Evening star., 1918-06-23
00 7HAT like about Twin out
MAN. in the forty-minute-if-
WV you're-lucky sector is that,
" " once YOU get here, it's SO

ossSS112SA~
into the subway, or If some gun gang
is going to use your street 1or
shootin' gallery. All you do is dopse
the lights and feel sure nothin's go
ing to happen until breakfast.
We were talkin' something along
this line the other evenin', Wee ana
me, sayin' how restful and soothln
these spring nights in the country
was-you know, sort of handln' II 10
ourselves. And it couldn't have peeh
more'n two hours later that In
routed rude out of the downy by the
phone bell. It's buzzin' away frantlc.
I scrambles out and fits the receiver
to my ear Just in time to get the
full benefit of the last half OF long
ring.
"Ah, take your thumb off," I sings
out to the night operator: Who you
think you're callin-the fire house or
some doctor?"
Here's your party. I hears her
remark, cheerful, and then this o'her
Wen, It's Norton Plummer. that
fussy little lawyer neighbor OF ours
who lives about half mile the otner
side of the railroad. Since mes peen
made chairman of the local councis
of defense and put me on as head OF
one of his committees he's rung me
up frequent, generally at dinner tlIhe'
to ask if I have anything to report
Seems to think, just because IN
reserve lieutenant on speclal oelai,
that I ought to be dlscoVe.Tin I'm spins pins
and diggin' out plots every few MIN
utes. 4, a
What them"
val officer who escaped from an intern
ment camp last week." he asks.
"Rut that was way down In North
Carolina or somewhere. wasn't it.!
T aPerhaps," sys Plummer. "But he
isn't there now. He's here"
s'Eh?" says I. where? ,
Plummer. "That is. he was few mo
ments ago. My chauffeur saw MN. ~.
Sc did !. He's on his way down to-
ward the trolley line now.
'sWhy didn't you nab him. l asks.
"Me?' says Plummer. why, ne
man. 1 presume he was after me; 1
"But how'd you come to spot him as
a Hun officer?" says l.
.'By the description I read" says ne.
"It fits perfectly. There's no teihns
listen: / have telephoned to the secret
service headquarters in town tor them
to send some men out IN macnlne.
But they'll be nearly an hour on the
road, at best. Meanwhile, what we
must do is prevent him from catching
that last trolley car, which goes in
about 1915. We must stop him, you
"oh, must weg says I. Listens to
mo like some he-sized job"
That's why I called you up, says
crosses the railroad? Well, he'll prob
ably try to get on there. Hurry down
and prevent him."
"Is that all have to do?" says I.
Whats the scheme-do l trip him up
and sit on his head?" .n.,.
mo, no." says Plummer. Don't at
tempt violence. He's powerful man.
why, my chauffeur saw him break the
chain on our back gate as If 1t had
been nothing but twine. Just gave 1t
a push-and snap it went. Oh, he's
"Huh?" says 1. And I'm to go
down and Say, where do you
come in on this?"
"I'n be there with John just as soon
as we can quiet Mrs. Plummer and
the maids" says he. They're almost
If you could get there and Well.
use strategy of some kind. Anything
to keep him from catching that car.
You understand"
'I get you.' says !. "And it don't
sound enticin' at all. But I'll see what
over the road, though, you'll know 1
didn't pull it off. Also. I'd suggest
that you make that soothin' act of
yours speedy"
Course this wakes Wee up, and she
wants to know what it's all about.
nriv hak
Norton Plummer is indulgin' in," says
!. "Nothin' to get fidgety over. I'll
be back soon."
"'But-but you won't be reckless,
will you, Torchy?" she asks.
who, me?" says I. How foolish.
Why. 1 invented that Safety First
motto. and side steppin' trouble is the
i expect she was some nervous, at
that. But she's a good sport, Wee.
'If you're needed" says she, "of
course / want you to go. But do be
careful"
didn't need any coaxin'. Some
kar-, asvs1 soa,c get used to roamin'
around in the country after dark. AL
ways seemed sort of spooky. Bein
brought up in the city. 1 expect, where
the scenery is illuminated constant
accounts for that. So. as 1 slips out
the front gate and down toward the
station, 1 keeps in the middle of the
road and glances suspicious at the
tree shadows.
Not that / was takin' Plummer's
Hun scare real serious. He'd had a
bad case of spy fever recent. Why,
only last week he got all stirred up
over what he announced was a private
wireless outfit that he'd discovered
ing; and when they came to trail it
down 1t turns out to be some new