The Washington times., 1915-11-28
<fTRuNK- CHECKS" demanded a
- muscuisr-faced boy. as he de-
posited the hand-luggagc of
the two travellers in the faded

BOe Dub.
sBe careful Of that black wardrobe"
warned J. Rufus Wallingford. Il think
there's a hinge loose
IAN right" answered the boy. deeply
Grieved. "I'll write that on my re-
port
lie was embellished with a green band
on his faded blue CAP: a yellow banded
man. with ladder under his arm.
crossed the station platform and fixed
an electric light bulb.
Il know: II 9 comic OPERA" guessed
Wallinsford. "Who wants to read
about my trunk hinge?'
The Spanglerville city council. I'm
the Official baGgage-carrler," and he
c,amped away.
Don't YOU get t?" laughed Blackie
Daw. "''Tis a political lob. The other
one Is the official bulb-iixer. and here
comes the official bus-driver. I've seen
municipal ownership towns. Jim. but
this one must be the limit"
That means there isn't live dollar
In the burg" regretted wallingford.
and. with some disfavor. he viewed the
approach of the official bus-driver, who
wore a blue band on his cap. ana car.
ried a grin full Of holes. "rm afraid
time"
Good evening. gents" hailed the
tooth-shy officer. Il got two good seats
left In the grandstand." and he pro-
duced pair OF faded blue pastcboa rds
from which the printing had long since
worn awav. II reckon most OF the
councilmen have sold their regular seats
py this time. but these is good: front
row: right next to the official box"
were In luck. jim" declared Blackie.
inspecting the Dencled numbers on the
tickets. and slipping them into his
pocket 81 was afraid we wouldn't get
seats at all. BY the way. sergeant,
what are they for?"
.,hy. don't YOU know" inquired the
driver In surprise. IT'S the regular
Saturday night festival. why, people
come from miles around. from all these
summer resorts and health-cures. to
see the fireworks. The city council
whole courthouse steps is covered with
and summer"
Don't people ever have business in
the courthouse?" asked Wallingford
The driver paused to help the luggage
carrier lift trunk on top Of the bus.
Ihey go In by the back door," he
briefly explained.
DO we get ice cream cones:" de-
msnded Blacki..
ofhcer largely. The city council amt
overlookin' any chances"
They must be the leading industry"
surmised Wallingford
10y 20 isht pert lOt, ahbenteO
the official driver. az the muscular boy
approached with the last trunk Some
OF ems been In the council fifteeI
S;s..i,." ys..si I've held office twelve years
treasury" and both Blackie and
Wallinsford waited eagerly for the an
swer to Blackie's question
Nigh onto a hundred thousand dol
lars" proudly stated the Citizen.
The silk hated strangers exchanged
pleased grins.
The last trunk was slammed on the
bus. the official driver mounted his sen I
end cracked his whi2. and the official
horses: SO bony that Blackie wondered
how their skins stood the strain rat
tied nwav.
And what might YOUR business be-"
asked tho Office holder. looking back
With cordial Interest
Hush" warmed B'ackin IN a hoarse
whisper, ,ni. leaving forward. he con-
hd.d: I'VE ar" detect'ves!'
shocked driver. In the saroc b-eathless
fashion. "Who are You aftcr?"
Mavhc Won can help us" went on
biackie solemnly ANY Information
@ leading to the "Tpr"hensiH. ct the
warded"
DO ANYTHING 7 can for yom." offered
the driver. SO hastily that he forgot to
whisper. "T don't reckon there's arv-
'Beinr IN ofec'al susnnctor. sus-
pected "a much" returned R1ackie,
keenly interested. "There is n ma, IN
this town who Eo"s awav every l'ttle
while: and no one knows where he Goes
"Henry Closb~" sfnrr,"d the driver
~ith rromntness which shocked
Rlsckie; for be had orl" talked ut
whimsi cal random. fo-V"t''n9 that In
every tow, there is ~ Ieast on" man
whose uneynIained roin~s and co~'r~s
ere an aRgravation and an insult.
Neishhors have a right to know! "
not, whv not?
Describe that man demanded
elackie with professional peremptori-
WELL obeved IN. driver carefully
End accurately. Henry Closby Is
bachelor. about I'VE foot n'nn. fair to
has a pink face. venrs fancy cvo"l . ssos
with a little dingus like spring tape
measure to wind IN the string. has blue
ewes. and shiny black hair. and beard
snd mustache, He keeps the general
stove"
MOT the marty" declared R',ckio de-
jectedlv. and with an honest impulsc to
clear the unknown Closhv from unjust
came uppermost again and In spite Of
himself: he added Unless he dis
guises."
'It isn't the rran" has.nv Irs,s.od
plscki~. angry with himself for having
PERSISTED in harming a total stranger;
as It. JimT"
NO" snapped wa,l,neford. sirue-
cling between amusement pnd annov-
sn"e. 'Th~ man we're after Is small
srd skinrv'''
The drivcr was anentI" thourhtrul
for three rulI h,ocrs "wol. Henry
C'oshv might be padded up" he sagely
concluded.
AS Blackie Registered a. tho official
hotel under the flat eve Of tho official
irnk~cner, he rlnr"ed acr".R Mt the
npDosite pnCc which carri"d the
names of the arrivals ~ four dnvS
~ast. There thev were. three rnn"s
IN neat firm h,rd; MISTRESS P"'tv
'arder Miss violet Warden. Mas
FANNY Warden Pooms tw"ntr-soven.
twentv-cight and twentv-ntn".
As soon as tho men we"" s'rai"M-
encd IN thcir own rna"trNentr the"
tIn-toed along two hcr 10 the door OF
"His'" an'd Rl""liio. 30 ~" 1o"r
orenci, and the h,ue n"es OF violet
tho brown c""s Of F"nrN- pnd thn
~rsv ewes of Aurt Frttv, widerah
with nstonishmant pc t"ov sew Na-
fore thnn 1epr md l"nk ~c~''n-
mno witN white ha'r h'rch rruS'arhc =
yH1Nw s'd~hurrs md n ~~d -oa'"a
"Blrrk,n" rpsocd violet re.ntni~ y
h~r h-~ath nnd shaEin~ hn~1s So
h-h.~d'- "ith hi~' rNu" h'~ W.
vStli-~fNr1 tu-~"d ~ Farrv ".-Ia,
~. ID r. tat Il 4