The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-12-11

against-the strength of the opposing
forces. At that time, l hadn't the
dlmmest suspicion that he was playing
! practically lone hand In the game
and had only one hired detective and
he didn't know what he was watching
Mrs. Delarlo and me for. But as re-
suit Of my thinking, the idea came to
me to find out IL were now watched
and followed.
Telling Mrs. Jlmmson to wait till
came back, and though 1t was raining
hard, l went out for an investigatory
walk around the block.
A man sat in the lower hail as
stepped out Of the elevator. His back
was toward the light of the front door.
think the devil himself must have got
into me then; for without looking at
Mr.. Man, except the glance gave him
as left the car, walked straight into
him and stepped on his toe, hard.
He said: "Ouchr p
said: ooh, beg your pardon Did
! hurt you very much7"
"No--not very much," he replied.
and looked glum.
l walked half block and turned
sharply In my tracks. Mr.. Man was
about twenty feet In the rear, follow.
Ing me. He began to limp the moment
he saw me noticing him.
I walked past my house to the end
of the block. AS turned north, 1 saw
Mr.. Man ambling along In my dlrec-
tion. I stepped into florists and
bought fresh bunch Of hyacinths.
| BY the time had them paid for, Mr.,
Man had reached the store and was
looking In the window, pretending not
to see me.
"Did / hurt you very muchP" asked
sweetly.
"No-not very" he touched his hat
and thought he looked annoyed.
l sprinted along ahead Of him and
turned at One Hundred and Forty-fifth
street. I fancy Mr.. Man had to do q
little sprinting himself on his DOOR
lame foot. l bad vanished into a toy
shop and was buying q doll for my
niece when he discovered me-and pre-
tended he didn't see me. He walked on
ahead, but caught up with him.
"Did hurt you very much?" asked
"No--not very" He was beginning
to look astonished now.
] sprlnted away and turned south on
Amsterdam. There, I went into a sta.
tionery store and bought an Ink eraser
Mr.. Mann passed the door and glanced
in. motioned him to wait, but he pre-
tended not to see. He was some dis
tance ahead when came out. ran
after him and caught up.
"Did hurt you very badly 2" asked
. "No-not very" he answered, eyinl
me narrowly. "I'm afraid you're Civ
ing yourself too much concern over 0
little accident" He was, I saw, be
ginning to wonder which Of us was fol
lowing which!
"No," said quietly, I'm not givinl
myself the least concern over youi
stepped-on toe-Im simply using It al
an excuse'to get good look at you II
various lights so I'll know you agair
in any possible disguise you may as
sume."
have always regarded that episod,
and those last words-as a stroke oi
genius on my part, II do say It'll 1
came to me on the spur of the momen'
without thinking about 1t. and nearl!
bowled Mr.. Man over. Before he hat
decided what to say, or what to do t,
allay my suspicion Of him, l boltet
across the street, diagonally. ducket
between two trolley cars, one of whicl
hid me from view long enough for m,
to get into the corner drug store wher,
dashed into the telephone booth ant
called up Mrs. Delario.
, had considerable difficulty In get
ting her and felt every second wa
, precious. My detective man was lurk
: ing about somewhere looking for me
and l rather guessed she had on
! watching her. My suspicious SCENE,
! confirmed, for the moment she recoR
I uized my voice she said, II ean't tai
! to you" In tragic determined sort o