Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

and threw himself on the caved-in sofa.
Suddenly he sat up and listened. All
was quiet. He looked at the windows
to see that no prying eye could see in
side. He locked the door. Then. to give
himself the treat of counting once more
the bundles of bank notes that repre-
scented his savings. he knelt on the floor
and ran his hand into the inwardS of
the sofa where the largest tuft Of curl
ed hair protruded from the springs He
drew out his hand. remained notion
less moment and then began probing
the interior OF the sofa madly. He
up and searched it inch by inch. l,
was a bootless search. His wealth
$1,000 in currency, eagerly boarded
was gone. He had been robbed,
Shagbark. his laziness fed. was dig
ding in the entrails OF the sofa when
Alice returned. He unlocked the door
and she stopped on the threshold. for
the floor was covered with the remains
Of the old sofa.
what is it?" What has happened
Dad?" she asked.
MY cash. My money" he doomed
I'm robbed. Allie. It's all gone. the
whole eleven thousand"'
She entered the cabin, removing her
hat as she came.
We'll. it's nothing to fly up In the
air about. You're all stirred up she
said. Its nothing to be stirred up
about. You can get to the bottom OF
one mystery as well as to the bottom
of another. I reckon. There haven,
there? You'll find who did it. easy
enough"
"Eut it's my money. dod-wh,x it."
Shagbarll exclaimed. II got right to
money: 1t was that dod-whflli ed
Lando and Pete! I bet"
dad" said Allie, and hesitated
"Well?"
I've got to tell you something. and
1 might as well speak right out.
as came in. and I'd better do it. Dad
I'm going to be married"
Shagbark let fall the wad of curled
hair he was holding. and stared at Alice
open mouthed.
Married. Allie, Married? You mar
ried?" he faltered.
"Yes-to Jimmy. to Jimmy Wisdom. -
she said defiantly: oh. 1 know It's
my man. Dad; I knew it the first min
ute I saw him, up there in the Scott
House doorway. I was so sorry for
him.. Dad. And. Dad, he likes me. He
going away. We're going to be mar
ried and go west-out to Oregon or
somewhere. This amt no life for a girl,
this faker life. Tits making me
with me to buy my shoes tonight. and
But, Allie" he cried. you Amt
s so;ng g to ), quit mes Xou amt going to
He amt a thief. Dad Nobody took
his dads five thousand. It's right
where his dad left 1t. It's under the
moor. only it's beyond~the reach Of a
mans arm-it must have got pushed
eway under when his dad was hunting
for it. 1t is in the same sock 1t was
always in. Jimmy's not a thief Jimmy
IS I'm going to marry Jimmyw
Shagbark wiped his brow with the
back Of his dusty hand.
You amt going to marry nobody"
he shouted in a sudden rage. You git
into your room and git to bed! Marry!
You marry! Git to bed"
.,; NJ hoped you'd be nice about it. Dad"
Alice said. I'm sorry you amt going
to be. I'm going to marry Jimmy. I've
Shagbark pointed his finger at her.
but he could not speak. for anger. He
her eyes on her father and moved to
the door. AS she opened it he leaped
for her, but she slipped outside and
slammed the door: and before he reach
ed 1t. she had jumped to the ground
and was running toward the lights
Of Front street. He shouted at her and
then went inside and closed the door
again.
His rage vanished instantly.
The Wildcat" he chuckled. IT been
afraid Of it.. been lookin' for it."
money. He set the sofa on its feet and
seated himself on 1t, lighted his pipe
and tried to think. Black Pete and
Orlando were, he was sure, the thieves
or-Alice! In any event. his wonder
full detective mind would solve the puz-
vile. il it was a puzzle. he was sure.
In half an hour he arose and began
walking the floor. He was making no
progress whatever. He could not make
his mind grasp and handle even such
facts as he had. He looked with an
noyance toward Alice's door.
'Dcd Wink it," he exclaimed. What
did she go away for?"
The truth was being borne home to
him. Without Alice he was no good at
all. He had the mind. the wonderful
mind, that could fit the pieces Of
puzzle together with marvellous exact