The Washington times., 1909-02-26
THECASEOFCLUETT PETERS

stubbornly. If you don't come with
me can't buy nothing right
'Of course you can Just get plain
blue or gray suit-there must be lots Of
places open"
We'll, 1 don't go unless you come,
Walt" Mr.. Durkin, said pIaintively.
''WeIl-all right, them
Walt picked up his bag silently and
made for the alcOve bed A matter OF
not more than ten Minutes swishing
i'm the basin-another bUef watt-anG
an imma culate dream in d1rE blue,
bearing a newly strapped-,I. canvas
bag, appeared before Mr.. D;rkin, and
that gentleman leaned back and gasped
wen, III be
some better-what?-' commented Mr..
johnson. Come on, Bill"
Say, Walt
You come on and get some like EN-, 90
grinned Mr.. Johnson.
The other obeyed- He Kicked up mis-
bag carefully and anchored his hat
firmly, and In humble silence he follow
ed his younger partner to the stairs. e
Stores were open-not very many OF
them, hut enough to answer the pur-
pose.
Mr.. Durkiu proved a trife hard TO mt,
chiefly because of breadth and certain
angles. Something rather satisfactory
was accomplished, though, after a while,
and Mr.. Durkin. with his bag, entered
curtained booth with clothes and
studied shirt and new collar and tic
and new shoes.
Walter Johnson waited patiently for
the transformation. When it was event
ualIy accomplished, even Mr. Johnson
was rather amazed. Mr. Durkin, de
lu e, was really a rather imposing
pr )pOsition.
Wen get shaved now" the former
su sgested- Then we'n go back and
have a bite and-after that Wen talk
things over"
They accomplished the tonsorial feat
quickly. In the Iatening evening they
hurried back to their abode-and per
haps each OF them felt that something
In the nature of a heart-to-heart chat
was impending.
Conversation was scant. Topics seem
cd to have thinned out. Mr.. Johnson
at last hazarded:
Bill. it's none OF my business,
but
But what?''
well I saw YOU folding I'D those
old pants OF yours, and I saw the two
! big Oulges under the back pockets.
/ What made 'em?''
MI Durkin chuckled suddenly.
Guns, SON"
"Eh?"
| Il always carry 'em-and they're good
and husky, too. Ierei Feel here,"
He took the younger mans hand and
ran II across his own back-and Mr.
| Johnson started somewhat Beyond any
/ manner Of doubt, Mr.. Durkin was arm,
| 81, and armed with pair Of weapons
! that were not unlike coast artillery.
! 'What-what the dickens do You car
/ ~ EN- for?'' ne asked.
! Mr. Durkin chuckIed.
! Guns is like toothpicks, SON.. ne re.
! sponde6. When you bite on something
! strange. you're liable L need 'em. T al
| ways have EN- with ne-in my pockets
during the day and under the pillow a.
night"
. Conversation Jagged again They hur
! ried along through the darkness.
And at last they turned into the long
cOrridoT-Iike lobby Of their own hotel
staggering along finely in their new ell
egance-unti abruptly Durkin grippeC
his companions arm and whispered:
"What?''
This towns no place for raj
'F-h2''
That son Of a guns caught up again
Look
Mr.. Johnson looked obligingIy. At tn,
( Tar end. in the Office proper, q man wa
( leaning over the register, alteTnatingll
/ scanning the page and questioning tn,
clerk
/ And as his side face turned, doub
vanished. The inquisiJive man was IN,
gentleman from the Occident - Mr.
] Bovine.
! The Continuation Of This Story VII
Bc Found in Tomorrow
Issue of This Paper.