The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-01-11
fcontinued from Yesterday

CONTINUED from Yesterday
Chief Allen was quite right as to the
rottenness of the neighborhood wherein
'SmflIng Sam" Eagan had chosen to set
tie down to his life of reform, 1t was
a sauaIid district. and on a street tnat
served as one of the several short cuts
from the business section to the resi-
dence part of the city.
Sam Eagan's shop faced on a corner.
and behind it was a disreputable look
ing back yard separated by rickety
gate and a tumbledown board fence
from the alley at the rear.
The corner was uninviting. even for
corner loafers. Yet one such loafer In
tested it at all hours of the day. This
consistent idler was a thickset youth,
clad in shabby gray. His name was
Tom Dunn His mission in life seemed
to be to lean half-asleep against the
Intel OF Sam Eagan's doorway. putting
cigarettes.
It was an uninspiring life that Mr..
Thomas Dunn led Long since, the
neighbors had ceased to interest them
selves In him.
Had the neighbors looked closer. they
might perhaps have noted that his half
shut eyes were as bright as rats and
that those same apparently drowsy eyes
were forever shifting their gaze up ana
down the street. Also. that Mr. Dunn
at intervals would step back into Smii-
ing Sans shop.
Sometimes. after vanishing thus. he
would reappear at once. at his old post;
as though he had merely skunk into the
shop to borrow light for his, eternal
come out again through the doorway at
all. But he would be at his former
place, outside. none the less. little
later. And this was odd; because every
h0f kranu NO aNrtt a
cobbler shop except by the single door
Tom Dunn, this morning, Iounged as
usual, in front of Smiling Sans shop;
smoking an il5made cigarette; and
loafing away the early hours when
most OF the world was at work.
Inside the dingy little shop, Sam him
self was up to his eyes in toll The
shops dirty walls re-echoed to the quick
taps of his hammer, as he drove tiny
bright nails into tough sole leather He
was busy mana contented man
Smiling Sam Eagan. His broad,
rubicund face was as jovial as
a comic opera cobblers; the fringe of
gray curls on each side of his bald head
fairly exuded kindly honesty. The most
suspicious of DeSsimists would have
banked on Smiling Sans jolly rough
hewn probity.
AS Eagan, cross-legged on his low
bench, sat hammering gayly away, Tom
Dunn ducked his unshaven visage into
the room.
'Jake's comm" announced Dunn; and
returned to the front steps once more.
Smiling Sam looked up with friend
ly nod a moment later, as cadaverous
man of middle age shambled into the
shop. The newcomer bore under his
arm a crude little newspaper parcel He
handed Il to Sam without a word.
Eagan unrolled the newspaper wrap
pings. Out fell dusty shoe, whose
sole was all but gone. and whose heel
was run at the left side. Smiling
proceeded to pry on the battered shoe s
still more battered heel; Jake standing
in nervous expectancy behind him and
looking aVidly over the cobbler's fat
Presently, the heel came away from
the shoe. 1t was hollow, and It was
wadded with tissue paper. Sam care
fully undid the tissue folds. out of
them dropped round brooch, set with
alternate pearls and diamonds OF
fair size.
LATED it while I was holdin' open
carriage door for a dame outside
the opra house last night" explained
Jake. Its beaut, hey?"
mot bad" asserted Sam, holding
the brooch to the light and studying
its, circuit of gems. "one stones off:
the pearls looks sick. But"
How much?" demanded Jake.
Twenty" was Sans terse verdict.
Twenty" snorted the indignant Jake.
Twenty what? Twenty, nothin' /!
street pavement? why, the gold settin'
is worth more N that, you measly old
gouger!"
."Twenty!" snapped Eagan.
mot in a million years." declared
Jake. "Why. they amt a pawnshop
IN town but'd give me a hundred"
There amt pawnshop in town
where you'd dare show your crook
THAT'S why you came to me. That's
why you all come to me. And there 4
never vet been one of YOU that could
get a penny more'n my first price from
me. Twenty. / said.
"You're=you're a robber!" faltered
"Me?" queried Sam. in no wise Of
Tended, "Not me. I'm a respectable,
reformed, Woodworking man. Ask the
p'lice II I'm not. II some of the shoes
that come here to be mended. happen
10 have things in their heels-why
try to do you poor fellows a good
turn by taking them off your hands
If you don't like my prices. go look
somewhere else. Find a fence who'll
squeal to the cops at the first pinch
and land you in the coop. Find g
fence who's willing to take the same
chances as me, on getting rid OF Whal
he buys from you and nays better
money to you. Twenty dollars Is my
fifty to square the right folks and gel
these stones on the market. Twenty''
the price. Take II or leave it,"
I'm leave II, then stormod Jake
I'm not going to be robbed. Give Il
back to- me-
Sure" smiled Eagan. handy; ~
turning the brooch TO him. and az th'