Tombstone epitaph., 1915-08-15

scanty light seepins in through the dusty window, smiled again. dropped it into his pocket, and began a painstaking scrutiny of everything in the small room.
 At length he came to a pair of old Spanish boots with thin red Morocco tops. He struck a match. examined the floor about the shoes. and picked up a handful of leather scrapings and bits of thread. Having finished his examination. he hurried out. locked the door. went downstairs, and hunt. ed up the proprietor of the restau- rant.
 Was the General with the old man when he went out today" he asked
 Yes, of course." answered the res taurant keeper.
 Know where I can find them?" The Frenchman shrugged his shoul- ders and replied. Most anywhere"
 Christopher Poe walked up Decatur street until he reached Canal. keeping sharp lookout for the sleight-of-hand faker with his fortune-telling para keets.
 As he came to the foot of Canal street Poe observed a group about a man standing in front of the Belle of the Bends" boat-landing; he strolled over. and stood looking on idly as bevy of giggling girls clus- tered about wrinkled little old Span iard. dressed in a greenish-black suit. tall boots with faded red Morocco tops. and an odd old felt hat. His smile was warm and sInny as he pet ted his long-tajled parrots. perched above box of smudged. many-col- ored fortune-telling cards on a port. able stand, and invited the girls to step up, lay a nickel in his wrinkled hand. and have one of the pretty birds pick out an envelope for them containing a card on which they would find their fortunes printed. to- gether with the picture of the man | they would marry and the numbers they should play in lottery.
 As the little green birds hopped down at the faker's bidding, jerked out envelopes with their sharp bills. and laid them in the purchaser s hands. Poe became more interested, pushed his way to the front, and paid a nickel for the service of a bird
 Do they do any other tricks?" he asked. having received a card For answer the faker made a cir cle of his thumbs and forefngers. held 1t before one of the tiny parrots. and the bird hoped through grace fully, to the amusement of the gather ing
 Poe. laughed. and handed the faker a quarter. at the same time raising his finger to summon a taxicab driver who had just discharged his fare at the boatlanding and was pulling up his Vacant" flag.
 Got any more tricks?" asked Poe. pointing to a little felt Napoleon hat surmounting a toy cannon tied to one end of the bird perch. Don't some of your birds do a stunt with that?"
 The faker fingered Poe's quarter. and answered quickly:
 T fix it for old trick; bird what dc 1t is sick"
 A bright-faced lad at Poe's side edged forward and explained:
 He sticks that hat on the birds head. and puts a cap in the cannon. and tells the bird to fire the cannon"
 The deuce you say" cried Poe. I'd give a dollar to see that" He produced the money fiashily. acting as though he were slightly iuebriated The faker's eyes glinted as he looked at the bill. He shook his head and Elumbled something unintelligible
 .Oh. come on; I'll bet your bird ain't too sick to perform for a dol. ! lar"
 The faker looked at him sharply | grinned. reached into his pocket brought out a bird somewhat larger than the other. placed 1t on the perch and fitted the comical little military cap to its head
 Poe signaled the taxicab driver. who had drawn up close to the curb, to wait moment. and grinned appre ciatively as the faker stuck a tooth pick under the birds wing for a gur and cried, Attention"
 The bird made a little frightened hop, threw back its wings. perked Its head saucily. and faced the cannon.
 The Spaniard took a small powder cap from his pocket, inserted 1t 1T the toy cannon, which was really 6 boys Fourth of July pistol with tht handle knocked off, held up his hand and with a jaunty little bow ad dressed the bird:
 General Phillips,"
 The bird fiuttered wing in salute and perked its head on the other side The little Spaniards eyes snapped with pride.
 General Phillips," he cried AT you ready?"
 The bird faced about, reached th' cannon in two hops. clutched tn,
 trigger firmly with one claw, an' turned its head toward the faker.
 Fire, General" came the ringinI order.
 The bird braced itself and jerke' back on the trigger. the hammer fel and the audience, greatly delighte with the sharp report that followed , broke into delighted cnuckies as tn bird kopped down. pulled out a fol