Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-08-12

let Q0WH, DuL AoC AVAuoSs1 - 1sI-,S-s5
to his excuses. He had directsd the
driver to take them to Mr.. Farley's
home on St. Charles avenue; and
when they reached the number and
the faker saw q splendid residence.
he looked crafty at Poe, who was
successfully posing as gay man.
and sullenly accompanied
him to the door, where Farley himself
admitted them, controlling his sur
prise with evident effort
Hello, Doc!" cried Poe in feigned
hearty goodfellowship, giving the re
served bank president the cue to his
part Il brought fellow along with
a funny bird; General Phillips. he
calls him. Shoots gun and picks
up most anything with that strong
beak of his"
Farley played his part poorly. and
the little Spaniard was warily sus.
picious, acting as though he had seen
Farley before and was afraid OF him.
SHOW him your trick! Have the
General fire the gun!" said Poe, push.
ing the two-dollar bill into the takers
hand, which closed over 1t like q
trap.
The Spaniard sullenly took General
Phillips from his pocket, and repeat
ed the gun-fring stunt.
What do you think OF that for
bird?" queried Poe, looking UP sharp
ly at Farley. whose gaze was fixed
thoughtfully on the parrot.
II don't Just get the connection
he said slowly.
you will in minute" Poe turned
abruptly to the performer. who had
crafty returned the bird to his peck
ct, and was lingering something in
his belt as he chung to his little box
of birds and fortuAe-telling cards.
He edged toward the door, and Poo
asked:
"senor, what do you feed your
birds?"
Seeds" was the sullen reply, AZ
the little fellow tried to open the
door, which Poe had thoughtfally
locked behind him.
What kind?"
why you ask?" cried the Spaniard.
facing about with a snarl
"Oh. I'm interested In the seed
business today. Are they funny lit.
tie white seeds?"
''No, black"
Like these?" asked Poe idly, ex-
hibiting a pinch Of the sample he had
taken from the big bag in the macar
roni box pantry in the old fellows
room.
President Farley stepped back dis
creetly as the little Spaniard dropped
his bird box. thrust his face toward
Poe's, and, wicked little eyes snap
ping, demanded:
Where you get those?"
"Oh, I just brought them along in
case the General became hungry"
said Poe languidly. dropping into his
usual tone Of speech to the great sur
prise Of the Spaniard. and to the re-
lief OF anxious, uncomprehending Mr..
Farley. Those are poppy seeds, the
blue NAV variety, very fine seed for
small parrots, as any bird-seller
around town will tell you. II a man
had thousand-dollar bill, or twenty
of them, he couldn't buy better food
for parrakeets than this"
President Farley started at mention
OF blue NAV poppy seeds. The little
Spaniard. cords standing out in his
neck as he strained up toward Poe,
Kissed through clenched teeth:
What you mean, you devil?"
Nothing. Only when General Phil
lips hurried to obey your order OF
Fire, General!' at the bank this noon.
by pulling the trigger Of the real re.
volver you've got in your left hand
now. and then popping out his head
amid the resulting confusion and
grabbing the bunch Of bills through
the grating as he had been trained to
do, he accidentally spilled two blue
NAV poppy seeds outsof the little feed
box you rugged up in that handy pock-
ct of yours"
There was fash of fire. a loud re-
port. President Farley reeled back
against the wall, and Christopher Poe
threw the little Spaniard suddenly
down on his back. crying:
mo harm done. Farley, you weren't
shot; he fred the gun from his peck
ct. as / expected; the bullet only
took chip out OF that chair. Cut
that telephone cord. and wen tie him
down SO he can't kick while null
OF his boots"
Farley helped as best he could and
inside of two minutes they had the old
faker tied up and his foreign boots
removed.
Poe picked up the pen-knIfe with
which Farley had cut the teIephona
wire, and handed it back to it's owner
indicating the thick sole of the snan.
iard's left boot.
Suppose you rip open those hastily
made stitches in the red Morocco
cum about the top of that shoe ana
see what you find"
With trembling hands Farley did
as directed, Poe placing sfort-leeeed
couch over the struggling, strainine
form OF the Spaniard, effectively hold.
ing him down.
A cry escaped Farley. He held mn
a quivering hand which contained !.