Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-27
Keeping Tabs on Fiddle
Continued
Continued from page 9

Perhaps you didn't get there in timer" says
with the letter and package?" says l.
watcher take me for? Think got mucilage
on my shoes? l was there time, all right.
"Oh, mercy!" says he. "Torchy, I'm
ruined man.
You look it," says L: "but cheer up. You
never was much account anyway: so there's no
great harm done"
Then he begins to bubber, and leak brine,
and take on like woman with sick headache.
" 1t wasn't my fault" says he " was led into
it. Torchy. tell them was led into it! You'll
believe that. won't your"
Cert" says l. "I'll make affidavit | seen
'em snap the ring in your nose. But what's it
all about?"
"Oh, it's something awful that's happened to
me" he walls. Its too terrible to talk about.
You'll know tomorrow. i sha'n't be alive
then. Torchy."
Amt swallowed a buttonhook, have your"
says l.
Next he begins THROWN fit about what's
goin' to become of the missus and the kid. Say,
I've been in at two or three acts like this be-
fore. and centrally notice that at about such a
stage they play that card. the wife and KID
Your real tough citizen don't, nor your real
gent.-they shuts their mouths and takes
what's comm to 'em,-but Mr.. Weakback has
a sudden rush of mem'ry about the folks at
home. and squeals like pup with his tail shut
in the door.
"Ah. say" says l. "cut it out! You ought
to move up to Harlem and learn to pound the
pipes. You're a healthy plunger, you are,
sneakin bonds out of the safe to stack up
against crooked game. and then playln the
baby act when you lose out Come now, amt
that the awful thing that's happened to you!
HE couldn't have opened up freer if he'd been
- put through the third degree. | gets the
story of his life then, with handkerchief ac-
compartments all about the house he's tryln
to buy through the buildin' loan, and the sec
ond hand bubble he wants to splurge on cause
the neighbors have got 'em. and how he was
tipped off to this sure thing in Bitten by
party that had always been friend of his but
couldn't get hold of the stuff to turn the trick
himself. He put in all the fine points, even to the
way he came to have chance at the safe.
IF l could only put them backp' says he,
sighin'.
you'd swipe the whole series, wouldn't your"
If YOU could have heard him tell how good
he'd be you'd think practisin little crooked
work now and then was the only sure way to
learn how to keep straight.
"Piddie," says l, Il don't want to hurt your
feeiin's: but you act to me like weak sister
If was to do what the case calls for, this thing
ought to go to the boss.
"Please don't. Torchyl Please DON'T" says
he, scrabblin down on his hands and knees.
mix on that" says l. This is no carpet
layin' bee. I'm no squealer. anyway: besides
l had little interview with Mrs. Piddie and
the kid this noon and after seem them can't
rub it in like YOU deserve What I've seen and
heard I'm goin' to forget. Now sit up straight
while break the news to you gentle. ! went
down there to-day. just as you told me-
Yes. l know" he groans, squirmin'.
But didn't like the looks of the joint: SO
l didn't dump the bonds. There they
Now see they get back where you found 'em!'
TALK about your halleluiah praise meetin's
Piddie was havin one, all by himself
when the inside door opens and Mr. Robert steps
out of his Office.
IN take care of those bonds Mr.. Piddie, .
says he.
Chez! what sumner! Mr.. Robert had been
in there all the time. writin private letters, and
had took in the whole business
Did he give Piddie the fire on the spot?
Nah! Mr.. Robert carries around frigid por-
tico: but he's got warm spot inside. He says
he's mighty sorry to hear how Piddie'd
come to goin' wrong: but he's glad it turned out
the way it did, and if Piddie'll say how much
they rung him in for on Bitten he'll be happy
to make good right there.
And how much do you guess! A pair of
double X'sl He'd worried himself sick.
worked himself up desp'rate, and had finished
by doin' something that stood to get him put
away for ten or fifteen years-all for forty
bucks
"Piddie,' says I, "for a tinhorn, you're a
wonder! But, say, when you get home to-
night tell that kid of yours want to them
new shoes of his before he gets the toes all
stubbed out.