The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1916-04-13

! the shirt didn't even have the sense to
fake bullet holes. Enough to make
one lose all interest in the case," he
added disgustedly.
Doctor Hoff began Juggling at his
side-whiskers. Don't do nothing like
that, he pleaded. Come with me to
Cincinnati. If he amt dead they've
| kidnapped him for ransom"
Then Cincinnati is the last place on
| the map to look. Was he particularly
drunk the day before he disappeared? ?"
mo. He was sober. An he was
| studyin', Spanish"
| Spanish, Ell? How did you know
about his studying?"
seen the perfessor in the house."
Someone you knew"
"No. I asked him. Roddy was sore
because l found out what he was up
| to-"
Upon that point Average Jones med
! itated moment
did you see this Spanish professor
again." he inquired presently.
"Now that you speak Of it, didn't
SEQ him but the once"
"Can you leave for Toledo on to-
nights train?"
You're goin' to take the case
| them" the quack clawed nervously at
| his professional white whiskers.
"Whats your terms?" he demanded.
THAT I'm to have full control and
! that you're to take orders and not give
| them"
Doctor Hoff swallowed that with q
gulp. you're on" he said finally.
Average Jones' first call, on arriving
| at Toledo, was at the business office OF
the Daily Saw, in which he inserted
the following paragraph on a repeat
| until-stopped order:
| WANTED-INSTRUC IN SPANISH.
One with recent experience preferred
Apply between Q and 10 a. m. Doctor Hoff
$50 Fairfield Avenue.
Thence he climbed the stairs to the
den of the city editor, who obligingly
furnished further details regarding
"Rickey" Hoff, as he called the young
man.
"The worst of it is" said the news
paper man, that there are clements
of decency about the young cub, if he'd
| keep sober. But there's nothing else
! for him to do, so he just fights booze.
Charley's."
whats that?"
"Quiet little bar kept by a laxative
Swede. hickey Hoff hung out there
a lot. Charley even had room fixed
up for him to lay off in when he was
too picked to go home
notwithstanding Hoff-er-per-
haps keep a few-er-extra clothes
there?" asked Average Jones, seem
ingly struggling with yawn.
Tho city editor stared. ooh, l dare
say. He used to end his sprees pretty
much mussed up
"That would perhaps explain where
the shirt came FROM" murmured the
Advisor. "Much obliged for the sug-
gestion. Ill just step around"
"Silent Charley" he found ready,
even eager to talk. Yes; "Rickey'
Hoff had been in his place right along.
| Drunk? No; not even drinking much
lately. Two other gentlemen had met
him there quite often. They sat in
the back room and talked. No, neither
Of them was Spanish. One was big and
| clean-shaven and wore silk hat. They
| called him Colonel" A swell dresser.
The other man drank gin, and a lot of
it. His name was Fred. He was very
| tanned. One day there had been hot
discussion over sheet Of paper that
lay OH the table in front of the three
| men in the back room. hickey" had
called a messenger boy and sent him
out for geography. Il told you there
wasn't any such thing there" the
saloon keeper heard him say triumph
antly, when the geography arrived.
Then Fred replied: "To h-ll with you
and your schoolbook; l tell you I've
waded across it, The colonel
smoothed things over and it ended in
| magnum Of champagne being Or
dered.
"And you haven't seen any of them
since, 1 SUPPOSED"
mary a one"
On his return to the Hoff mansion
the Investigator found the head there
of in state Of great excitement.
"Say, I've found out something" he
cried. "Roddy's gone to Yurrup."
Where did you find that out?"
asked Average Jones with smile.
Il been going through his papers
| like you told me. He's been Quitting
for trip. Bought lots of truck the
last few days and found the duplicate
sale checks that come in the packages
There's stubs for a steamer rug and for
dope for seasickness and for COM
pass" he concluded triumphantly.
Compass, eh?" observed Average
Jones thoughtfully. Anything else?"
Lots of clothes. Cheap stuff most
ly. Khaki riding pants, neglyjee shirts
and such-like. Colored glasses. Per-
manganate Of potash outfit"
Snake country" commented the