The Washington herald., 1911-06-04

ia, ma, ha! laughed Burt triumphantly.
thought I'd wake you up, old sober -sides!"
oh, Burt, pleaded Tim, don't keep me
in suspense"
MIN, said Hungry Joe, with a great appear.
anee of interest, that he was a gentleman in
disguise"
Burt took this interruption in very poor
grace.
Nooody VIII ever suspect you of being a
gentleman, he>said, buntly. Now, you Just
Keep quiet, and don't speak until you're spok-
en- to-"
The tramp took the rebuff meekly, being
well used to that sort OF medicine.
All right, pardner," he said, blandly,
NUNS the word. Another cup of coffee.
waiter"
IL am sorry to say, Tm," continued Burt,
That l haven't much to tell, and that little
Is not satisfactory. Father says that Abner
seemed to know more than he told, and the
most he could get out of him was that some
you" '
MY father?"
7. don don't know. Have patience, can't you!
sunday when you knocked him down"
never knocked him down"
wen, everybody thinks you did, 30 10
makes no difference. Anyhow, he got let
Yer, and when you-well, talked back TO him,
ne ne ds naGRt % read It, for the simple reason that
81 know that. Then how did you find
Patience, my boy. Betsy can read, and,
al.er tae row. when she had enticed the old
scamp scan 10 BED, she found the letter where it
m had iallen from his pocket, and she read il.
Inc contents surprised her so much that she
routed Abner out at daylight, or lust about
the Tune you were taking French leave, and
read 1t to him. He was in turn 80 much sur
prised or exasperated. don't know which.
that he jumped out of bed and gave chase
ne didn catch you, as you know, and that
brought him over TO see father"
For what purpose?"
mat the stran2est part of it. He wanted
iather 70 get out of me where you were hid
den, and write to you, begging you to come
home, rightly thinking that you would be
more apt to pay attention to a letter from
father than any one else. But the scheme fell
through-hrst,, because l didn't know where
you were; and second, because father refused
tn have anything 20 do with the matter, ex-
cept TO express his opinion that you were in
the right, and to order Abner out of the
house" -
Did he do that asked Tim, doubtfuy -
said that if wanted to take run down to
the city, he would make no objections OF
course, l jumped at the chance, and | came
to the city last night and before / left l
heard to my surprise that Abner had taken
the tram at 10 OF clock in the morning"
Yes, | know" said Tim, hastily 81 met
him today, and it seems very strange that he
didn't tell me about that letter. He was
anxious to have me 60 back with him, but
gave no reason except that he was sorry. So
that IL all you know of the mystery?"
Every word; but | will know more.
came down for the express purpose of doggng
that old sharper"
You followed him."
No. said Burt, dryly. 81 lost him the
very first clip, and it was Just by the merest
piece of luck that l caught sight Of him roam.
ing around the wharf, and, while was keep
ing him in sight, stumbled against this gen
tieman, who seems to know you pretty well on
short acquaintance"
As the poet says, we have met BEFORE"
put in the tramp, with broad grin.
Twice, ! believe said Tim, severely.
"Oho!' cried Burt. keenly. Il imagined
that all was not serene. But never mind that
just now. He has acted very well in this
affair, Tim, III say that. When | met him
also been watching Abner"
"lndeed!' exclaimed Tim
wrong said Joe, cOmplacently. 81 was
watching you. Don't ask me why, for III
never tell saw you having that little scrim-
mage with the gentleman from the country,
girL
"You know him."
"Wcll, no-not to speak to- Then, when
J saw this young gent prowling around after
the gentleman from the country, braced up
to him"
did what" asked Tim, in surprise.
Burt laughed merrily.
"He means that he spoke to me, and In
short time we came to an understanding.
From his description | recognized you, and
we fingered around the Spaniard's place for
quite time, waiting for you to come out.
AZ you are aware, you didn't come, and after
awhile | sent Joe in to reconnoitre, and he
came out with the information that you were
a prisoner"
How did you find that out?' asked Tim,
suspicously.
IL don't know" replied the tramp, with an
Innocent look. 81 expect l must be born
,l,ta,