Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-11-23

Afghan. was represented In a robe the
color OF fire. her neck and arms en-
twined with the coils Of great sling.
Ing cobra. its eyes fixed upon hers as
II imparting some occult intelligence
Next to 1t. about twenty feet away.
was a small one-story board booth. l
frort was a space about ten feet
square with a door leading into a rear
apartment. A smooth board painted
white stood upon an easel A barker"
was pacing up and down in front Of
the booth announcing the merits Of
the wonderful profile scratcher" A
young man and girl companion came
along and halted to look at profile
specimens arrayed on a counter In
front of the booth. They were taking
in the sights.
Fifty cents" announced the
barker" briskly approaching. "A
perfect profile OF the young lady. some
thing out Of the CONN N. cheaI as
dirt and real art This way. miss"
and he led the young lady to a chair
inside the booth. posed her sideways
in chair and touched bell A man
arrayed in a fantastic flowing garb
came out from behind a pair OF cheap
curtains
The moment my eyes rested on this
individual knew him to be the person
whom Teller Agnew had described
There was the flowing moustache. and
there the delicate white hand and
the magic forefinger 1t few into
action now. The man was a natural
adept in an exclusive artistic line
Againet the easel he set a piece OF
bristol board covered with some
white material, pliable. Tut not glutin-
Gus. He took glance at his fair
subject and then his hand swept the
sheet on the easel 1t was fairly
marvellous, his use OF his hand He
was in all verify a profile scratcher"
Simply with his finer nails he sketched
in a white background, then in long
semicircular sweeps he began a pro-
totype Of the head Of his sitter. That
extraordinary pen finger of his made
delicate curves of beauty, the overlap
readily responding to his dexterous
manipulation. The profile was perfect
The artist sized the card with some
liquid so as to harden the overlap
against the background. wiped 1t off
carefully, handed it to the young lady,
who was flushed with delight, as was
her escort with satisfaction. received
| his fee, bowed graciously and disap-
| peared behind the curtains.
Marvel gave me slight arm touch
! and we passed around the side of the
| place. The human quill was lolling on
an old divan, smoking a cigarette and
awaiting his next client. Marvel did
not hesitate to intrude into this cir
! cumscribed retiring room. The man
sprang to his feet magically quick.
who are you?" he shot out in the
accents of a man keen to suspicion.
| ever on guard.
Net TO interrupt your professional
/ labors, / will be brief and to the
point" was the reply of my friend. II
come to you for information regarding
! Neva Orette Birmingham, who gave
a $1,000 check drawn on the Atlas Ma.
tional bank"
What was wrong with it," instant.
ly flashed out the man.
$50 much was wrong with checks of
the lady ! have named" observed
Marvel. that you can save yourself
some trouble by being clear and direct
as to her present whereabouts"
I noted the man finch His usual
ready unperturbability was balanced
Then he shut his lips grimly. and as
IL mechanically played with an ink.
stand before him. scrawling upon a
small fragment of paper
Il don't see." he said, why you
come to me. ! had a business trans
action with the woman you name. but
it was weeks ago, the deal was square,
and you'll have TO look elsewhere for
your information. $3.50. Zibelle."
and his hand reached down into a
| box at his side. | drew back a trifle.
! for the head of snake arose with
startling suddenness above the box
It had a metal ring around its neck
AS the man caressed it. the scrap OF
paper he had palmed with the adroit.