The Topeka state journal., 1919-08-02

nized as Toosey's.
It's Balnny.' I told her.
We'll, tell your man-friend down
there that Dopey's back on that roof.
He's been diggin' round a tree in a tub
there. I guess he's gone nuts and is
| lookin' for fshs worms. But don't let
him get down through the roof-hatch
of that swell-front until get cop
who can make twelve-foot drop from
this apartment-house windowi"
| didn't wait for more, 1 wanted to
get to that roof without the loss OF a
moments time.
Instinct prompted me to swing back
door, and this door, I found opened
on narrow stairway which led to the
roof-hatch itself. Through that hatch,
which was no longer shut, could hear
the steady beat of the falling rain.
I went up that flight Of steps more
cautiously. I wanted to regain my
breath. But even more / wanted my
approach to be unobserved, for I was
frantically and foolishly intent on pro-
tecting Winkie. He knew so little
about the type of man he had gone
forth to face that he might blunder
into a trap before he so much as
scented danger. with me it was differ
| ent I wasn't unfamiliar with that
breed OF sewer-rat and with his tricks.
1t was. accordingly. very cautious
head that preened about the corner Of
that open hatchway. very much like a
gopher peering out OF his prairie sand
hole.
What suddenly held my gaze was
| the figure OF a man down on his knees
on the wet roof, earnestly scratching
through the soil Of one of the tree-tubs.
And that man was Dopey Jones
was so impressed by that dripping
figure crouched over the tub OF wet
earth, in fact. that didn't catch sight
of Winkie himself until he stepped out
from behind the end of the Tapping
striped awning. Dopey must have seen
him at almost the same time. for that
worthy ducked and slithered about the
! edge OF the tub. He did so with the
quickness of weasel. reaching for his
hip pocket as he went. But Wrinkle
was too quick for him.
Winkie, I saw, had caught up loos-
ened slat from one of the green painted
benches, and Dopey, as his enemy de-
seended upon him, had only time to
wrench an iron brace free from the
awning-stanchion beside which he
crouched.
| Winkie parried blow from the iron
brace, and tried to bring his slat down
on his adversary's head. But. that ad-
versary, being used to such encounters,
lodged in the nick of time. AS Winkia
attempted to repeat his blow he missed
fire, slipped on the wet roof-treads,
and went down with a thump. As he
went, however, he had presence of mind
enough to catch at Dopey's feet,
But to interfere In that fight. soon
saw. was not as easy as it promised.
To single out Dopey Jones, as the two
| Nf -.
and rolling about that abandoned rooS-
garden was about the same as trying
to single out the propeller blades OF a
racing airship. Despairing of an hon-
est knockout Dopey now seemed intent
| on maneuvering way toward the edge
OF the roof. Yet to do this the two
rolling bodies had to thresh through
the parterre of green flower boxes and
the little avenue OF tubbed red cedars.
This sent two of the trees over, fol-
lowed by green SLATED bench. Be-
fore I could catch UP the iron brace
that had fallen from Dopey's hand that
slum athlete, by series OF rapid and
adroit revolutions. had actually reached
the edge Of the roof. I could see my
Wrinkles head hanging out over space
and that awoke in me all the fury
that lies dormant in the female of the
species. He was mine, and he must be
saved. Dopey, with one toe anchored
in the cave-trough. was genially gnaw.
ing at Wrinkles hand with his teeth,
: to break his hold before essaying that
nnal lurch which would send his op.
J ponent hurting over into space. And
It was then, as I caught at Wrinkles
upthrust limb by the slack of his
J trouser-leg, that saw my chance. For
that delicate poise on the edge of
, \ ha
cence to those two contending bodies
Without conpunct1on. without hesita.
tion, brought the end OF that iron
, brace down on the wrinkled white
forehead of Dopey Jones. The next
; moment that head relaxed, with a
slight backward movement, and the
twisted jaws fell apart. I remember
dropping the brace, but I don't remem-
} Der seeing Winkie worm back from
tnat slippery precipice and get to his
feet For I was more interested just
then In making sure of my prisoner
At that moment Toosey appeared
through the roof-hatch. followed by
two policemen.
The Chiefs or the wire downstairs
waitin' to talk to you" explained
| Iocsey. And when I went down nv
Winkie insisted on coming with me.
There's something 1 want to saw
before you talk to that man." declared
) the masterful winkie.
What he said shall not be written
here. 1t was meant for me and winkie
and for nobody else But I was still
} smiling little dreamily, 1 know, as
took up the receiver. And heard In
spector Sioan's voice.
Say, Balmy want you to run down
couple Of mulatto pearl-smugglers
for me. Wilkins reports them taking
the Pennsy 4:1o for Philadelphia. and
over there they're likely to strike for
Chinatown. So dig EN- out."
Tt can't be done.'' replied.
Cant it, now? And why not7" I
could detect the mockery in the voice.
But the old ironic note was no longer
lash TO me.
Because I'm busy"