Charlevoix county herald., 1916-10-20

mar, I'm not likely to forget him.
We got him when we got Circle jim.
, But he was too slick for us to give
him all he deserved. He was turned
loose about a year ago, wasn't he?
That was the first time / ever heard
of Miss June Travis-the young lady
we met in the park, you know, when
we were looking for the Yelled Wom-
an. heard at the prison how she met
Smiling Sam when he got out, and
how she was fooled by his maudlin
bling during his term. And she spent
good money to set him up in a shoe
maker shop of his own"
She's the salt of the earth, that
GIRL" commented the chief.
Suppose drop around to see Smil-
ing SAM" said Lamar.
Sam Eagan?" returned the chief,
looking once more through a hand
full of photos. Here you are: Cob
bier shop at 1919 Bright way. I've
had him watched once or twice. But
there's nothing on him."
Sam Eagan's shop faced on a cor
ner, and behind it was a disreputable
looking back yard separated by a
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
infested 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 door
way, putting cigarettes.
1t 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 q
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 Smiling Sans shop.
Tom Dunn, this morning, lounged as
usual, in front of Smiling Sans shop;
smoking an ill-made cigarette; and
loafing away the early hours when
most of the world was at work.
Inside the dingy little shop, Sam
himself 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
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
friendly nod, a moment later, as
cadaverous man OF middle age sham.
bled into the shop. The newcomer
bore under his arm crude little news
paper parcel. He handed it to Sam,
without 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
Sam picked up cobblers knife and
proceeded to pry off the battered
shoes still more battered heel, Jake
standing in nervous expectancy be-
hind him and looking avidly over the
cobbler's fat shoulder.
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.
How much?" demanded Jake.
Twenty" was Sans terse verdict.
Twenty" snorted the indignant
Jake. Twenty what? Twenty not'Iir'.
Twenty dollars for that bit of Easy
Street Pavement? Why, the gold set
tin is worth more n that, you measly
old gouger?"
Twenty" snapped Eagan. Take
1t or leave it,"
III ltdNt IL, JAM
I'm not going to be robbed. Give 1t
back to me-"
Sure" smiled Eagan, blandly, re-
turning the brooch to him; and at the
same time absentmindedly pulling
from his trousers pocket roll of bills
which he fingered carelessly.
To Jake the sight of money was a
bone to a starving dog. He wavered.
Then
ooh, take 1t, you swivel" he
growled, tossing the brooch down upon
Eagan's leather-aproned lap. Take
It, l hope 1t lands you in the pen!"
Sam peeled two greasy ten-dollar
bills from the roll, handed them to
Jake and put the rest of the money
back In his pocket He picked up the
brooch. As he did so, Tom Dunn
slipped hurriedly into the shop.
Max Lamar-hy COP" he report
ed, Comm down the block; lookiD'
at the numbers on the houses"
"Gee!" babbled Jake, He'll spot
me, dead surel Hes"