Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-19

the first time. He produced an cleo
trio torch.
Handy in a Pullman" he said.
You're promoted" said Fudge, de-
lightedly. YEP thought SOL
What inspired that remark was a
continuance like dumb waiter.
They send the stuff down here to
be packed-that leads right up to the
store" said Fudge. Now, I'll get in
and you pull on the rope TIL catch
I'll send the car down and pull
you up"
There was little argument about
precedence. Billy was his kid. said
Rockingham. But Fudge said he had
n no FAMILY, and was litter sacrifice sac
Which. if one studies the situation.
was not unlikely event. Fudge won.
'Just second" he said, when he
was curled up in the car. Look
around--there ought to be lot OF
rope in a shipping room. Borrow
coil. and give it here"
1t was done, and he went up. No
one can, with justice. assail Pudge's
courage. But his nerves were dis
| tinctly jumpy as he stepped out and
Gus behind the-counter section Of
Whites. He was practically certain
there wac a Waterman, and the man
might be armed and have nervous
trigger finger. Also. Pudge's status,
to put it mildly. was irregular and
unsanctioned.
No Waterman appeared. About one
light in twenty. at guess. had been
left burning, and there was a sort of
dim. religious light upon the enter
prise. Fudge sent the car down. and
hauled up the rest of the team. BY
The watchman. he felt, wasn't play
ing fair. He should have sprung out
at once. And he was probably Turk
Ing in the shadows somewhere. walt
ing. like theatrical star, for an
effective entrance cue.
THEY passed out into the main
portion of the store. where their
loot awaited them. They gasped at
it's richness. And in moment Fudge
discovered that he had misjudged the
Waterman. For that blameless indi-
yidual lay on one Of the counters. fast
asleep. snoring in a good. honest, ma
for key They surveyed him with in
terest, and then, with dexterity
acquired in the days whom it had
man class officers from reaching class
banquets, trussed and gagged him.
When they were done he was quite
helpless save for his eyes and his
These they s begged ID him ihs to 1ss
said Pudge. misauoting the Prophet
can't, can you? So we'll tell you. in
stead. In the first place. Waterman,
hope your taaghs
are often misleading. You might
think we were burglars. II you didn't
know that. And. you see. we're only
shoppers Nice respeetaele resp pens
ably has a charge account. But we're
not going to use 1t. We're going to
pay cash. Understand"
II don't think he does" said Froth-
into the spirit of the adventure. Thi
was probably because he had already
let himself in for complicated terms
in Jail: Il don't think he wants to
make friends with u.s."
I'm going to give him a chance"
said Fudge. Listen. now, Waterman.
We don't look like thieves. now. do
we? It would take too long to explain
everything, but we've got to have
Christmas won't be spoiled. We've
looked all over for store that was
open, and none Of them were. 30 We
came here. When you tell Mr.. White
pays to s sdvertise r'T TEN him INN w a
heard Of his store that way. Well
leave plenty OF money With you to
pay for what we take, and we'll leave
go to Jail any time after breakfas ST.
but not before. Now Will you be a
good Waterman and help US get what
we want? I'm going to take out your
gag 50 that you can answer"
He did.
Help! Police! THE" began the
Waterman. 1t appeared that he was
q watchman OF rare gie.minded-
Fudge looked at him, much more II,
sorrow than in anger
I'm admit that I'm disappointed in