Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1912-07-11

OF face-sunburn line and baldish--
all that sort of thing"
We'll, by.y-y George!"-he slapped
was a real idea! And you say you
know this crazy fool?'
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 a grunt. "Oh,
well, know-but-"
He coughed. BY Jove, he seemed
disappointed, somehow;
proceeded calmly: Real truth Is,
the beggar's 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"-he was star
ing at me, mouth distended-"why-
how the devil do you know this?"
inhaled deliberately. "Awfully
simple, don't you know" responded
uietly; and l let him wait till had
blown six rings. Fact is, I'm the
one sent him to jail"
"You!"-his laugh was frankly
amused, incredulous.
"Oh, arelessly-"found the
fellow thieving in my rooms the other
night and called in police-oh, they
recognized him in a minute!"
He looked floored. 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 a war-horse-"Huh!
Well, two can play at that game, and"
his eyes twinkled wrathfully-"IIl
show him who's got the best hand!
I'll just"
had dropped beside the telephone
again. his cigar crushed firmly in the
corner of his mouth, his gray mus
tache bristling aggressively. l tried
to trace the family resemblance to
Frances, but dashed if could see a
single point. And while I was think
ing of this, he got his number.
Yes, yes" l 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!
Ob no! No bad effects at all-takes
more than that to throw a 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 1t with me, you know, in
case! No-o-o, Of course not;
not single line OF scrap!'-a lower
drop OF tone-"just in a plain, blank
envelope-best way always, you know.
Yes, that gives us a 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 l want
to ask-h'm! I'm being greatly an
noyed by some low vagabond con.
fined at one Of the stations. i
Yes. I really mean it!-Captain Clutch
ems precinct, you know-and this
son. No, indeed, I'm not jok- |
ing at all. All right, you may
laugh, but I fail to appreciate the |
funny side, myseh-especially now, |
you know, when I'm up to my neck |
in this merger case. How's |
that! What do l want done? Oh, |
wouldn't venture to say as to that! |
I leave that to you! know. |
Yes, understand all that, |
but wait-wait just a min
ute! Now you listen"
The judge concentrated more in
tensely over the instrument.
You know what you asked me to
do when saw you last highland
refused"-another voice drop-"with |
the mayor, you know? Well-now list |
en-you make assurance that this
scoundrel will not bother me for thir-
ty days and-well, give you my word
that I'll do all l can to bring things |
the way you want. Good!
Whatn you do with him?
Why, what in Sam Hill do care what
you do with him? Oh, but
say, Commissioner, yes, do care.
too!"-a laugh here like jolly tiend
II shouldn't like for him to be put
away of in some nice. damp, dark cell
to cecil off-he! he! he!-y'under-
atand1D