The Tomahawk., 1916-06-01

first sight of the advertisement. Yet
fate might we'll have chosen more
appropriate ambush in anyone OF
hundred of the strange clippings which
were grist to the Advisors mill. Out
of a bulky pile of the days paragraphs,
however, it was this one that leaped,
significant, to his eye:
WANTED-TEN THOUSAND LOATHLY
black beetles, by a leaseholder who con-
tracted to leave q house IN the same con
dition as he found 1t. Ackroyd, loO W..
Sixteenth St.. New York.
"Black beetles, eh?' observed Aver
age Jones. This AckrOyd person
seems to be merry little jester. Well,
I'm feeling rather jocular, myself, this
morning. How does one collect black
beetles, I wonder? When in doubt,
inquire of the resourceful Simpson,
He pressed button and his con-
fidential clerk entered.
Good morning, Simpson, said Az
erage Jones' Are you acquainted
with that shy but pervasive animal,
the domestic black beetle?''
Eyes, sir; l board Simpson simply.
81 suppose there aren't ten thousand
black beetles in your boarding house,
thought inquired Average Jones.
Simpson took it under advisement.
Hardly" he decided.
'I've got to have EN- to fill an or
der. At least, I've got to have an in
stallment of 'em, and tomorrow
"Ramson, down on Fulton street.
will have them, If anyone has," Simp-
son said presently.
Returning to his routine work, Av-
erage Jones found himself unable to
dislodge the advertisement from his
mind. SO presently he gave way to
temptation, called up Bertram at the
Cosmic club. and asked him to come
to the Astor Court temple Offices at
his convenience. Seeming more adj
venture, Bertram found it convenient
to come promptly. Average Jones
handed him the clipping. Bertram
read it with ascending eyebrows.
whats at One Hundred West Six
teenth street," demanded Jones.
Zone Hundred West Sixteenth; let
lS SCc. w ly, VI Soui ~ y WV oAA
Feltner mansion. You must know it.
1t has a walled garden at the side;
the only one left in the city, south Of
Central Park
ANYONE named Ackroyd there?"
"That must be HaWley AckrOyd. l
remember, now, hearing that he had
rented it. Judge Ackroyd, you know,
better known as oily Ackroyd. He's
a smooth old rascal
ever hear of his collecting in
sects?"
Never heard Of his collecting any,
thing but graft. In fact, he'd have
been in Jail years ago, but for his fam
lily connections. He married Van
Haltern. You remember the famous
Van Haltern will case, surely; the
million-dollar dog. The papers fairly
reeked OF it a year ago. Sylvia Ora
ham had to take the dog and leave
tho country to escape the notoriety.
She's back now, believe
I've heard Of Miss Graham re-
marked Average Jones.
"Well, if you've only heard Of her
and not seen her." returned Bertram
with something as nearly resembling
enthusiasm as his habitual languor
permitted, you've got something tC
look forward to. Sylvia Graham is q
distinct asset to the Scheme Of Crea
tion."
IAN asset with assets Of her own,
believe" said Average Jones. THE
million dollars left by her grandmoth'
err, old Mrs. Van Haltern, goes to her
eventually, doesn't it?'
provided she carries out the terms
of the will, keeps the dog in proper
luxury and buries him in the grave
on the family estate at Schuyllill des
ignated by the testator. If these terms
are not rigidly carried out, the for,
tune is to be divided, most of it 60
ing to Mrs. Hawley Ackroyd, which
would mean the Judge himself"
HIN. What about Mrs. Ackroyd?'
Poor, sickly, frightened lady! She's
very fond Of Sylvia Graham, who is
her niece. But she's completely domi'
mated by her husband"
Information is your long suit, Bert
Now, if you only had intelligence to
correspond" Average Jones broke
off and grinned mildly, first at his
friend, then at the advertisement.
Bertram caught up the paper and
studied it. We'll, what does it mean?'
he demanded.
1T means that Ackroyd, being about
to give up his rented house, intends
to saddle it with bad name"
''It would be just like Oily Ack.
royd,' remarked Bertram. Hes a
vindictive scoundrel. Only few days
ago, he nearly killed poor devil of a
drug clerk, over some tr!fing dispute