The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-10-22
"They're right peart lot" assented

| IneV>re right peart lot. aSSented !
the official driver. as the muscular hoy |
approached with the last trunk. Some
Of ems been in the council fifteen year
I've held office twelve year myself Do
you know how much money there is in
the city treasury"
"l'll bite" consented Wallingford
"What's the answer?"
Nigh on to $l00,O00r' proudly stated
the citizen.
"And what might your business be?'
asked the Office holder, looking back
with cordial interest
"Hush"' warned Blackie in hoarse
whisper, and. leaning forward. he con.
ided. I'VE are detectives"
"You don't say sol" responded the
shocked driver in the same breathless
fashion. who are you after?"
maybe you can help us" went on
Blackie solemnly. though wincing from
the pain Of vigorous kick that Wal.
lingford had secretly administered.
do anything can for you." offered
the driver SO hastily that he forgot to
whisper. II don't reckon there's any.
body in town better posted than me-"
"Being an official suspector. l sus
pected as much" returned Blackie.
keenly interested. "There is a man in
this town who goes away every little
while. and no one knows where he
goes or why"
Henry Closby," affirmed the driver
with promptness that shocked Black.
lie. for he had only talked at whimsical
random. forgetting that in every town
there is at least one man whose unex-
planned goings and comings are an ag-
gravation and an insult
Describe that man." demanded
Blackie.
WELL" obeyed the driver carefully
and accurately. "Henry Closby is a
bachelor. about Eve foot nine, fair to
middlin'. heavy set, dresses like a
dude, has pink face. wears fancy
,, eyeglasses. with little dingus like
spring tapemeasure to wind up the
string; has blue eyes and shiny black
hair and beard and mustache He
keeps the general store"
mot the party" declared Blackie
dejectedly and with an honest impulse
!. to clear the unknown Closby from un.
just suspicion. Then bis whimsical
nature came uppermost again, and in
spite of himself he added. "Unless he
DISCUSSES"
"By jinks. never thought of that"
= exclaimed the driver. struck by the
startling supposition. "Whiskers is
= the easiest disguise there is l reckon"
ut isn't the man." hastily insisted
fnr !,
: ing persisted in harming total stran-
ger. lis it, Jim?"
|. mo-" snapped Wallingford. strug.
u Cling between amusement and annoy.
ance. 1.-The man we're after is small
l. and skinny"
d The driver was silently thoughtful
for three full blocks. "Well, Henry
r. Closby might be padded up," he sagely
q concluded.
/ Opposite the hotel stood the court.
house. a Greek temple with x-sanded
wooden columns. Down the steps and
back into the portico had been sloped
warped and rickety wooden grand
stand. Along the two sides of the
square. stretching in front of the hit.
q and miss board sidewalks. from the
e hotel to the courthouse. stood perma
e nent booths, which were now providing
= Indigestion and amusement to the Wis
itors from the resorts in the surround
!" ing hills.
s "Come on, Jim: let's join the festiv1
ties," urged Blackie.
, Lets finish our dinner" implored
n Wallingford. who was heavy afte
meals.
"I've got little information to-
- you" Wallingford turned and found
STOPPING to sit beside him. fat faced
10 thin old man with big silk bow at hi
w. collar. He put his hairy foreAnger o
- Wallingford's knee for impressivenesl
- "Henry Closby goes to Chicago. but b
- gets his letters from New York.
=, reckon that's queer"
~ II don't know Mr.. Closby." returne
'e Wallingford uncomfortably and with
vicious glance at Blackie.
'e Certainly not" agreed the nativ'
&c with sly smile and tap OF bis fnge
~ Wallingford moved his knee. but th
'e finger followed. "That's the troub
H. with Henry Closby. Nobody know
him. Now, I'm the postmaster and
ar member of the city council, and
lg reckon know more about folks tina
10 any man in this town."
IN Wallingford suddenly gripped tt
a postmaster by the hand, and his b
IN pink face radiated with pleasure.
1.-THE very man ! wished to meet"
he heartily asserted. won't you have
cd cigar with me?'
be much Obliged" accepted the pos
st. master, putting the cigar in his poke
ad II don't smoke. but my brother Enoe
,st does. He's member Of the city cou
~. Gil. too. and runs the livery. feed an
is sale stable and undertaking establis
he ment.'
present my compliments to you