Mexico Missouri message., 1908-11-05

II was a big day at the race track,
and as II was also n holiday, there
we're at least four thousand men
crowding and pushing one another in
the pool room.
There were three men among the
1000 who were vitality interested in
each others movements, but Il was
not until they came In from the sec.
ond heat that Mr.. William Lyman
address not found in the directory
discovered J. BROMLEY OF the San
Francisco detective force standing be-
fore the boards, we'll in front OF the
crowds and apparently studying the
odds with thoughtful eye. II occurred
to Mr.. Lyman that J. Brownley's other
eye was keeping watch on the rear
exits.
Mr.. Lyman melted away into the
crowd like fog before the sunshine, be.
Ing by nature ever modest and retiring
when an official appeared on the land.
scape. He wriggled his way back un.
I'll he sighted his friend and co.part.
ner, Mr.. Collins, and retired with him
from the range Of inquisitive ears.
Mickey" he mumbled cautiously,
We're pinched."
He'll" observed Mr.. Collins pro.
fanely. staring around him In an un.
| pleasantly suspicious manner
Sure thing. Brownley's up in
front. He's done up something great.
but you can't fool me on BROMLEY.
It's him sure"
Mr. Collins expressed n desire that
the immortal part OF J. BROMLEY
might be subjected to n roasting pro.
cess for an indefinite futurIty. Under
stress of emotion. Mr.. Collins was apt
TO be vituperative.
Hes follered us all the way from
Frisco" he grumbled wrathfully. an
three times this month we've just got
on with our necks. The only way to
get rid Of BROMLEY is to kill him"
And have the whole U. s. know we
did 1t? Not on your tin.type. Mickey.
! don't throw my head away like that
Never kill a man unless you have to.
S'pose you sneak around front and see
IL the roads clear for a break"
Mr.. Collins worked his way swiftly
back to the front entrances and casu.
ally looked out. One would have said
that he was enjoying the beauty OF the
cloudless sky, so innOcently distant
and distracted was his gaze: certainly
no one would have suspected that he
saw two men look quickly at him and
away.
The two men outside looked at one
another, and moved closer. They were
in no hurry. J. Brownleys orders
were that unless these two shy birds
could be captured together at the
track, they were to be quietly and eau.
tiously followed TO their lairs. and
there invited to take up their resi-.
dence In the nearest police station.
The reasons why Messrs. Lyman
and Collins were so greatly in demand
were numerous and interesting These
were versatile gentlemen, and II one
vocation proved irksome or unhealth.
full from the legal point OF view, they
could always pass on to another. They
found II convenient TO change their
occupation frequently, as well as their
post office address; II diverted the OF.
fetal mind. and kept II guessing.
Mr.. Collins found his partner in a
marvelously short time; he was used
TO II. He shook his head trife,
which meant that their immediate fu.
ture was not OF an encouraging nature
Mr.. Lyman thrust out his under lip in
token OF his displeasure, as they edged
away from their nearest neighbors.
IF we run for II when the crowd
goes out to the track, therell be
million smart Alexis ready to help
'em catch US" he unused discomfort
eddy. Il think they mean to catch us
here II they can, or track us down TO
a good place and nab us. But they
don't know that we're onto em. Wen
fool EN-. We might raise a big row,
Mickey, and light out In the racket.
Wen stampede the crowd. that's IT,"
Mr.. Lyman radIated good nature
again, as no thought OF the mischief
at his command,
Fire." queried Mr.. Collins dubi.
ously.
MN. no. Mickey; that's an old
gag. Wen do somethin original.
Brownleys In front of the whole
bunch-awful reckless to stand In
front OF a crowd-the other chaps are
back OF It. and Wen keep about three
quarters back, and save our shins
while We lose the other fellows. Chase,
Mickey: it's most time for the start"
Mr.. Collins was not a man OF many
words. but his little eyes twinkled as
Mr. Lyman hastily told him what TO
do. lie wriggled swiftly away, lost
himself in the thickest OF the crowd
and managed to get his brown derby
knocked on. When he came up from
searching for II In the press. several
feet from where he had been, he had
In his hand large and rakish light
felt, which he tilted we'll over one
eye. He was now ready for business,
and III there were any Investigating