The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-07-20

-SSSa.r ToL-Se
the shirt didn't wen have the sense to
fake bullet holes. Enougi. to make
n 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. IL he amt dead they've
kidnapped him for a ransom"
Then Cincinnati is the last place on
the map to look. Was he particularly
drunk the day before he disappeared? 2"
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?"
mo. / asked him. Roddy was sore
because / found out whit he was up
TO-"
Upon that point Average Jones med
itated a moment.
did you zee this Spanish professor
again?" he inquired presently.
Nov that you speak Of 1t, I didn't
see 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, vas at the business office Of
the Daily Saw, In which he inserted
the following paragraph on a repeat
until-stopped order:
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN SPANISH.
One with recent experience preferred.
Apply between 3 and 10 a. m /. Doctor Hoff,
800 Fairfield Avenue.
Thence he climbed the stairs to the
den OF the city editor, who obligingly
furnished further details regarding
hickey" Hoff, as he called the young
a
"The worst Of 1t u.s." said the news
paper man, that there are elements
Of decency about the young cub, IL he'd
keep sober. But there's nothing else
for him to do, 80 he just fights booze.
Better make q few inquiries at Silent
Charley's."
Whats that?"
"Quiet little bar kept by a talkative
Swede. hickey Hoff hung out there
"a lot. Charley even had a 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 a yawn.
The city editor stared. "Oh, 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-
g~estion. I'll just step around"
silent Charley" he found ready,
even eager to talk. Yes; hickey"
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 a silk hat. They
called him Colonel" A swell dresser.
The other man drank gin, and a lot of
1t. His name was Fred. He was very
tanned. One day there had been q hot
discussion over q sheet of paper that
lay on the table in front of the three
men in the back room. hickey" had
called a messenger boy and sent him
out for a 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: ITO h-ll with you
and your schooihook; tell you I've
waded across It." The colonel
smoothed things over and 1t ended in
a magnum of champagne being or
dered.
"Ard you haven't seen any Of them
since. / suppose?"
Mary q one"
On his return to the Hof mansion
the investigator found the head there
Of In q state of great excitement.
Say, I've found out something" he
cried. "Ro6dy's gone to Yurrup."
Where did you find that out?"
asked Average Jones with q smile.
4 been going through his papers
like you told me. He's been Quitting
for q trip. Bought lots Of truck the
last few days and I found the duplicate
sale checks that come In the packages.
There's stubs for a steamer rug and for
q dope for ~seasickness and for q COM
pass" he concluded triumphantly.
Compass. eh?" observed Average
Jones thoughtfully. Anything else?"
Lots Of clothes. Cheap stun most
ly. Khaki riding-pants. neglyjee shirts
and such-like. Colorec glasses. Per-
mansanate Of potash OUTFIT"
Snake country" commented the
other.
Patent water still"