Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-18

Shag Fewster and Citrate Sam had
conferred earlier in the day.
Before I was out of bed the NEXT
morning I had my desk phone in my
hand. and was sending out little car
rier-pigeons of inquiry into different
parts of the city. Wilkins, I found,
had duly reported to the Alliance
office that Chick Eberts had been in
conference with one Nutty Coombs.
After that conference. however, Will
kins had lost the trail Of both his
quarries. Toosey Attrill, on the other
hand. had as yet put in no report.
was, in fact. hurriedly boiling the
last of my bed-tray breakfast when
Toosey herself appeared on the scene.
She was not altogether triumphant,
She had both dined and danced with
Chick, it was true, but Chick had not
been lavish in his talk, announced
Toosey as she sat watching me lacing
my gunholster. 1t hung c,ose to my
body. where three snaps in my waist
front concealed the opening through
which my right hand could at any
moment be thrust to clutch the stock
there. ~ ~ - -s't'a-
Some harness, that" observed the.
appreciative Toosey. as l. dropped q
dowdy black skirt over my head, for .
that morning I'd decided it would
pay to appear in my plainest apparel.
And as finished dressing instruct.
ed Toosey to do what she could to
follow up the elusive Chick, explain
ing that I myself was off to the region
OF Chatham Square to pick up any
thing I could as to the whereabouts
and the intentions of one Nutty
Coombs.
My quest was not altogether q
promising one. For Nutty, I found,
after an hours hard work, was moth
ing more than a decrepit old till-tap-
per who now preferred keeping
within the law.
Yet my search. felt. was not alto
gether wasted. for once I had come
within striking distance of that pic
turesque figure. I found Nutty to be ,
making his way up toward the heart
OF the city. where panhandlers are
customarily tabooed.
. His first depression was to enter a
rather melancholy looking Sd avenue
dry goods store. where he purchased
a square. yard of canton flannel. His
second was to pick up from beside
the curb small paving stone, about
the size of brickbat. This he pushed
into the side-pocket of greasy look
ing overcoat. which he wore in total
disregard of the season.
Then he entered a humble looking. :.
grocery, where he purchased a pint Of :.
This molassSs he :.
carefully spread out on his square
yard of canton flannel, explaining to-
the slightly mystified shopkeeper that =,
he'd discovered a new and efficient
cure for lumbsgo. Then he folded his
square of flannel together. rolled it
up and tucked it under his arm.
Since I'd entered that same store
to make due observation Of these
I found it necessary to x
excuse my presence there by. making y
purchase; so. with my mind other
wise occupied, 1 stared at an open I,
carton OF pearl tapioca. and said I :.
ten pounds Of tapioca. This
was duly weighed out for me, put in
brown paper bag and tied up, with :.
Nutty in the meantime shuffling out
once more to the open.
That tapioca made much larger
md much more cumbersome parcel
han I had expected. But there was
lothing to do but carry it away, once
t had been done up and paid for. And
reached the street again just in time
% behold Nutty Coombs carefully
wrapping the paving stone up in his
heet of yellow-tinted paper and as
'arefully tying it with the bit of
tring which he had carried from the
hop. Then he shuffled on northward
gain until he had passed 42d street
or three blocks. turning westward
gain until he came to Lexington
venue. where. for some purpose
ouldn't fathom. he suddenly dipped
nto the post Office substation just
'ack of the Grand Central station.
He was in and out Of that Office be-
ore could even catch up with him.
What happened there. what message
lie gave out or received. had no
a a q Vpn ~ vyvs