Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-01-08

muscular faced boy as he
III deposited the hand luggage
Of the two travellers In the
faded blue bus.
"Be careful of that black wardrobe" "
warned ]. Rufus Wallingford. 81 think
there's hinge loose"
IAN right" answered the boy, deeply
grleyed. "I'll write that on my report.
He was embelllshed with green
band on his faded blue cap; yellow
banded man, with ladder under his
arm, crossed, the station platform and
fixed an electric light bulb.
"Don't you get it?' laughed Blackie
Daw. "Tls political job. The 9th
er one Is the official bulb axer, and
here comes the official bus driver. I've
seen municipal ownership towns, Jim,
but this one must be the limit"
"That means there isn't live dollar
In the burg regretted Walllngford,
and, with some disfavor, he viewed
the approach Of the official bus driver,
who wore a blue band on his cap and
carried grin full of holes. I'm afraid
the girls are against dead one this
time"
Good evening, gents,' hailed the
tooth shy officer II got two good
seats left In the grand stand,' and he
produced a pair Of faded blue paste
boards from which the printing had
long since worn away. 81 reckon most
Of the councilmen have sold their reg.
ular seats by this time, but these Is
good; front row, right next to the Of
fetal box"
Were In luck, jim" declared Blackie,
inspecting the pencllcd numbers on the
tickets and slipping them into his pocl-
ct Il was afraid we wouldn't get
seats ut all. BY the way. sergeant,
what are they forY'
"Hy, don't you know?" inquired the
driver In surprise. ITS the regular
Saturday night festival. Why, people
come from miles around, from all these
summer resorts and health cures to see
the fireworks The city council makes
heap Of money off Of 'em. The whole
courthouse steps Is covered with a
grandstand, that's left there winter
and summer"
"And what might your business be-"
asked the oiliceholder, looking back
with cordial interest.
"Hushl' warned Blackle in hoarse
whisper, and, leaning forward, he con.
tided, I'VE ARE detectives!"
"Do anything | can for you," offered
the driver so hastily that he forgot to
whisper, ~ don't reckon there's any
body in town Better posted than me-"
Being an official suspector, sus.
pected as much" returned Blackle,
kecnly Interested "There Is man In
this town who goes away every little
while, ana no one knows where he
goes or why"
"IIenry Closbyw affirmed the driver,
with promptness which shocked
Blnckle, for he had only talked at
whimsical random, forgetting that In
every town there Is at least one man
whose unexplained golngs and comings
are an nggrav0tlon and an insult
Describe that many demanded
Blacklo with professional peremptori-
ness.
"Well" obeyed the driver carefully
end accurately Henry Closby Is a
bachelor about 6ye foot nine, fair to
middlln' heavy set, dresses like a dude,
has a pink face, wears fancy eyeglasses
with a little dingus like a spring tape
measure to wind up the string has
blue eyes and shiny black hair and
beard and mustache He keeps the
general store"
mot the party" declared Blackle de-
iectcdly and with an honest impulse
to clear the unknown Closby from un.
Just suspicion Then his whimsical
nature came uppermost again, and In
spite OF himself he added. UNLESS he
dlsgulses."
by jlnks, | never thought of thatr'
exclaimed the driver, struck by the
startling supposiilon. "Whlskers Is
The easiest disguise there ls ! reckon"
AS BlackIe registered at the official
hotel under the dat eye Of the official
innkecper he glanced across at the op.
Dosltc poge, which carried the names
OF the arrivals OF four days past.
There they were, three names IN a
neat, firm Mistress Patty War
den, Miss Violet Warden, Miss Fanny
Warden Rooms 27, % and 30.
As soon as the men were straight
ened In their own apartments they
tiptocd along the hall to the door Of
y aud knocked.
"ilstw said Blacklc as the door open
cd, and the blue eyes OF Violet and thl
brown eyes OF Fanny widened with
nstonishment as they saw before them
a lean and lant gentleman with white
hair, black mustache yellow sidcburns
and red u0atee.