The Washington times., 1916-01-11
fcontinued from Yesterday


Continued from Yesterday
Chief Allen was quite right as to the
rottenness of the neighborhood wherein
Smiling Sam Eagan had chosen to set
tie down to his life Of reform 1t was
a suualid district, and on street that
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 corner.
and behind it was 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 Tor
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
10 be to lean half-asleep against the
Intel Of Sam Eagan's doorway. pufhng
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 and
down the street. Also. that Mr.. Dunn
at intervals would step back into Smil-
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 a light for his eternal
cigarette. Sometimes. he would not
come out again through the doorway at
all. But he would be at his former
place. outside. none the less. a little
later. And this was odd: because every
body knew there was no exit from the
cobbler shop except by the single door
Tom Dunn, this morning, lounged as
usual, in front of Smiling Sans shop;
smoking an 'll-nade 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 tinv
bright nails into tough sole leather. He
was busy mana contented man
AN ideally reformed man - was
Smiling Sam Eagan. His broad.
rubicund face was as, jovial as
a comic opera cobbler's; 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 a 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 It to Sam without a word.
Eagan unrolled the newspaper wrap
pings. Out fell dusty shoe, whose
al
was run" at the left side. Smiling
Sam picked up a cobbler's knife and
proceeded to pry of the battered shoe s
still more battered heel: Jake standing
in nervous expectancy behind him and
looking avidly over the cobblers fat
shoulder.
Presently, the heel came away from
he 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 a
fair size.
Lifted it while was hoIdin' open
carriage door for dame outside
the op'ra house last night" explained
Jake. It's a beaut hey?"
Not bad" asserted Sam. holding
the brooch to the light and studying
color and another's flawed and one of
the pearls looks sick. But
How much?" demanded Jake.
Twenty" was Sans terse verdict
Twenty" snorted the indignant Jake.
Twenty what? Twenty nothin'!
Twenty dollars for that bit of East
street pavement? why. the gold settin'
is worth more N that, you measly old
Gouger!"
Twenty" snapped Eagan.
Not in a million years" declared
Jake. "Why, they amt a pawnshop
IN town but'd give me hundred!'
There amt pawnshop in town
where you'd dare show your crook
face" was Sans pleasant rejoinder
That's why you came to me That's
why you all come to me- And there's
never vet been one of YOU that could
get a penny more'n my first price from
me Twenty. said"
"You're-you're robber!' faltered
Me-" queried Sam. in no wise of
Tended. Not me. I'm a respectable
reformed. hard-working man. Ask the
plice if I'm not. If some of the shoes,
that come here to be mended. happen
10 have things in their heels-why,
] try to do you poor fellows good
If YOU don't like my prices. go look
somewhere else. Find fence who'll
squeal to the cops at the first pinch
and land you in the coop. Find a
fence who's willing to take the same
chances as me. on getting rid of what
money to you Twenty dollars is my
price for this thing: It'll cost me
fifty to square the right folks and get
these stones on the market. Twenty s
the price. Take 1t or leave it,
IN leave it, then" stormcd Jake.
I'm not going to be robbed. Give 1t
back to me-
Sure" smiled EaCsn. b!sndly; -
turning the brooch to him; and at the