The daily Alaskan., 1915-03-29
A Popinjay
 By MARGARET C. DEvEREAUx

Two men were standing on a street corner chatting. They were both crooks. though professionally they had no connection. A dapper young fel- low who looked as if he had just come out of bandbox passed them.
 "Who Is that guy?' asked one crook.
 "Histr' said ethe other, and waited till the young man tad got beyond hearing; then he added: That's Pin kerton. run across him onct He's the slickest in the business I'd know him through any makeup
 "What's he doin' here?" asked the other neryously.
 "I reckon he's workin' on the Tenth National bank business. I've been let into it that the best men In the Pinker' Iton service are on that case.
 "Come off, Tom; you're coddin me"
 You needn't believe me, Fill. if you don't want to. I've only given you what think anyway"
 The crook who had received this in. formation tried to look unconcerned, but the other noticed that he was very much concerned. Bill walked away, and Tom looked after him with evident lamusement. What sucker! he said to himself "l believe he had something to do with that bank job or he wouldn't have bit so student. Hes n green one. The idea O that popll- iay bein' detective!' And he smoth cred laugh.
 That same afternoon Bill met the popinjay again on the street. Bill looked at him so hard that hc attracted the others attention. This was prob ably the reason why he looked hard at Bill. At any rate Bill shuddered ana passed on. ..
 He's on to me, surer' he muttered .T wonder If l could get out O town without his knowln' 1t I'm goin to try makeup"
 When the ' o'clock train pulled out of the station an elderly countryman with a pair of old fashioned green gog gles on his nose sat in seat by him. self looking as If he had just come from the having field. The door at the front end of the car opened. and WHO should come in but the popinjay. The only scat vacant was by the farmer md the newcomer took 1t, The farm- CTS eyes being covered by the goggles and the lower part of his face by a long white beard. no one could see the contortions of his countenance. fres- ently he pulled himself together and I said in a low tone to the man beside him:
 What is there in it for me If give up the stuff?'
 "What stuff?" asked the other. sur. prised.
 "Oh, I'm on to you same as you're on to me. No need O fencin'. If put you on to where the money is hid Will you let me out O the game"
 The stranger turned, looked the sneaker full in the face, surprise curl osity. craft and q number of other eX- pressions struggling for the mastery Finally he said:
 Gan you turn 1t over without the matter leaking out"
 "I can." rsr
 Do you want to go anywhere" @
 Reckon I'd like to try South Amer lea for awhile"
 "How much would you need?"
 How much can you let me haveT
 How much money have you to turn over"
 "All that was taken"
 The popinjay was stalled. He didn't like to ask what he was supposed to know. He concluded to take a risk.
 Would five hundred doF
 If you can't do any better"
 "Very we'll. Where do we get off.
 At Winchester"
 There was no further conversation between the two till they reached Win, chester, where they left the train to- gether.
 "FarT' asked the popinjay as they stood on the platform. >
 About two miles,
 "Cabr'
 A station cabman drove up: the two got in and were driven beyond the out skirts of the town, stopping at small house in bad repair. A woman came to the door, followed by several chil- dren whose faces peered from behind her. The crook had thrown off his dis guise while in the cab and appeared AS himself. The woman looked from one man to the other anxiously. Bill said to her: i've got tired O this business. I'm goin' to give up the stuff and take you and the children to new country to make a new beginnin'."
 I'm mighty glad O that" gasped the woman. "Im dyin' with this load on me-"
 Going into the house, Bill went to the cellar and brought up package. which be handed to the popinjay. who open ed 1t and, finding number of bank bills, counted out a thousand dollars and handed It back to Bill.
 q thought you made 1t $500"
 q didn't know you were going to begin over with your wife and chil' dren. There's $500 for you and $500 | for them. I'm no detective. You gave yourself away to me needlessly. Our meeting on the train was a coinci