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

surreptitiousiy signalling. Then, still
with his swagger of self contentment
he moved Gown the avenue, merely
siding in for a moment before a shop
window where q line of pedestrians
like myself had tarried a moment to
glance in through the plate-glass.
That window. noticed as 1 came ur
to it. belonged to the firm of Starr &
Burton, the jewelers., whose display, on
this OCCASION, was startling. For there
resting on a PLAGUE of black velvet
lay a solitary oblong diamond Of ex-
ceptional size. The upper portion of 1t
was considerably narrower than the
base, and the stone itself, as 1t flashed
| back the morning light from its count
less facets. was OF the most delicate
sky-blue tint. That diamond I knew
at glance was the Blue Pear ITSELF
the Blue Pear obviously recovered by
its rightfui owners, and now. with all
its strange adventures over. enthroned
on its regal-looking -4iacQue for the
| passing world to admire.
Soon, apparently, he tired of respec-
liability, for in I'VE minutes time he
had turned eastward of the avenue
and was seeking more sordid byways
| Then he turned south again, and still
once more eastward. He was walking
more rapidly by this time, and as
though led by some clearly remembered
mission.
| All doubt as to this vanished when
I saw him suddenly cross the street
and disappear into the side door OF q
much gilded German saloon. I ducked
for cover at the move. stepping into an
East Side store that was partly con-
fectioner's, partly a tobacconist's and
partely a news agents emporium.
| There 1 bought a motion picture
magazine and stood behind the unclean
window front.
AS I watched I caught sight of still
another figure approaching along the
side street. Then caught my breath
without quite knowing 1t, for I knew,
at second glance. that this figure was
| Citrate Sam himself. who pushed in
through the swinging doors under the
wire sign.
| I realized that I wasn't logged out
for entering any such place without
at once arousing suspicion. So turn
ed back to the tobaeeonist. asked for
the use of his phone, and promptly
called up the Alliance officers.
I had the satisfaction of knowing
two minutes later, that Wilkins was
speeding toward me in a taxi. Yet
fast as Wilkins travelled, had to buy
| three other magazines before Sloan S
| strong arm" worker strolled INDECENT
| ly into the store where I stood waiting
| for him. In another two minutes. how
ever. he was just as indolently strolling
acros the street and pushing his way
in through the welcoming swing
| doors.
Not thirty seconds after he had done
so a closed car swung up to the curb
At the same moment that 1t came to a
stop the side door of the saloon opened
and two men stepped nimbly out. They
| lost no time in crossing the sidewalk
and tumbling into that waiting car
| which was under way again before they
could have been settled in, their seats
But hurried as their transit had been
it gave me time enough to see that the
1 two fugitives were Shag ewster and
Citrate Sam. And I knew. as I made
for the open. that those two worthless
| were in some way acting together. But
| to follow them was already out OF the
question.
! So / waited a precious five minutes
for Wilkins to emerge. When he came
out he did so at the heels Of thick
shouldered youth who looked like a
dance-hall bouncer out Of a Job.
could see at a glance that wilkins, for
some reason or other. was intent or
shadowing this well-musced individ-
ual, so I managed, APPARENTLY by acct
dent, to swing in for a minute or two
beside my intent-eyed confederate.
This man was talking to those two
in there, before they ducked." he ex-
planned to me out OF a corner of his
mouth. $50 I'm going to trail him and
see what turns up"
Phone what you pick up to the Of
hce," told him as edged away, fol
IL could see that he preferred being
alone at that particular time. And
there was nothing for me to do but
! strike westward again and comb bach
and forth across the city.
Twice I telephoned for ,Toosey Attril
and failed to find her. Twice. too.
called up the Alliance offices IN tbs
hope of some report from wilkins. But
no message had come in from him. Sc
took up my rounds once ore. drop
ping in at every point where I knew
an Alliance stool to be holding out
But / found nothing to reward my
search.
II was three hours later that STUN
bled across Toosey in that unsavor,
terpsichorean subcellar known as tbs
Fatima CabareG
"I hate to interfere with your littl,
!, amusement" somewhat acidly an
nounced, after I'd given Toosey tn,
hish-sign to emerge from that i'll
} smelling den Of urban night erawlers
. but we've got a case on our hand,
! that isn't quite settled the way tbs
!. ONCE wants it settled"
Keep your nit on. Balmy." wa.
Toosey's lazy toned retort. Keep you