Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05
Torchy Jolts Mr.. Fiddle
Continued from page 4


jaw, pair of eyes that saw both sides of
the street at once, and head like chopin
block. He was sttin' right alongside of that
burlap bundle, waitin' to spring his tin badge
on some one.
do they send such things as that through
without cratin?" says | to a guy behind the
chicken wire, jerkin' me thumb at Mr.. Sleuth.
Whats the label on him?"
That's Mr. Hinkey Tolliver, special officer"
says he. Better look out or he'll break a hand
grenade on that still alarm of yours"
"Ah, back to the blotter!" says |. Who
gave you any license to make funny cracks on
my Mrs. Leslie Carter disguise?"
We snapped few more like that, while
sizes up Hinkey, tryin' to map out way to
brace him. But it was a 1osin proposition.
He has one of them eyes nailed to what l
wanted to take away and the other trained on
the door, and you could tell by the way he
held his jaw that nothin' short of an earthquake
would jar him loose.
that Mr.. Robert had put it up to me SO fiat, I'd
have quit then. But couldn't lay down with
just look; so l takes turn around into the
passenger waitin' room, battin' my head for
new line.
/ guess it was kind of second sight that steers
me over into the corner where there is an A. D.
T. branch. l want lookin' for anyone knew,
seem it's been so long since l wore the cap; but
who should pipe off, sittin' on the call bench,
but Hunch Leary And, say, between the time
how it was I'd shook the red stripe, I'd framed
up the whole scheme. First goes over to the
girl under the blue bell and rings up Mr.. Rob
ert.
Hello" saws /, this is Torchy''
Good" saws he. Have you got it,"
Got nothini' says /. you must think
I'm writ of habeas corpus. ! want to know
who was the gent that most likely tipped off
your warden friend"
When I'd got that asks the time of the next
boot 0f
ferry hawks to back his chariot up near the
press Office door and be ready to make swift
move for the gangplank.
Then me and Hunchy fakes up this little
to chase to the nearest phone and call up the
gent that Mr.. Robert had put me wise to.
IT was worse'n playin' a three-ball combina-
ton for the side pocket, and / holds my
breath while Hunch pokes his book at him and
waits to see if there's any answer. Tolliver. he
reads it over two or three times, first with one
eye and then the other. One minute l thought
he was goin', and the next he settles back like
he'd made up his mind to balk. He squints at
the burlap package, and then at the message.
and all of sudden he makes break for the
phone.
He hadn't begun movin' before ] was up to
the window with my receipt, calm for EN- to
get hustle on, as Mr.. Doe had run out of veal
and had to have it in hurry. Ever try to poke
-
time about it-and me 1ool<in' for trouble every
tick of the clock! But l got an o. X. on it
after awhile, and for quarter l hired wagon
helper to drag the bundle out and chuck it into
the hanson. Then l climbs in and we made
the boat just as the bell rang. She was pullin'
out of the slip when Tolliver rushes out about
as calm as bulldog chasin' tramp.
Say" says the driver, climbin' down to
take a look at the baggage, "who you got
sewed in the sack?"
Get on your perch!" says I. "Ain't you
maxim extra money on this? And when you
fetch up at the club, do it like you was used to
stoppin' at such places"
TT was great ride that me and the deer meat
had across town and up Fifth-ave. I'd
stopped once to put Mr.. Robert next: SO he
was waitin' for me out in front of the club.
wearin' grin that was better'n breakfast
food ad.
But that want anything to the look on
Piddie when Mr.. Robert shows up next mornin
and pats on the back like was of his
old Hasty Puddin' chums.
"Piddie." says l. look what it is to be born
handsome and lucky all in one throw"