The Washington times., 1915-12-19
The New Adventure of
!. Rufus Wallingford

/ Stranger?' inquired Blackie Daw.
twirlng his pointed mustache. and
studying J. Rufus uuizzically.. =,
Cant sort him. returned ]. Rufus
Wallngford, equally puzzled Crook,
! though. Tell it by his Irregularities, that
walk. the set of his ewes. his ears
We'll I didn't tell 1t that way" in
terrupted Blackie. Il know he's a
crook. because he Is. Little Stranger ID
the man We've been hunting"
Not Percy! lin was stunned for a
moment. then he chuckled. What a
pleasant meeting-for Little Stranger"
Little Stranger was not there at the
beginning OF the next race; but as Lady
Lou streaked past the judges. an easy
winner over the field by three lengths,
! there was mumbling just back of the
big. pink-faced Jim and the lean jump
inR-pack on the fence-the small man,
impiorine to the very last for some
hound out of the pack to overhaul the
! winner.
oh, ! guess I'm a boob" exulted J.
Rufus, turning his round and radiantly
beaming countenance on Mr.. Daw and
Gentlemen produce! sanSS Hnd smile" II 3 NICK
- That wasn't in the bet," objected
Blackie. relinquishing his hundred. and
at az That moment both Mr.. Daw and Mr.,
| Wallingford turned in response to a
low gurglc. from Little Stranger. His
| hand was in his hip-pocket. and there
was green pallor on his face, a green
glaze in his eyes
| I've been touched" he husked
Somebody lifted my leather"
Blackie and Wallingford looked at
each other speculatively; Blackie grim
We'll, such things will happen, Mr.
Welsh" said Wallingford. with sus-
picion of snarl. IF you will leave
your, pocketbook exposed. just before
you have TO pay bet. Mr.. Welsh. we
must all take the consequences, Mr.
Welsh.
The small man, his green pallor turn
ing to purple Indignation, was strug-
Cling for speech.
My names Hutch" he hotly stated.
II get rolled for four hundred. and the
only consolation I have is for a fresh
! rat man to call me welsher! Would
II have come back here II l had intended
to welsh on this bet No living man can
put finger on a crooked act of mine"
How about a dead one" suggested
Blackie. and keen Jim Wallingford
lifted his eyebrows as he saw on the
countenance of Mr.. Hutch a fieeting
something.
II swallow my words" apologized j..
| Rufus genially.
Thanks" returned the lnsuIted one.
somewhat mollifed. 'If you gentlemen
are going into the city after the next
race. I'd like to have you stop at my
office and get that hundred"
Blackie Daw, standing just beside
Wallngford and studying the features
of Little Stranger. poked ]. Rufus in
the ribs. Things were coming too easy
| for them.
"All right sport" agreed Wallingford,
his big. round face pink with gratifica-
! 1t was a dim and musty office into
which Mr.. Hutch ushered his chance
aCquaintances of the race-track, and on
the floor lay five letters, the accumu-
| i
ticed later from the postmarks. Appar-
emily, Mr.. Hutch had but small business
in his office. He busted a space on his
desk for the accommodation of a check
book. which he drew from a drawer;
and while he was writing, the visitors
inspected and catalogued and sorted
everything in the place-a rusty safe. a
row OF dusty letter-files, a broken letter
press. n long disused typewriter. a desk
-four chairs, and an ancient horsehail
|couch-nothing else On the safe
Amos Lundy;", on several of the let
more. Orchard Lundy;" on a few. "P
w. Hutch. PERSONAL" on the glass
panel of the door. "P. w. Hutch, Attor'
Eey."
Here's your check. Mr.. wallingford, ;
announced the attorney. with the air o
one who stands clear before the world
He looked at a blot of ink on his finger
Excuse me for n minute
The heads of Mr. Daw and Mr.. Wal
lngford came together instantly as Mr.
Hutch stepped into the washroom
When Mr.. Hutch came out his ac
ed into close friends. They beamed wtl
pleasure at the return Of Mr.. Hutch
and the broad-chested Wallingfor
, grasped Little Stranger warmly by tn
hand
I'VE owe you dinner, sport" h
urged. You should have that much O
rake-off on rough day. Come out
and we'll open bottle Of bubbles
III
Wonderful entertainers, Mr.. Walling
ford and Mr. Daw. A dinner for MI
Hutch; an evening at the theater wit
Mr.. Hutch; supper to Mr.. Hutch;
luncheon; spin to a roadhouse; hos
pitality on tap all the time. but at tn
end of three days the entertainment
committee withdrew into Wallingford'
downtown suite in a hotel near the pul
sing red heart of Broadway. and glIm
-, med. The pretty Warden orphans ha
been sent out 20 frame" a spirit me
dium scare for Percy. but even the afte
! world was Of no interest to hard Hutch
IF you can't do any business with thi
squint-eyed runt, why don't you ca
: him grumbled the friend of the com
mlttee-a man SO bald-headed that h
was more restful to the eyes with hi
hat On-Onion Jones.
DO your whimpering outside" oh
+ 1eGted Blackie Daw; sitting in corner
with his chin resting on his pointe
mustache. "We're here to discuss 'Hol
low Hutch"
; 'Hollow's' right" rumbled ]. Ruff.
; walking the floor in sCowling meditation
II think his legs are hollow. We'y
poured enough slx-dollar champaign
> into that human sponge to flush 'Fift
avenue, and 1t goes everywhere but t
MS head. You know, l think that gu
e forgets his secrets"
He's hollow nut" Blackie locke
r his, lean fingers. you can't get, hir
plckled enough TO even acknowledge tina
e he had mother"
e Can him!" again urged Onion Jones