The Washington herald., 1910-10-13
Herbert jameson in the Baltimore Star.
..SOmebodN 10 see Won. sir"

day He turned GROSSLY to the clerk who
had made the announcement.
ASK him 70 come back in the morning,
Jones"
Il suggested that, sir, but he says it's
very important and he must see you to-
day"
"Well, can't Mr.. Simmons
He must see you personally. he says,
sir, because his business is private and
confidential
Tufnell drummed irritably with his pa
per knife on the table.
SHOW him up, Jones. in a couple OF
minutes"
For the sake Of the credit Of the Mitre
Insurance Company. TufnelI never saw
client with too great precipitation.
! This visit was untimely. In a little over
/ half an hour Tufnell had an important
meeting at the Elysium Theater. over the
/ destinies he. as head OF the syndicate rul-
ing that temple Of dramatic art exer-
cised full control Few people knew
that Tufnell, in addition 10 managing the
affairs Of the Mire Insurance Company
was the ruling genius of the Elysium
/ Theater. which, thanks 10 his able finan-
1 cial control. had become handsomely
I paying concern.
A cough at the door aroused Tufnell':
attention The door had closed behind
his visisr
Tufnell started II he bad had previou:
| sight Of his caller he would have Ger
tainly declined 10 see him. OF all the
murderoUs looking ruffans, What in the
world was Jones about in admitting him
Tufnell switched on the electric light
Somehow one felt safer in a good ligh
with a man like this. But the brighter
illumination showed that the fellow wa:
| even more unprepossessing than. Tufnel
/ supposed \ narrow forehead swept by
a turf Of plas;ered hair; furtive dissi
pated eyes. a dirty. unshaven face. Z
/ scOWIng mouth, a grimy scarf tina
did duty for a collar. and the dingies
suit Of old clothes, such was the unsavor!
visitor.
My dear fellow. I've nothing whateve
TO give YOU" said TufneH, half rising.
who's a-askin' yer TO give anythin p
returned a hoarse. cultural voice tina
made him collapse into his chair again.
The manager waved feeble hand L
his paper-strewn desk.
Excuse me. but I'm very busy Onll
a matter OF business can ! possibly con
sent"
Look ere, guv'nor this ere is biz
ness" and grimy hand flung GRIM
bit of pastebOard on 10 the table
That's my name"
The name which Tufnen bent to rea,
for he would not soil his fingers b,
touching the card-was not enlightening
II was William Sykes" written in exc
cradle handwriting. There was no ad
dress.
Please state your business, MI
! sykes" snapped the manager
Wal. I want 10 insure gainst this 'er
moo act that came in last summer-wo
do you call it,"
Il suppose you mean the workmen'
compensation act?"
That's H. Wot a blessing 10 ave
memory FOR long names,'
But ! think you've made a mistake"
"Mistook?'
It's the employer. not the employee
the man employed, you UNDERSTANDABLE
needs TO insure"
Lock ere, gov'ner; d'you want 10 'ur
, me feelin's? That's not the way TO begil
20 do business. as that soft-faced biloxi
wot let me in could tell you. I'll ALLOW
, I've not got on my Sunday toys. but n
as properly got up for my profession a
. you is for yours Now. Wot would yo
guess mine ls?'
I haven't the TemOtest idea"
Wal, you're not a copper so I'll Civ
= you a tidy cue The visitor put on III
cap which ne had been holding in hi
, hand, and rammed it well down owe
forehead and ears. There. gov ner, VIC
do I look Ike MOVE"
If II isn't hurting your feelings. Nj
Sykes, I should say-er-er YOU look like
only ike. mind. one Of the house-break
. ing fraternity"
"Go up top Got it fust time, That
what I am, guvnor- burglar" and h
looked around with a malicious leer.
Tufnell glanced at the open safe at tn
farther end OF the room. The cash DO
was visible. II he could only manage {
swing to the iron door before this vii
. lain
"AlI right, guvnor. keep your min
easy. Dyou think Ia take up a soft 10
like that? I'm ere To do fair and squar
bizness to-day. I'm a burglar. as I sal
afore: but I'm a cut above that. I'm
master burglar"
Tufneu, who was growing exceedingl
nervous, remembered TO have read some
where that the best methods OF dealin
with lunatics was to humor them-peI
haps burglars fell into the same cate
CORY.
"Of course" he said, with a sicK
smile An burglars are"
: The visitors mouth took on an ugl
twist
Il say, d'you mean to cheek me. or
It just your hignorance?"
"Oh. I seer" stammered Tufnel
plunging more hopelessly into the quag
mire. Just your little joke, eh, MI
Sykes"
NO it's not my little joke" imitatin
the managers Cycling tone 10 the lif,
when I say I'm a master burglar an
not the born fool you take me for. "
got six men under me, six men as 7 Civ
regular work to in the burglary line, an
it's them chaps I mean 10 cover gains
this rotten act"
Fer a moment Tufnell held his hands L
his Keeling head. In the whole course o
his life he had never been confronted wit
such an extraordinary situation. Prob
ably his safest tactics would be those o
light pleasantly.
MOVING, PACKING & STORING.
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