Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-06-21

around like you had Q pain" Then
ne went right on:
Say, did you ever see anything 80
corking ine?" He looked up. holding
the ruby in the light. And TO think
how little / dreamed OF scoopins any
thing like that when l came in here
tonight"
By Jove, this was q little too much,
ever for an easy-going chap like my
self! The jolly worm will turn. you
know.
Dash me, before I knew what l was
doing even. I had moved 10 his side
and jerked the ruby from his hand.
MY face felt like q hot.water bottle az
| did 1t.
You haven't got It yet" | said.
"and I'll take devilish good care you
don't get it,"
He fell back as though from . blow.
"Why-why. old chap! Why. Light
mutt" he gasped. Whats the mat
ter-what makes you look ct me like
that"
Your liberties have gone Just q bit
too far, don't you know" l said, look
Ing steadily In his fishy old eye. i've
had enough Of you, by Jove. that's
ALI"
He stared at me, and | could hear
him breathing like a blacksmith's bel
lows. l would never have thought he
had such lungs.
Slowly his hand came out. and dash
me II 1t wasn't shaking like he had
tie delirium what's-its-name. But for
bis tan, his face would have been as
white as his hypocritical old whiskers.
rs this some internal joker" His
face summoned a sickly smile that al
most instantly faded. His hand fell
back to his side. Why, old fellow,
you don't think that way about me, do
you? AS for the ruby, Il don't want
It now-I just want you to accept my
apology for anything I've done. and
and let me get away"
There was a short laugh from the
doorway.
Likely enough" said Officer
O'Keefe, his big figure swinging for.
ward with long strides. Keep him
covered, Tint"
.4ys planted himself between us with
a grin.
You're It again, Foxy! Jig's up.
VIII you go quietly?"
It did me good to see how complete,
ly the old scoundrel was taken back.
His wide distended bleary eyes shift
ed from O'Keefe to me and back again.
It was a perfect surprise.
/ motioned to jenkins to close the
door Of my friends bedroom, So far,
he had evidently slept serenely
through all the trouble, and, II pos
sible, I wanted to avoid arousing him
now. For a fat man, Billings had the
deuce of a temper when stirred up
over anything like an imposition upon
him, and 1t would only add to the con.
fusion for him to appear on the scene
and learn about his wallet and his
treasured ruby that l had rescued.
Foxy Grandpa's face had been rap
idly undergoing a change. From pal
Tor to pink 1t went; and then from
pink to red. Now 1t was becoming
scarlet. He threw his head back and
faced me angrily.
"Lightnut, will you>tell me what the
hell this means?" And his heavy voice
Numbered.
Here! Here! ThatIl be enough
o. that" cried officer O'Keefe sharp
ly. None Of your grandstand play
here, or it'll be the worse for you.
And no tricks, Braxton, Or"
He clutched his stick menacingly.
"Braxton!" snorted the old fellow.
why, you born fool, my names not
Braxton!"
mot now" grinned O'Keefe. Say,
what is your name now, Foxy"
my name" roared Foxy Grandpa,
lii paused abruptly. ne ioOhou ain
er blankly from one officer to the
other.
See here; do | understand I'm I'M
der arrest?" he inquired.
"You certainly are talking, Foxy"
chuckled O'Keefe.
"Then my names Doe-John Doe"
and | thought the fellows quick glance
at me held an appeal. or what sort,
I had no idea.
And what, may | ask, is the
charger" he asked again, with what
was apparently a great effort at calm
ness.
(TO BE CoNTINUED.)
II Grows NIcotIneless Tobacco.