The Washington times., 1915-12-14

You never met me. But you were
pointed out to me at the opera one
evening by Charlie Graham. a chum
detective work. And It interested me
tremendously. You see. I had never
met q real. live det--"
Crime specialist" put in Lamar
Crime specIalist-please. Miss-Miss
-"
Travis" answered June. adding:
"oh;; here is my mother. want you to
AZ Lamar helped the two ladies into
their car. few minutes late, he had
the JOY of hearing June say:
Wont YOU come and see us-and tell
us more about YOUR work."
SputterinE some half-coherent reply.
the usually cool-headed man stood
staring in foolish happiness after the
himself trying to recall every infection
of June Travis sweet voice. every ex-
preston OF her big. laughter-lit eyes
With a start he came to himself. He
heG ssstsTsds Zine s0TS.5 to the UTSo1 ana e 20
low him. And-all because Of one girl
he had quite forgotten Jin's very ex-
istence. and had let him get clean
way. pretty crime specialist, for
sooth: And now to pick up the trail
trace one wild beast among thousands
Of human beings.
Ted Borden was out II a Job. This
was no novelty to him. Though he was
barely twenty-five. this was the eighth
position he had managed TO lose. There
were hut three things on earth In which
the lad felt even languid interest.
These were cigarettes. l0-cent whisky.
end loafnE. To acquire the arst two: ,
working somewhere for more or less
irregular interval.
This morning he had come to the
office two hours late. A little after
noon he had secretly lighted q cigar
ette in the varnish room The superin-
tendent had caught him at Il. in time
to avert a blaze: and had forthwith dis
charged him
With half a weeks pay In his pocket.
Ted had repaired to the Golden star
saloon. the headquarters of his select
crowd Of friends. None OF his acquain-
tances were there. 80 he consOled him
! self with his lonely ioblessness by
seven drinks OF horribly bad whisky
and had then lured the idle bartender
into q crap game.
| slouched out of the place, penniless!
considerably more than half drunk; and
with his last cigarette hanging from
one corner Of his mouth.
| lie leaneu RiuIniy against Tue SulOO'
corner. taking account OF stock He
was broke. out of work. and with NO
means 10 buy even a scent box ol
| cigarettes.
There are a thousand wonderful ways
to spend an aftOrnoon off-h one ha'
| cash. II one has not, an Idle Afternoon
may seem longer than a busy year.
| Ted had had vague idea OF goins
to the ball game. Now that TINT wa'
out OF the question. he presently. decided
! to loaf around to the square in from
| OF the Chronicle office and watch thu
score 1t was next best to seeing thu
game. A bad next hest" but his onl!
alternative.
! AS he lounged along. in the sot
spring sunshine. he reviewed his lis
| OF acuuaintances: pondering which on,
might be Induced to lend him enougl
! money to get through the week. IL
| could not think of any who were likel!
10 show such childlike trust in him.
Perhaps some of his fathers oil
cronies might help him-some OF tn
Hellcat district gang to whom Circle
Jim Borden's name was one whereWitl
to conjure-the gang with whom hi
father had sternlv forbidden the boy I
associate
Ted knew his father was a crook
And he had ALWAYS resented Jim's ef
forts to keep him straight, deeme
those pltiful attempts the acme o
hypocrisy His father was due to &c
out OF prison some time soon. The
there was certain to be enough none
for them both--until Circle" Jim's mex
term.
ITO BE Continued Tomorrow