Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-26


could do was to stare blankly at "Soapy"'
and wait for something tangible to turn
up. Nc Sfay suddenly appreciated the
poor fellows dilemma and supplied the
necessary relief
"Whnt say, Bill?"
WhCreupon "Bll' started to shake his
head. but oatSldng The scowl II disap.
provnl Or "sTaty's' prov, hastily
Good" exclaimed Mr.. shay. THAT
completely, clears my conscience. 80
And half a minute later he presented
himself at Ruth Clintons cabin,
ford, as she opened the door She also
opened her eyes very wide, and scnt d"
what do you WANT" she demanded
ENORMOUSLY Of the unexpected visitor
MIR shay took off his hat. 'fd like a
few words with Miss Clinton" he said.
It's important, ma am. She viii hear
something TO her advantage, as they
say in the personals"
''will you please return at O'Clock,
Mr. Shay? My niece Is resting after
III, ariuous lahore Of .he-.- ."
81 dassent wait" said 'SCapy," with a
furtive glance over hts ShudiIrr. ~ 4,
sees me, III probably have to change my
"Who is it, aunte?' called out a clear
"'soapy Shay" replied the visitor
Mr. Landover will be here presently
Mr.. Shay" began the obstacle III tn"
doorway .s.. 20,
getting himself so far as To wink. II
expect you haven't heard the news
ma am. He's had his nose put out OF
joint" 90. :"
come in, Soapy," cried Ruth. %
Ruth, my dpar---do you know WHO
do you know what
sure, she knows" again imterTuGi,GG S,o !
anybody's jewels. Mrs. Sponord--hnI,d
besides which I am the principal canhl-
date for sheriff of this batliwick. lou n
don't suppose a man who's running lGr
thc office of sheriff on Mr.. y. \. Pcrci-
vars ticket Is going to lift anything pe-
fore election, do you? Besides which We
made up my mind to be straight as lnhg
as I'm on this island, and IL I'm elected
which ! will be-fm going to see 'nat
nobody else does anything crooked: MI
A. A. Percival Is a wise guy--a mtshty
wise guy. Says he TO me, 'Soapy, you are
one Of the mos most s,, sXnert,G,.II, :, caI,.d on, puth
Mr. SHAY entered You better shut
the door. Mrs Spofford," he said cool
ly. what | got to say Is private. a.! AZ
was saying, a. A. says to me, 'Soapy'
Won are one of the earliest and slip
periest crooks on this sid" OF the Atlan-
tic ocean. what YOU don't Know apout
crime would fll a hook about as thick as
n hostage stamp There's nobody on inls
island moro Ittin' to be an oihG"T or NE
law, You know everything that an Oh
ficer Of the law ought TO knQ"' anl pc
sides which YOU know everything iha'
be elected sheriff of Trigger Island,
'rhat's wnat A. A. says 10 me, ana. as
usual, he's dead right. Why ma am
there amt n thief in the universe tnat
ral oil me. don't have to nave any
eyldenCc--not a grain Of It. All ! got 70
do is to just ask 'cm why they done ~
But what | dropped in to see YOU ahou., ,
MISS Ruth. is--say' you an dror n, GS IN arc are
N"u@ | wouldn't have him ketch me
ii am not eXpec,ing Mr.. dr%G T@IiiT9I. cX.
soapy.", she said, her n% gh%e nN'u 'N
We'll then" said he. Il got a mi,r
story 20 tell you It's the gospel truth
Just Try 10 forgct that used to be
crook and that in ordnaLn iilH ,,',.., ",,, nn
one of the most gosh-awful liars on
earth. But there's absolutely no peas
ure in lying nowadays. and as for wotk-
ing at my regular trade, Mrs, Spoh r. u,
you needn't be tn" least bit herNous. ~
ain't ntCessary for you to set on tild'
trunk. Take this chair, pl aSc, NoW'
YOU remember some time back that a a.
and your friend Landovcr had Il MIX
up In 'he last named gentleman S sIH't.
room and YOU also must remember NhdI
Mr. JHudoycr told you about 1t ana
that Mir reTCiVal never told you any
thing about 1t. We'll. | was "A WIN rs
TO that fracas. / just happened 70 DC
walking along the deck when something
see what It was. You'd never guess what
it was. After looking at 1t very care
fully | discovered it was a portho!e'
FOrsakiug his Whimsical manner, ne
related tersely In as few words as pos
sible the story of the encounter; A.,
Nov, it's my guess that Mr.. AneI
Landover didn't speak the .whoIe uut'' u
and nothing but the truth when n lus
nshed you with his version the az
fair. Am / right. or am | wrong! ne
asked, in conclusion. ,,.,,,
II prefer to believe Mr., l.andoyer 3
story" said Mrs. Spofrord Stittiy' VIII
you be good enough to 50 no"' MI
Sure" said 'Soapy." rising: I'm not
asking anybody to take my word against
his. I'm just telling you, that's all Good
afternoon ladies'. ,,,
"It was not Mr.. perCivRl who h'n,
the shot? You are sure Of that, Soapy?
Ruth was standing now. Her eyes were
very dark and tempestuous.
Sure as my right name amt Soapy
Shay" returned the witness, holding up
his right hand.
"Ruln, il isn't possible that you place
any cred,nCe in---
'Thank you for coming, SOapy' in
terrupted Ruth. 1T was very good OF
you"
"Soapy" fingered at the door, FUN
bling his dIlapidated hat. MIS- SPol-
ford was staring speechlessiy AT her
niece.
ia a little sooner you wouldn't say
anything to A. y. about M" p"arh,1E
on him" said 'Soapy,' somewhat
Il shall not peach on you, Soapy,y
said tn girl, a JOYOUS smile suddenly
illuminating her face.
"Soapy" went out, As he closed the
door, he sad to himself: Next time
you tell me to go to hell Abe Land
over. | guess you'd better FURNISH a
guide that knows the way
As soon as the door was ca d, Mrs
SpOfford turned upon her radiant niece,
You are not such a fool as to believe
that rascals story, Ruth?'
Il believe every word of it, cried
the girl.
CHAPTER NNII
Sailors shifted the gale that night,
Shuok their heads and said there was
snow on the tail of 1t, Morning found the
ground mottled with splashcs Of white
and fine, froSt-liEe sleet blowing mt
fully across the Ilain. The ridge Of trees
over against the shore became vague
and shupelrss beneath the uNnN II,
while the sea out beyond the breakers
was clothed in u gray shroud, bleak and
impenetrable.
Knapendyke was positive and reassur-
Ing in his contention that nn great
amount OF snow fell upon -" i3,oud
While much of the vegetation was OF u
character Indigenous to the temperate
zone there was, he pointed out, another
type peculiar to tropical climates and
Rltl ough the latter was of Il Singulurly
hardy nature. 1t was not calculated tt
survive the rigo:s of harsh, prCtracted
winter.
Well navc SPELLS like this off ana on,
Just as they occasionally do In Florida
~. Is,lt 9.