The Washington herald., 1920-09-01

the coat OF the plain -Clothes man.
What's eatin' your" demanded
the megaphonist. abandoning his
professional discourse for pure
English.
Keep her at anchor for a min
ute" ordered the officer. There's
a man on board we want-a
Philadelphia burglar called Pin
ky Mcclure. There he is on the
back seat. Look out for the side,
Donovan"
Donovan went to the hind wheel
and looked up at James williams.
Come down, old sport" he
said. pleasantly. We've got you.
Back TO Sleepytown for yours. 1t
amt a bad idea. hidin' on a Rub
berneck, though. I'll remember
that"
Softly through the megaphone
came the advice OF the conductor:
Better step off. sir. and explain.
The car must proceed on it's tour"
James Williams belonged anon;
the level heads. with necessary
sloWness he picked his way
through the passengers down TO
the steps at the front of the car.
His wife followed. but she first
turned her eyes and saw the es-
capped tourist glide from behind
the furniture van and slip behind
tree on the edge of the little
park. not fifty feet away.
Descended to the ground, James
Williams faced his captors with
smile. He was thinking what
good story he would have TO
tel in Cloverdale about having
oeen mistaken for a burglar. The
huooerneck coach fingered. out.
OF respect for its patrons. What
coulo De a more interesting sight
than this?
My name is James Williams
or Cloverdsle. Mo-" he said kind.
~ so that they would not be too
mortihed. Il have letters hers
that will show"
You'll come with us. please
announced the plain-clothes mar
IPinky McGuire's descrintion
hts you like flannel washed in hot
suds. A detective saw Won ON tbe
Rubberneck up at Central Pal
and 'phoncd down to TAX. Won ~
Do your explaining at the sta
tion-house."
Wlfn-htC c
pride of two weeks-looked hir,
IN tne race with a strange, soft
raoiance in her eyes and a nush
on her' cheeks. looked him in the
face and said:
%q with EN- quietly. Pinky,'
ana maybe itll be in your favor
AND then as the Glaring-st-
GOTHAM car rolled away she
turned and threw a kiss-his
wife threw kiss-at some one
hlsh up on the seats of the Rub
bcrneck.
Your girl gives you good ad-
vice, MCGUIRE" said Donovan
Come on. now"
And then madness descended
upon and occupied James viii
liams. He pushed his hat far
upon the back of his head.
My wife seems to think l am
burglar" he said recklesslv
i never heard OF her being era
zy; therefore l must be. And n
I'm crazy. they cant do ANYTHING
10 me for killing YOU two fools |
in my madness"
Whereupon he resisted arrest
so cheerfully and industriousIy |
that cops had to be whistled for |
and afterwards the reserves. to !
dlsperse few thousand delighted |
spectators.
At the station-house the desk
sergeant asked for his name.
McDoodle, the Pink. or Pinky- !
the Brute, l forget which" was |
James Williams answer. But
you can bet I'm a burglar; don't |
leave that out. And you might J
add that it took five Of EN- TO |
pluck the Pink. Id especially !
IKE to have that in the records"
In an hour came Mrs. James
Williams, with Uncl" Thomas, of 1
Madison Avenue. in a respect
compelling motor car and proofs |
OF the hero's innocence-for all |
the world like the third act of a |
drama backed by an automobile
mfg. CO.
After the police had sternly
reprimanded James Williams for
initiating a copyrighted burglar
and given him as honorable a
discharge as the department was
capable of, Mrs. Williams rear
rested him and swept him into an
angle of the station-house.
James Williams regarded her
with one eye. He always said |
that Donovan closed the other
while somebody was holding his
good right hand. Never before
had he given her a word of re-
proach or of rcproof.
IF you can explain" he began
rather stifiy, why you"
Dear" she interrupted, listen.
1t was an hours pain and trial
to you. / did it for her-I mean
the girl who spoke to me on the
coach. l was so happy, Jim-so
happy with you that l didn't dare
to refuse that happiness to an
other. Jim, they were married ]
only this morning-those two: !
and l wanted him to get away.
While they were struggling with |
you I saw him slip from behino 1
his tree and hurry across the
park. That's all of it, dear-I
had to do it"
Thus does one sister of the II
plain gold band know another
who stands in the enchanted light
that shines but once and briefly
for each one. BY rice and satin
bows does mere man become
aware of weddings. But bride
knoweth bride at the glance of
an eye. And between them
swiftly passes comfort and mean
ing in q language that man and
widows wot not of.