The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-04-16
Popiinjay
By MARGARET c. DEVEREAUx

CVIuCI N0OLl4ASs AASJ ~ SS
crooks. though professionally they had
no connection. A dapper young fell
low who looked as If he had just come
out Of a bandbox passed them.
"Who is that guy?' asked one crook.
"Hist!" said the other, and waited
till the young man had got beyond
hearing; then he added: THAT'S a Pin
kerton. run across him onct. He's
the slickest in the business. I'd knoW
him through any makeup"
"What's he dom here?" asked the
other n%ervously.
81 reckon he's workin' on the Tenth
National bank business. I've been let
into it that the best men in the mixer
ton service are on that case"
Come off, Tom; you're coddin' me.
.'You needn't believe me, Bill. II you
don't want to. I've only given you
what l 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
amusement. "What q sucker!" he
said to himself. II believe he had
something to do with that bank job or
he wouldn't have bit so student. He's
a green n The idea o. that popin-
Jay bein' a detective!" And he smoth-
cred a laugh.
That same afternoon Bill met the
popinjay again on the street. Bill
| looked at him so hard that he attracted
the others attention. This was prob
ably the reason why he looked hard at
Bill. At any rate Bill shuddered and
passed OF
"He's on to me, sure!" he muttered.
II wonder If l could get out o town
without his KNOWN it. I'm goin' to
try a makeup"
When the z o'clock train pulled out
of the station an elderly countryman
with a pair of old fashioned green Cog
| giles on his nose sat in a seat by him
self looking as II he had just come
from the haying field. The door at the
front end Of the a opened. and who
should come in but the popinjay. The
only seat vacant vas by the farmer.
and the newcomer took it. The farm
er's eyes being covered by the goggles
and the lower part Of his face by a
long white beard, no inc could see the
contortions Of his countenance. Pres
emily he pulled himself together and
said in a low tone to the man beside
him: va.
"What is there in It for me II I 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'. II I put
you on to where the money is hid will
you let me out o the game?"
The stranger turned, looked the
speaker full In the face, surprise, curl
osity, craft and a number Of other ex-
pressions struggling for the mastery.
Finally he said:
"Can you turn it over without the
matter leaking outT"
"Ican."
do you want to go anywhere?"
Reckon I'd like to try South Amer
lea for awhile"
"How much would you need?"
GLOW much can you let me have?"
How much money have you to turn
over?"
Gall 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 d0?"' '
IF you can't do any better"
every well. Where do we get OFT"
"At Winchester"
There was no further conversation
between the two till they reached Win
chester. where they left the train to-
gether.
"Far?" asked the popinjay as they
stood on the platform.
"About two miles,"
"Cab!
A station cabman drove up; the two
got in and were driven beyond the out
skirts Of the town, stopping at a small
house in bad repair. A woman came
to the door. followed by several chill
dren whose faces peered from behind
her. The crook had thrown OF 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: 1--WE got tired o this business.
I'm goin' to give up the stun and take
you and the children to a new country
to make q new beginnin'."
I'm mighty glad O. that" gasped the
woman. ''1'm dyin' with this load on
| me-" ~
Going into the house, Bill went to the
cellar and brought up a package, which
he handed to the p~opinjay. who open
ed It and. finding a, number Of bank
bills. counted out a thousand dollars
and handed 1t back to Bill.
II thought you made It $500"
II didn't know you were going to
begin over with your wife and chill
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 q coinci-
dence. I'm q millionaire. ! shall take
this money to the bank and restore 1t.
including what I've given you. II you