The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-13
"MiSSing"-A Short Story
By RONALD DAVIS

and honest indignation that Ted was
completely deceived.
That's ard luck, BILL said Ned.
"'Tain't as II you had a spare room
like us. S'pose it's no good offerin' to
take him over?'
Bill stifled a laugh and shook his
head. Thanks. all the same Ted" he
said. "but wouldn't like to bother
your missis with i'm. Sides e owes
me a bit for keep"
WELL" said Ted, trying to appear
unconcerned. Il might advance you
few bob for that and put 1t on is
bill with us. II you care to send i'm
over. Don't matter to me, only my
missis is always a cryin' out for a
ledger. Well, never mind, I dare say
~
The change was made. Ted gener-
ously conceding five shillngs for
Spoilers board and lodging, and then
set out to get the 20 pounds.
But there he soon received check
Hopper street, where the investigator
lived, was not to be found. Nobody
had heard of it, nor of Guy Chambers
And when Ted tried to trace Mr.. Hall
Cuff one or two smart people pointed
out the humorous nature of the name
and address. Perhaps 1t was lucky
for Spoofer that he was not in when
Ted returned home, and that he did
not reappear
But it was not so lucky for Harry
xryH hnl in q
Spoofer had recognized Harry as q
third party in the coffee house, and
feeling that Te1s methods were no,
quite to his liking decided on q
change.
'Matey," he said, stopping Harry
in the street. I'm poor and at read
ing, but b,lieve this printin' is some
think about me. Would you mind g
lookin' at it,"
Harry's eyes bulged as he read Of
the reward.
Where are you Twin old pal?' he
asked.
"Nowheres," said Spoofer miserably
Come and share my room, while
look and see II l can do you a bit O
good"
Spoofer accepted this offer and Harr!
with an eye of doing himself a bit o
good, set about to find Mr.. Hal Cuff.
BILL said Harry, producing the ad
vertisement on the next evening a
the Albert Coffee Rooms, "wot d'y'
make Of that, old man."
II should like to meet i'm" sait
Bill, who had missed briar pipe.
Same ERE" said Ted.
Els round at my 'ouse," said Har
ry. "Wot do you say to 'aving a hca
with linz"
The trio arrived Just as Spoofer, will
bag of Harry's belongings, wa
about to take French leave. He pu
the bag down sheepishly.
Come on" said Harry, with a grin
well take i'm along to Guy Fawkes
Chambers"
After a short procession they halle,
before an i'll lighted public house b,
the riverside.
Ere we arev said Bill. e onl.
wants some tattoo marks on the bacl
and is left foot put in the fire. des
say we can manage that little Bit
+. The next minute Spoofer was strug
Cling with three enthusiasts intent o.
depriving him of his clothes.
"Lemme go.' he yelled "Police!'
Put him in deep. AIRY" said Ted
chuckling as Harry proceeded to in
scribe a substitute for the tattoo mark
on Spoilers back with a cane, ''I'l
drop into the bar and get this penn
I 'ot ready for is. ELL
Before the frolicsome Ted could re
turn Spoofer broke away and rar
Holly pursued, he missed his footin
on a barge and pumped into the mud
dy shadows of the river. A few SEX
onds later the flash of a bulls eye al
peared, and three dark figures took
hasty departure. It was very mudd
Spoofer that crept back to gather u
the remains of a nautical uniform.