Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-11-20

TITS yours If you will do me a
small favor"
IF 1t doesn't get me mixed up with
the police. I'm only captain OF a
tramp; and some Of the harbor police
have taken a dislike to me. What do
you want me to dot"
1.-THE police will not bother you. This
man Hargreave had some enemies;
they want either his life or his money;
maybe both. It is a. peculiar case, with
Russia in the background. He might
have laid the whole business before
the police, but he chose to fight it out
himself. And to tell the truth, 1 don't
believe the police would have done
, any good"
"Heave her over; what do you want
me to do for that handsome roll of
money!"
IF any man or woman who is not a
reporter comes to pump You tell them
the man went ashore with a packet un-
der his arm"
"Tie a knot in that"
Say that the man was gray haired,
clean shaven. straight, with a seal
high up on his forehead, generally COW
cred up by his hair"
That's battened down, my had. Go
on"
Say that you saw him enter yonder
warehouse, and later depart without
his packet"
Easy as dropping my madhook."
That's an" Norton gave the cap
tain the money. "Good-by and many
thanks"
Don't mention it."
Norton left the slip and proceeded to
the office of the warehouse. He ap-
preached the managers desk
Hello. Grannis, old top!"
The man looked up from his work
surlily. Then his face frightened.
Norton? What's brought you here?
o. yes; that balloon business. Sit
down"
What kind of q man is the captain
of hat old hooker In the slip?'.
"Shifty in gun running, but other
wise a. square as a die. Looks funny
to see an old tub like that fixed up
with wireless; but that has saved his
neck a dozen times when he was run
ming it into a loose Not going to in
tervfew me, are you?"
mo. I'm going to ask you to do me
a little favor"
They always say that. But spin
her out. II it doesn't cost me my job,
it's yours"
well, there will be a person MAX
ing inquiries about the mysterious
aeronaut. ALL I want you to say is,
that he left a packet with you, that
you've put it in that safe till he calls
to claim it."
Grannis nibbled the end of his pen.
Suppose some one should come and
demand that I open the safe and de-
liver?"
~All you've got to do is to tell them
to show the receipt signed by you"
The warehouse manager laughed.
Got a lot of sense In that ivory dome
of yours. All right But If anything
happens you've got to come around
and back me up. What's it about?"
THAT / dare not tell you. This
much, I'm laying a trap and l want
some one I don't know to fall into it"
'On your way, James. But if you
don't send me some prize fight tickets
next week for this, I'll never do you
another favor{'
In reply Norton took from his pocket
two bits of pasteboard and laid them
ON the desk. Il knew you'd be want
ing something like this,
"Ringsides" cried Grannis. You re-
porters are lucky devils!"
%Td go myself IL there was any
earthly chance of a real SCRAP You
make me laugh. Gran. You're always
going, always hoping the next one will
be a real one. But it's all bunk. The
pugs are the biggest takers on top the
sod. They've got US newspaper men
done to a frazzle."
81 guess you're right. Well, count
on me regarding that mysterious
bundle in the safe"
cat three O'Clock this afternoon |
want you to call me up. IF no one has
called, why the game is up. But If
some one does come around and make
inquiries, don't fail to let me know"
AaIH be here till FIVE. I'd better call
you up then"
Then Norton returned home and
idled about till afternoon. He went
over to Riverda1e. Five times be
walked up and down the front of the
Hargreave place, finally plucked up
his courage and walked to the door.
After all, he was a lucky mortal He
had a good excuse to visit this house
every day in the week. And there was
something tantalizing in the risk he
took Besides, he wanted to prove to
himself whether it "a a passing fancy
or something deeper. Thak's the way
with humans; we never see a sign
Fresh Paint" that we don't have to
prove It.
He chatted with Florence for a
while and found that, for all she might
be g~uileless to the world, she was a
good linguist, a fine musician, and
talked with remarkable keenness
about books and arts. Bat unless he
reused her, the sadness of her position
always lay written in her face. 1t was
not difficult for him to conjure up her
dreams in coming to the city and the
blow which, like. a bolt Of lightning
from a clear sky, had shattered them
~ruthlessly.
You must come every day and tell
me how you have progressed" she
said.
"IN obey that order gladly, when.
ever I can possibly do 1t. My visits
will always be short"
THAT is not necessary"
NO." said Norton in his heart, but
it is WISE"
AlMaus he fnnnd Innoc waitinu for