The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-06-04

Wy OGdr IISuAIOS
day! And me so busy! busy!"-his
hands lifted toward the papers on the
table-"so busy I can hardly"-an-
other snort, and he relighted his cigar,
putting savagely-"looks like there's
just one fool thing after another in
terruptjng me or absorbing my time!'
Jolly shame, you know!" respond
ed, dropping sympathetically into a
chair. 1 pushed the papers to one
side so I could rest my elbow on the
table edge; besides, saw they were
fretting him-could tell by his glances,
you know.
For another thing, I had got hold
Of devilish shrewd idea wanted to
break to him-about this chap who
was pretending to be his son. re-
membered that che old rascal who
had invaded my rooms had tried to
make me believe that was his bosom
friend.
"Oh, say, you know" began. de-
clining cigar and selecting cigar
cite from my case, 1--WE an ideal"
And faced him impressively.
You've what?"-he Strengthened
forward, with kind of twisted smile
interested, you know-"whatever
makes you think that, sly boy?"
waited, sending long, thin smoke
funnel upward. Kept him expectant,
you see, and gave me time to get hold
of the corners of the jolly thing my,
self. Catch the point? So dev1llsh
important when you have to lift an
idea, don't you know.
Rather fancy your chaps the same
one I know Of" 1 drawled, IAN oldiAh
duffer-white muttonchops-beefy sort
of face-sunburn line and baldish-
all that sort of thing!"
well, by-y-y George!"-he slapped
his hand down. should say that
was a real idea! And you say you
know this crazy fool?''
Crazy? He's not crazy!" 1 ex'
claimed Indignantly, thinking of her
pajamas. "And he's no more fool than
I ami"
He fell back with a grunt. "Oh,
well, know-but-"
He coughed. By Jove, he seemed
disappointed, somehow;
I proceeded calmly: Real truth is.
the beggars a notorious criminal,
known to the police as Foxy Grand
pa-pretends all sorts of things about
people, don't you know"
MY dear Lightnut was star
ing at ne, mouth distended- why
how the devil do you know this?"
inhaled deliberately. "Awfully
simple, don't you know" responded
quietly; and 1 let him wait till l had
blown six rings. Fact is, I'm the
one sent him to Jail"
"You!"-his laugh was frankly
amused, incredulous.
"Oh, yes!"-carelessly-" found the
fellow thieving in my rooms the other
night and called in police-oh, they
recognized him in a minute!"
He looked foored We'll, what do
you think of that?" he murmured SLOW
ly. Then his face flushed and he sat
erect. And so that's all the crazier
the ruffian is-that's the kind of smart
Alex that's been trying to get gay
with me-with mel" He started up,
snorting like war-horse-"Huh!
Well, two can play at that game, and"
his eyes twinkled wrathfully-"I'll
show him who's got the best hand!
I'll just"
The rest trailed off in a mutter. He
had dropped beside the telephone
again. his cigar crushed firmly in the
corner of his mouth, his gray mus
tache, bristling aggressively. I tried
to trace the family resemblance to
Frances, but dashed if 1 could see a
single point. And while l was think
ing of this, he got his number.
Yes, yes" I heard, Il do want to
speak to him personally-this is Judge
Billingsr'-a moment, and then:
Morning, Commissioner-this is Bill
ings. Fine, thank you! E.
Oh, no! No bad effects at all-takes
more than that to throw seasoned
old diner like my What
say?"-a cackling chuckle-'yes,
knew the dinner would loosen him
up! Had his promise before we left
the table; Soakem heard him-so did
Benedict. Yes-oh, yes; he's
got it-had it WITT >Se, you know, in