The Cairo bulletin., 1912-03-26

all that sort OF thing
Well, by,y-y George! he slapped
his hand down. should say that
was real idea And you say you
know this crazy fooi?"
Crazy? He's not crazy" l ex.
claimed Indignantly, thinking OF her
pajamas. And he's no more fool than
| ami"
He fell back with grunt, "Oh.
well. | know-but-''
He coughed. BY Joye. he seemed
disappointed, somehow
| proceeded calln!y: Teal tsnth Ia,
the beggar's d notorious vl.iulnal,
known to the police as Foxy Grand
pa--pretends all sorts OF things about
people, don't you know"
MY dear Lightnut he vas star.
ing at me. nouth distended why
how the devil Go You know this ?"
inhaled deliberate "Awfully
simple, don't you know, respuApeu
quietly and | let him wait till Mad
blown six rings. Tact Is, i'W r,Ine
"You!'-his laugh vas frankly.
amused, hicredulous
oh. yes! car les sly-"iuund the
fellow thieying III my rooms the otaer
night and called In poiice--oA, they
recognized him in a minute"
He looked 1iiouted, well, what do.
you think OF that" he muI1nured slow
ly. Then his face flushed ana he sat
erect. And SO that's all the crazier
the rutiian is that's .he !siAd OF smart
Alex that's been trying to get say
with me-with mel" He started up,
snorting like war Hun!
Well. two can play at that game, and
his eyes twinkled wrathfuiiy-"l'li
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 aggressjyely. | tried
to trace the family resemblance to
Frances, but dashed If | could see a
single point And while 1 was think
ing of this, he got his number.
Yes, yes" heard. Il do want to
speak to him personally-this Is Judge
Billings!"-a moment, and then:
Morning, Commissioner-this is Bill.
ings. Fine, thank you! =.
Oh, no! No bad effects at all-takes
more than that to throw seasoned
old diner like my What
sayY-a cackling chuckle-"yes, l
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 1t with me. you know. In
easel No-o-o, OF course not;
not single line or scrap!"--a lower
drop OF tone-''just in a plain, blank
envelope-best way always. you know.
Yes, that gives US q safe mar
gin In the senate now, not even count
ing upon what they do in commit
tee-and Soakem'll take care of that
end. Yes, he went back to
Albany this morning-he says the
bills safely deader'n Hector now.
Err, by the way, Commission
er,"-the judge cleared his throat and
his voice sobered: Little favor / want
to ask--h'm! I'm being greatly an
noyed by some low vagabond con.
fined at one OF the stations.
Yes, really mean it!--Captain Clutch
ems precinct. you know--and this
rufian insists to them that he's my
SON No, indeed, I'm not 1ok-
Ing at all. e.. All right, you may
laugh, but | fail to appreciate the
funny side, myself--especially now,
you know, when I'm up 10 my neck
In this merger case. HoW's
that! What do | want done? On, I
wouldn't venture to say as to thatl
leave that to you! know.
b. Yes, ! understand all that,
but .. waitwait just min
ute! Now you listen"
The judge "Nacentrated more In
tensely over Instrument.
You know y0n asked me to
do when | saw yJd last highland
refused another voice drop-"with
the mayor, YOU know? Well-now list
en---you make assurance that this
scoundrel win not bother me for thir-
ty days and-well, give you my word
that I'll do all can to bring things
the way you want. Good
. What'll you do with him1
Why, what In Sam Hill do l care what
you do with him? On. put
say, Commissioner, Yes, l do care,
tool"--a laugh here like a jolly bend
II shouldn't like for him to be put
away off in some nice. damp. dark cell
to cool on--hei he! he!--yunder-
stand?"
He got 80 mixed up in his chuckling
and coughing that he couldn't get out
another word for q moment. Then
"Oh, no! Certainly. not; nor one
too hot and airlsss, as you say--he!
he! he! And don't put him--dont put
him" the Judge was gasping for air
now--"don't put him on bread and wa
ter. or anything Of that kind. nor In a
cell with rude, rough men who would
tame his playful spirit--he! hel hsi--
oh, don't do that! What say2
| didn't quite catch" And then, dash
It, It seemed he did catch It. for he