The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-03-17
ANGEL ESQUIRE
BY EDGAR

turn-table door of the Heinz. and.
dining room, selected a table near a
window looking out on to Piccadilly.
The other occupant of the table
looked up and nodded.
"Hullo, Angel" he said easily.
"Hullo. Jimmy!" greeted the uncon-
ventional detective.
He took up the card and chose his
dishes with elaborate care. A half bot
tie of B~eaujolais completed his order.
The ridiculous thing is hat one has
got to pay Is Cd for a small bottle of
wine that any respectable grocer will
sell you for tenpence ha' penny net"
You must pay for the magnificence."
said the other quietly, VIVA do you
want?"
Not you, Jimmy" said the amia-
BILE Angel, though my young friend.
Boyden, inspector Of police. and a Past
Chief Templar to boot, will be looking
for o shortly"
Jimmy carefully chose a %toothpick
and stripped it of its tissue covering.
"Of course" he said quietly. Il wasn't
In 1.-THE killing. l mean. I was there"
II know all about that" said Angel:
saw your foolish cigarets. I didn't
think you had any hand in h kill
ing. You are a property criminal. not
a personal criminal"
by which I gather you convey the
nice distinction as between crimes
against property and crimes against
the person. said the other.
Exactly"
A pause.
"Well?" said Jimmy.
What l want to see you about Is
the verse;" said Angel. stirring his soup.
Jimmy laughed aloud.
What a clever little devil you are,
Angel" he said admiringly; land not
so little either. in inches or devilish-
ness"
He relapsed into silence, and the
wrinkled forehead was eloquent
Think hard" tainted Angel.
"Tm thinking" said Jimmy slowly.
II used a pencil, as there was no blot
ting paper. l only made n copy, just
as the old man dictated it, and"
You used a block" said Angel
sheet. And you pressed rather heavily
on that, so that the next sheet bore
a legible impression"
Jimmy looked annoyed.
what an ass I ami" he said, and
was again silent.
1.-THE verse;" said Angel. Can you
make head or tail of it?"
"No"-Jimmy shook his head-"can
you?"
mot a blessed thing" Angel frankly
confessed.
Through the next three courses
neither man spoke. When coffee had
been placed on the table, Jimmy broke
the silence.
you need not worry about the
verse. / ave only stolen a march Of
a few days. Then Conner will have 1t;
n some girl or other will have 1t.
Massey would have had 1t, too" He
smiled grimly.
what is 1t all about?"
Jimmy looked at his Questioner with
some suspicion.
Don't you know" he demanded.
Haven't got the slightest notion.
That is why I came to see you"
"Curious!" unused Jimmy. II thought
Of looking you up for the very same
purpose. We shall know in a day or
two" he wen on, reckoning the waiter.
"The old man said 1t was all in the
will. He just told me the verse before
he died. The ruling passion, don't you
know. Learn 1t by heart, Jimmy he
croaked; it's two millions for you II
you guess it'-and that's how he died.
My bill, waiter. Which way do you
go" he asked as they turned into
ITO the PLAT for an hour" said
Angel.
"Business?"
Partly; I'm looking for a man who
might be there"
They crossed Piccadilly, and entered
a side turning. The second on the left
and the first on the right brought
them opposite a brightly lit hotel. From
within came the our Of violins. AT
the little tables with which the spa
cious barroom was set about sat
laughing women and young men in ave.
ming dress. A haze Of cigaret smoke
clouded the atmosphere, and the music
made itself heard above a babel of
laughter and talk. They found a COR
ner n seated themselves.
You seem to be fairly well known
here" said Jimmy.
Yes" replied Angel ruefully, "a jolly
sight too we'll known. You're not quite
a stranger, Jimmy" he added.
mo" said the other a little bitterly;
but we're on different sides of the
house, Angel. You're in the cabinet
ton.
"Mufied sobs," said Angel flippantly.
PITY poo Ishmael whoishes' for his own
pleasure! Pathos for a fallen brother!
A silent tear for this magnificent wreck
who'd rather be on the rocks than
floating n day Of the week. Don't
humbug yourself, Jimmy, or I shall
w AohAtAo va yOai AASSh III
to your better nature. You're q thief
just as another man Is a stamp COL
lector or a hunter. It's your blooming
forte. Hi, Charles, do you ever intend
serving me?"
"Yessir; d'reckly, SIR"
Charles hustled UP.
What Is 1t to be, gentlemen? Good
evening, Mr.. Angel"
I'll take what my friend Dooley
calls a keg of obScenth, and your"
Jimmy's face struggled to preserve
its gravity.
Lemonade" he said soberly.
The waiter brought him a whisky.
If you do not know the PLAT" you
do not know your London. It Is one
Of the queer hostels which in a CONT
mental city would be noted as a place
to which the young person might not
be taken. Being in London, neither
Baedeker nor IN Of the infallible
guides to the metropolis so much as
mention its name. For there is a law
Of libel.
There's Snatch Walker" said Angel
idly. Snatch isn't wanted Just wv
in this country. There's Frisco Kate,
who'll get a lifer one of these days.
Dye know the boy in the mustard suit,
jimmy"
Jimmy took a sidelong glance at the
young man.
mo; he's new"
Not so new, either" aid Angel
budapest in the racing season, Jeru-