The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-14

TT didn't really begin with the tap
ioca. 1t began in fact with some
= thing much different and much
more important. And that something
was Shag Fewster, alias Chi Funston.
who'd taken VIVA you might call a high
dive from his home town and bad come
to the surface again just south OF
Longacre Square.
The Old Town looked good to Shag
Fswster, who, having pulled off high
ly profitable second-story job in
Evanston. was possessed of what his
circle usually denominated az a deep
heel And in the mazes through which
he moved in a lordly fashion were
many friends eager to share in his
momentary spirit of revelry.
YeYt Shag's new world was not ex
actly what he imagined it. For nearly
two weeks he had been watched. day
by day and hour by hour. At any time
OF any particular day he could have
been rounded up. But Inspector Sloan
had ordered otherwise. There was a
suspicion in Official minds that Shag
had friends who might be worth
knowing.
1t might have disturbed the light
hearted man from the Middle West to
know that the guileiess blonde who
called herself Bernics Sayette was
something more than a mere habitue
of the Fortny ninth street cabaret
where he had been duly introduced to
her by a sallow-faced dancing rat"
For the fair Bernice was none other
than Toosey Attrill the Alliance stool
pigeon, who not only enjoyed dining
and dancing with mfr. Funston of Kan
sas City" but combined a clear head
with a sedately tempered allurement of
manner. I knew all this quite we'll. for
at least once a day Toosey reported to
me In person. And as the end Of the
second week drew near Toosey's re-
ports were able to be more intimate.
What d'you s'pose that Hoosier
mutt tried to hand me last night?"
Toosey mildly demanded OF me. after
she'd slipped quietly up to my rooms
for instructions. He'd the noive to say
we was sure made for each other and
oughtta get spliced!"
And what did you tell him?' I ask
ed as 1 opened window to blow out
some of the Turkish cigarette smoke
with which Toosey was fumigating my
furniture.
IT says: I'm used to high livin', and
I'm hitchin' up wit no gen'Pman who
can't keep me goin the way I was
starteo!' But he wouldn't stand for
no calI-down. Child he says. there's
money goin bad in this boig o. yours
waitin' for somebody to haul it in. And
I'm sure goin' to do some haulin'!'
Then 1 says to him: Hully gee, Mister
Funston, you amt tryin to tell me
you're a box-man" 'Nothin' so crude
he says to me; I'm a suite-renter. and
wit the right sort o. rib I can woik
this town for ten-hundred- dollar
haul You'll have to wise me up on
what this game o. suite huntin' means
1 told him. And seem wasn't goin' to
be gun-shy. that loosed him up.
The two of us, he laid out to me,
could -woik that suite-huntin' game
on Riverside Drive to a finish, and then
move on to Boston and turn the trick
there, for a couple o. weeks. and then
swing down to Philadelphia, and take
in Brooklyn on our way"
wait a minute" interrupted. Am
to understand that you've actually
agreed to work with Shag Fevster to-
morrow night, or the next night, on
this gem stealing coup?"
That all depends on you and the
| Inspector" was Toosey's placid retort.
But there's one thing amt soin' to
do. either for Sloan or the whole ALI
ance, and that's marry the multi"
But this ism Shag Fewster's usual
line of work." I tried to explain. puz-
zled little at that sudden new re-
alignment of things. Does he suspect
| anything? Are you sure he's not In
some way giving US dose Of his own
medicine?"
Dead sure!" was Toosey's retort
and then:
His LoidshipT just about now be
amblin' down to his breakfast at the
Bristol" she announced. And in half
an hour he'll be hittin' the Av-noo.
| Then" I announced as I proceeded
| to pin on my hat. I'll just follow along
and see If can chaperon our good
friend Shagl"
Half an hour later was following
Shas Fewster down Fifth avenue.
When that dapper and debenair flg=
uTe stopped to gaze in shop window.
Just as casually fingered a half-block
behind and Through plate-glass studied
| the newer modes. When he turned
back TO size up some exceptionally
striking shopper as she stepped from
her sedan or cabriolet. 1 made it a
i point to be interested in quite another
quarter. Sometimes I drew up close to
him, and at other times I Jagged dis
creetly behind.
Then shag did a peculiar and quite
unexpected thing. He stopped sudden
ly at the next corner and before cross
ing the street .lookd studiously to the