Evening star., 1918-05-26

posted one hundred dollars from his
plethoric roll of pocket money as an
evidence of good faith. Mr.. Bunker
also cautioned the saloon man TO
avoid all mention of Mr.. Bunker lest
Mr.. Ridge suspect charity.
Roxby Ridge did not suspect any
thing. The moment the saloon man
mentioned money and painting IN the
same breath Mr.. Ridge was ready 10
do business. He listened to what the
framed dollar bill and said 1t was a
difficult bit of art. but one he would be
glad to undertake provided ne was
paid what 1t was worth.
'I don't feel like going no higher
than one hundred dollars" said the
saloon man.
Mr.. Ridge closed the deal instantly!
1t had been weeks since he had seen
one hundred dollars all in one lump.
During the progress of the painting
of the portrait Of the dollar bill Mr.
Bunker continued his study OF the
two pictures that seemed equally
meritorious as gift for his wife s
birthday. He paid no attention to the
work Roxby Ridge was engaged upon
did not look at 1t or question Mr..
Ridge. Ann -Flubb. how
ever, showed no such indifference. She
was a frequent visitor to Roxby
Ridges studio. and she soon came 10
know Mr. Bunker we'll enough 10 can
him "Raldy" With a cigarette, In ner
mouth she. would loll on a chair.
usually with one arm thrown care. are.
lessly over the chair back, and chat
with Roxby quite as II Mr.. Bunker
were not present.
"The dame"-thus she sometimes
called her mother-"was on not
rampage this morn. Rox." she would
say; o,,,,,n .ba de.r did
thing this timer RoNby would ask.
dabbing a minute bit of paint on the
minute portrait of A. Lincoln on tne
one-dollar silver-certificate's likeness.
''The ready writer.
say, turning his head on one side and
looking at the tip of A. Lincoln's nose
through the : magnifying glass.
What - ,loes a,d he s,s SAY Y :. this timer
The ready writer" had become
something of a permanent nuisance
to the FeatherbyFlubbs. Every
morning an ANONYMOUS letter came
to the stately mansion. addressed 70
Mrs. Featherby-F -Flubb. For a certain
reason that lady did not turn the let
ters over to the postal authorities for
investigation. The reason was that
the letters limited at scandal, whicn
if revealed would cast shame upon
Featherby-Flubb knew OF but one
source from which shame could come.
she naturally thought of Roxby Ridge.
and she became more and more oittef
her guess, based on the first vague
letters, amiss. for as the series IN
creased day by day the vague warn
fngs mentioned Mr.. Roxby Ridge as
probable source OF q STAN upon Ins
name of Featherby-F Flubb tnat "ouio
be hard to wipe out.
Ann talked over each days letter
with Roxby, and this was great
help to Mr. Bunker. 1t helped him
Immensely when he sat at his table IN
his tongue in his cheek. carefully in
dited the next letter to Mrs. Feather
by-Flubb.
In his writings Mr.. Bunker was
carefully leading up to a climax, ana
the progress toward the climax kept
Ridge on the portrait d the dollar
silver certificate. From time to time
the sa.oonkeeper dropped In to see
how work was progressing. ana ne
praised Ridge. He said the picture
Of the dollar bill would fool any one:
he said 1t was the greatest piece OF
work he had ever seem
one afternoon, when Ann Feather
by-Flubb was hugging her knees on
Roxby Ridges 'divan, the artist put
down his brush.
.There" he said. That's done"
That evening Mr.. Bunker took his
pen in hand and wrote:
Dear Mrs. Featherby-Flubb: I've
tried to warn you. There is Z. S.
secret service agent after Roxby
Ridge. He'll arrest him tomorrow.
: guess the fellow is crooked. I guess
You can buy him off with money. but
do it careful. Nine am. in the morn
ing at studio.
"well, Jabez." said Grandma Bun
ker, as her husband labored over this
epistle, seems like you don't do
nothin' but write and write! You
amt give up bunco work, hev yer
Land sakes. ma! What ever put
that notion into your head?"
1.-The way you write and write, ia
bez. thought. maybe. you was writ
in a book"
Nope" said Mr.: Bunker. Tn still
a-bunkin' folks, Ma. A bunco man
has to do some writin' now and then"
We'll, don't do nothin' that amt
honest, Jabez," said the dear old lady.
"Stick to nice, clean bunco."
Before Mr.. Bunker retired that
night he walked down to letter box
and posted his letter. At 9 the next
morning he was at the studio of Rox-
by Ridge. When he entered Roxby
Ridge was sulkily cleaning brushes in
q far corner Of the studio, and Ann.
as II neutral, sat in the middle of the
room, smoking, while Mrs. Feather