The Washington herald., 1920-11-06
JI-N1 IT~saLH LHe eaha;I nsbuahyu
y. L You him to rhu
THE FIFTH WHEEL u u esH" ~ s '"S" gave you

er. "she has been searching for you
everywhere"
Great" said Thomas. I'm on
the job. That team of dropsical
dromedarfes they call horses is a
handicap for a first-clsss coschman
like myself; but I'll take the job
back, sure. doc. They're good people
to be with"
suave countenance of the Caliph of
Bagdad. He looked keenly and sus-
piciously at the ex-coachman.
May ask what your name is7''
he said shortly.
You've been looking for me-" said
Thomas, "and don't know my name i?
You're a funny kind of sleuth. You
must be one of the Central Office
gumshoers. I'm Thomas McQuade,
Of course; and I've been chauffeur Of
the Van Smuythe elephant team for
year. They fired me a month ago
for-well, Doc, you saw what / did
to your old owl. I went broke on
booze, and when i saw the tire drop
on your whiz wagon 1 was standing
In that squad Of hoboes at the Worth
monument waiting for a free bed.
hoN prize LOT tne DeSV
answer to all this?"'
To his intense surprise Thomas
felt himself lifted by the collar and
dragged, without a word Of explana-
tion, to the front door. This was
opened. and he was kicked forcibly
down the steps with one heavy, dis
lllusionizing, humiliating impact Of
the stupendous Arabian's shoe.
AS soon as the ex-coachman had
recovered his feet and his wits he
hastened as fast as he could east
ward toward Broadway.
Crazy guy" was his estimate Of
the mysterious automobilist. Just
wanted to have some fun kiddin', 1
guess. He might have dug up a
dollar, anyhow. Now I've got TO
hurry up and get back to that gang
OF bum bed hunters before they ali
get preached to sleep"
When Thomas reached the end Of
MS two-mile walk he found the
ranks OF homeless reduced to a squad
OF perhaps eight or ten. He took
the proper place of a newcomer at
Ine left end Of the rear rank. In the
nle In front of him was the young
man VINO had spoken to him of hos
pitals and something of a wife and
child.
Sorry to see you back again" Z"
sslo the young man. turning to
10 MIN. Il hoped you had
struck something better than this"
MeF said Thomas. "Oh, / just
TOOK run around the block to
keep warm! I see the public amt
t.
night"
In this kind of weather" said
the young man, Charity avails it,
seIt OF the proverb. and both be-
gins and ends at home"
AND now the Preacher and his
vehement lieutenant struck up a
last hymn of petition to Providence
and man. Those of the Bed Liners
whose windpipes still registered
above 80 degrees hopelessly and
tunelessly Joined, in.
In the middle of the second verse
ihomas saw a sturdy girl with wind
tossed drapery battling against the
oreeze and coming straight toward
MIN from the opposite sidewalk
Annie" he yelled. and ran toward
You fool, you fool!. she cried.
weeping and laughing. and hanging
upon his neck. why did you do it?'
Inc Stuff." explained Thomas
orieny. You know. But subse-
quently nit Not a drop" He led
ner. to the curb. How did you
happen to see me?"
Il came to find you," said Annie,
holding tight to his sleeve. "oh.
you big foolI Prof. cherubusco told
US tnat we might find you here"
frof. CHI. Don't know the
guy. What saloon does he work
He's a clearvoyant. Thomas; the
greatest in the world. He found
you with the Chaldean telescope.
he said"
He's liar" said Thomas. 'I
never had 1t. He never saw me
have anybody's telescope"
And he said you came in a chariot
with nves wheels or something"
Annie" said Thomas solicitousIy,
you're giving me the wheels now.
II l had chariot I'd have gone to
oed In IT long ago. And without
any singing and preaching for q
nightcap. either"
Listen, you big fool. The Missis
says she'll take you back. I begged
her to. But you must behave. And
you can go up to the house tonight;
and your old room over the stable
fn readvs