offenoeEl
hope,p he went on with increasing af-
fabilIty2bntH- wen, upon my word,
YOU know, I'm a curious old fellow
and really / should be awfully inter
ested to KNOW how that friend OF yours
manages to travel from North Croydon
to Battersaa Bridge every day With
out paying his fare. ~. 81,
al daresay yer would, gunner" re,
piled one Of the men, gruftiy.
ut must be dodge worth know
ing" smiled Mr. Bopnceby with insln'
uating blandness,. -..-.- .----...,
eyer right there guY'ner,@.s said the
other man "'roo wen WORT KNOWN
toegiye away, and that's TACK
at might even be worth buyinrr
eH?,r replied Mr.. BotIncehysa with sly
suggestiveness, accidentally, IS It
were. climbing some loose silver In his
breeehes' pocket.
1T might, grunted the man adj
dressed. laconieally And 1t mfghtn't
What do yer ~, miteg1 he added, turn,
ing to his companion lfe H-sr
isft OIL depen's, answered the
amite." ION what reasons the gentle
man have for wishin to know It. IT,