Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-02-12

-Oh, n9tninS the matter. T. He
glanced to the right. he glanced to this
left. Twelve been sporting little
too much, l think. r. His voice
dwindled down into nothing at all.
Richard Lundy would arrive in the
morning!
"Just a mlnutew Hutch was all
nervous eagerness now. He opened his
desk and drew from it a small packet
OF papers. He hurriedly threw open
his safe and took another small packet
Of papers from tin box. How about
a reservation for mel"
"1'll see TO it." offered Blackie prompt
ly. Here's your hat, Hutch. Ill meet
you here at 2 o'clock, boys. Can pack
some things for you, Percy? l know
your rooms"
Percy stopped. 1t might be well not
to so back to his rooms.
YES" he decided.
As the trio stepped into Walllng-
ford's limousine a baldheaded man
with q wide brimmed hat scowled at
them from the shelter Of the deep cigar
store doorway at the side of the Office
building entrance.
Just nearing 2 o'clock, the shining
limousine of ]. Rufus Walingford
stopped again In front Of Hutch's Of
flee, and from 1t there emerged, first,
j. Rufus, an expression Of great care
and responsibility on his round pink
countenance. Then there merged Percy
Hutch, with his hat pulled down over
his eyes and in his hand a battered
leather bank bag with strong hasps and
handles. This he carried as cautiously
as IL it were basket Of eggs.
Hist! Hist! Histl"
Both Percy and Wallingford looked
toward the cigar store door, but there
was nothing to be seen. ]. Rufus, eter-
nally alert, walked over in that direc-
ton, and there behind the angle he be-
held Onion Jones, most marvelously
got up wide felt hat, red handkerchief
around his neck, stiff brown shooting
coat, wrinkled top boots with the trou-
sers stuffed in them.
what the
"ShT' And the fiat palm of Onion
came up with warning gesture. Get
rid Of your party, qulckw
"HuhP' Much perplexed, Walllng,
ford Joined the nervously waiting
Hutch in the lobby. Go on up to the
office. I'll be there in Il minute"
"What is it, husked Hutch, fear
suddenly filling him to the oozing point.
Better lay low" whispered ]. Rufus,
studying Percy with dawning smile.
Don't stir from the office till you hear
from me-"
81 won't" he promised Hutch. And
he hurried back to the elevator.
Now what's up?" demanded Wal.
llngford, joining Onion Jones.
"Blackie wants you over at your
rooms right away" mumbled Onion
agitatedly. "No, you're not to tele-
phone. You're to slam straight over,
and I'm to sneak upstairs and shadow
the boob"
"Huh!" said WalIlngford, and he ran
his fingers through his hair in perplex-
lty. why are you wearing that, fool
make-up?"
ASK Blackle. Hustle, Jim" And
he fairly pushed Wallingford out to the
waiting limousine. The instant the
car started Onion Jones hurried into
the elevator and minute and half
later entered the office of 2. W. Hutch,
attorney.
"This is Mr.. Hutch" he stated, with
pleasant assurance.
"What do you want?" asked Percy.
standing behind the desk, the black
bag between his feet.
well, Mr.. Hutch, I'm the missing
heir" announced Onion, removing the
soft felt hat and resting it ON his hip
while Percy gazed in stupefaction on
that gllstening Uranium. when sent
you that letter from Chicago l thought
wouldn't get here until tomorrow
morning, but | beat it on the same
train as the letter, HowdydoY And
he extended fat palm.
Yves" acknowledged Percy, look
ing at the fat palm, but he drew back
his own hand; "of course, Mr.. Lundy
you'll have to identify yourself"
"Oh, will II" The missing heirs
nails made four pink streaks on his
cleaning scalp. "Well, Mr.. Hutch, If
you're going to run in any ranikaboo
on me, especially after holding out my
$4,000 a year for five years, I'll have
you pinched right now and identify
myself afterward"
"Th-there's no need to be hasty, Mr.
Lundy," quavered Percy, struggling
among a thousand depressing thoughts.
IF you are Mr.. Lundy'-
"If l am| yelled the missing heir
Look here, you Hutch; I'm Willie
Hep to you! You've been putting a
crimp in my rIghtful fortune and If
you hand me any of your lip I'll stripe
your coat crossways. Settle quick,
and you get off easy. Give me what's
left, and | won't say word about
what you swiped. I'll give you ten
minutes' And the missing heir glanc-
ed apprehensiyely toward the door,
Percy Hutch paused. The language
of the missing heir was not quite the
language of his letters, and the offer
of the missing heir was suspiclously