The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-12-08

Buffers and BOOZE" said Strong
Arm Smith. Then for the first time
Hiram Jenkinson's face cleared.
"Boozers and buff," he answered. II
was pass word previously arranged
upon. Then you're all right" said
the countryman, relieved. Il wasn't
going to give myself away until
was sure that you were you and not
! somebody else."
Smith nodded Come this way" he
directed. Silently the three men. the
two sharpers and their victim. wend-
ed their way down side street. 81.
lently they pushed open door and en-
tered dark hallway; silently they
assembled tho stairs. Shifty Shift,
who might be called the silent part
ner of the firm. ushered the three into
q room, vacant except for an old ia
BILE and a chair. They motioned the
countryman to the chair, and he sat
down. Shifty closed the door and
placed his back against 1t.
Suddenly the attitude and bearing
of the two men changed. They ap-
preached the table and laid hands
upon Jenkinson.
Look here, old fellow" they an
nounced. you're under arrest"
Jenkinson leaped to his feet
'W-what!" he gasped.
Strong Arm Smith threw back his
coat and displayed a shield. So did
Shifty Shift.
"The games up, old feller." they
said; we're detectives and we've
watched you all the way up here from
the ferry. We know that you've come
into town to buy some counterfeit coin
cheap, and we've already broken up
the gang that wrote to you, and now
we're looking for you and all your
kind"
Mr.. Jenkinson grew pale. His eyes
started from their sockets. But
but" he exclaimed, desperately.
That's all right" they said, sooth-
ingly; we've got you. You can't deny
that you came on here to commit
crime. and you can't deny that you've
got on you now the document that'll
prove it."
Jenkinson WINGED. The men smiled.
What have you got to say?" they In
quired. Jenkinson squirmed.
Amt there" he inquired. "ain't
there no way out of this here thing"
he asked. Smith and Shifty Shift put
their heads together for a moment
Then Smith addressed the farmer.
Nov, look a-here." said Smith, I'VE
don't want to be too hard on you.
We've caught you all right. But no
body knows 1t. Maybe we can fix 1t
up. How much money have you got?"
Jenkinson, in his agitation, hauled
out roll containing about 5000. They
grabbed it, and counted It. Here"
said one, "I'll tell you. We got to fix
this thing with the captain around
at the station house. You wait here
till we fix it, and then we'll come
around and let you go. But keep quiet
here. or some other cop'll nab you.
See?"
Shifty Shift clapped Smith on the
shoulder. Come on" he said, stuff
ing the roll in his trousers pocket,
well go around to the station house.,
and then We'll come right back"
They turned their backs upon Jenk-
inson. Il hope you can-can fix IT,"
said that gentleman, feebly. They did
not answer. They strobe toward the
door and opened it. They were about
to leave the room, when they heard
from the rear q stentorian voice. /,
Halt" said this voice. They
turned. The voice was Jenkinson's.
And when they turned they found /
looking into the barrels Of /
two revolverS held in the hands Of !
that gentleman. That was one thing |
they noticed shout him. Another was
that his coat was thrown back and
on his breast appeared q shield-one
that they knew was genuine.
You were goin' round" drawled
Mr.. Jenkinson, ITO the station house. /
III come with you. II you don't mind"
"Threes crowd" said Smith, sui.
lenly. F.!
The more the merrier," quoted
Jenkinson. So all three went. Two
walked in front: Jenkfnson and the
revofvers walked behind. The cap.
tain welcomed them in slee. Good"
said the captain, have you roped EN-
In at last?"
Il have" said Jenknson, solemnly.
whats the charger went on the
captain.
Suspicious characters" answered
JenkinsOn. The captains brow cloud.