The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1912-03-18
q .HeAdbnfues Of
AVERAGE JONES
Gentleman Detec11Ne
6l1&gySAhUlH OPnlDADAlD
>Sf0pYRldnT 1911 ME eoBBo- ntRnu COMPANY.

one other thing. A huge, easy
armchair from Carruthers and
Company, mighty luxurious fir an
eight-dollar ledger.
did he take that with him
asked Average Jones.
mo. After he had been here
while he had a man come in and
box it up. He must have sent it
away. but | never saw it CO."
Was this before or after the
trombone pleyers Gamer"
Long after. 1t was after he
had picked out his man and had
him up here practicing."
"Did-er-you ever-er-see
this musician" drawled Average
Jones in the sliw tones of his pc
culiar excitement.
Bless you, yes! Talked with
What was he like?"
He was stupid old German.
| always thought he was a sort of
natural"
"Yes?" Average Jones peered
out of the window. lis this the
man, coming up the street,"
1t surely is,' said the old lady.
Now, Mister Jones, If he COM
mences his blaring and blatting
and"
"There'll be no more music,
ma'am," promised the young man,
laughing, as she went to answer
the door-bell.
The musician, ushered in, look
ed about him, an expression of be-
wildered and childish surprise on
his rabbit-like face.
81 am Schlichting," he murmur-
ed; II come to play the B-flat
trombone"
Glad to see you, Mr.. Schlicht-
ing" said Average Jones, leading
the way upstairs. "Sit down."
The visitor put his trombone
down and shook his head with con-
viction.
1T ISIS the same room, yes," he
observed. But it ISIS not the same
gent, no."
you expected to find Mr.. Ran
som here?"
II don't know Mr.. Ransom. i
know only to play the B-flat from
BONE
"Mr. Ransom, the gentleman
who employed you to play in the
street in Brooklyn"
Mr.. Schlichting made large and
expansive gestures. ut ISIS a.
pleasure to play for such a gent
he said warmly. 1.-TWO dodars a.
day."
You have played often in Ken
nard Street "
II don't know Kennard Street.
l know only to play the B-flat
trombone"
"Kennard Street. In Brooklyn.
Where the fat gentleman told you
to stop, and fell out of the win
dow"
A look Of fear overspread the
worn and innocent face.
II don't go there no more. The
police, they take me-"
But you had gone there be-
fore -
Not to play; no."
mot to play? Are you sure?"
The German considered pain
fully. There vass no feet in the
window" he explained, brighten
ing.
Upon that surprising phrase Az
erage Jones pondered. You were
not to play unless there were feet
in the window" he said at length.
WAS that it,"
The musician assented.
ut does look like a signal to
show that Under was in" unused
the interrogation. do you know
Mr.. Linder?"
Il don't know nothing only to
play the B-flat trombone, replied
the other patiently.
Now, Schlitchting," said Aver
age Jones, there is a dollar. Every
evening you must come here.
Whether l am here or not, there
will be a dollar for you. Do you
understand"
By answer the German reached
down and lifted his instrument to
his lips.
mo, not that" forbade Average
Jones. Put 1t down."
mot to play my B-flat from
bone?" asked the other, inno-
Gently hurt. The other gent he
make me play here always"
HE did," drawled Average
Jones. and he-er-listened 81
"He listened from out there"
The musician pointed to the other
room.