The San Francisco call., 1908-12-12

handkerchiefs To use in connection with
the wonderful little detectori Remem-
Der, I am making a present Of the
wonderful little detector and the
beautiful handkerchief. merely 10 in
troduee the gen-u-ine silver steel, non
bendable, nonbreakable. crystalline
eyed needles"
As though in a trance, Skinnie saw
himself carelessly drapfng the Chimera
handkerchief over the marvellous in
vention-Miss Soldiers silver teapot
within easy grasp, awhile he viewed
the guilty c0untenance of its pur-
loiner afront. from rear. The faker
accepted with complacency the ten
dered dime. all that remained of the
Bud Bronson loan. The awe struck
tones of the other boys "Skinnie
his whole being. Close examination
developed the fact that marvellous in
vention though it were, a certain
amount Of practical experience with
the little Partisan detectOr" was neces-
sary for the detection of crime
Skinnie riveted his eyes upon the
movements OF the faker Intent on
demonstration Of tile wonderful little
article" the faker failed. perhaps. TO
notice the barefooted boy. the faker
directed his entire attention to a man
on his left Skinnie his view OBJ
scured, wiggled his way 10 a more ad-
vantageOus spot He noted a peculiar
ly meaning glance that passed between
the faker and a rat faced stranger. who
until that moment had fTmained in the
background. The stranger moved to
the mans left the crowd iostled a
little. As the man turned there was
the momentary flash OF some bright
object in the rat faced strangers hand.
That was all. The faker wiped the
perspiration from his face and an
nounced that he would later in the
afternoon afford all those who were
desirous of securing a little Partisan
handkerchief and a dozen useful house
hold articles the opportunity-for the
sum OF ] 0 cents
The crowd slowly dispersed. The
faker stepped down from the dry goods
box that had served him as a platform,
slipped the binding rings from off his
tripod. and closing the carrying case,
handed it over TO the young man of
ratlike countenance. The two grinned
at each other cheerfully
Skinnie, in search OF criminals.
stopped in front Of "Rronson's CITY
Livery" To focus the little Partisan de-
tector upon the persons Of old Pop
Sturges and Glen Bronson. whose ardu-
Gus duties as chief of police. acting
town recorder. delegate at lsrSe to the
county central committee. secretary of
the ]. B. O. L. and last but not least.
proprietor Of the CITY Livery" neces-
STATED frequent repairs of the cane
bottomed chair in which he was won't
TO mediate. The two were busily en-
ga ged in arguing the measure advo-
Gated i'm the News. The possibility of
an increased tax rate had so alaHned
Pop Sturges as TO cause him to seek
every means TO put any such idea from
BrOnsee's mind.
Bronson leaned far over Pop Sturges'
chair. r tell YOU. what this here place
needs is a detectivet' he said In his
endeavor to overhear, Skinnies ears
fairly stuck out sideways "Hows one
man goin' to take care OF All tho COM
plants. eh2 Why. Miss Soldiers tea
pots been gone for more than week.
and there ain't been a thing done about
it. has there? No, I got the com
plant all writ up. but how am I goin'
TO know what name to fIl in. CHI? / tell
you. Pop StuTges. what this here town
needs Is a detective" Pop Sturges
shook his head. "Mehbe so?' he as
sented
Skinnie. his eyes glued to the little
Partisan defector. was apparently SUI
fcring from Internal convulsions OF
some grave nature. Pop Sturges re-
garded him knowingly. "Wums," he
said. Bronson did not deign TO reply.