Evening star., 1920-11-21

1t were a booth at country fair. The
clork saw them coming. 1t showed in
his face.
,Babbing said: "Padages Palmas."
The clerk did not move. He was in
New York accosted BY the provinces
What did you say r'
Babbing regarded him a moment,
mildly thoughtful. He cleared his
throat Young man." he said, 7 want
q a.. seessr 2 called the Padages Palmas,
the easiest way for you to tell it.
when you see it, is to read the name
on the band around the middle"
the clerk had turned his back to
get a box from the shelves behind
Yes. Babbing said. that's the
one. Are these fresh?'
I opened it myself yesterday" The
box was still full.
7 don't much like them fresh"
The clerk tried to look his indif-
ference. I'VE don't keep
You can keep four OF those" Bah
ping cut In cheerfully and passed on
Barney followed him. And Barney
conid feel the clerks eyes witheringly
on his back.
THIS was good fun. but Barney did
not see the drift OF it. When
they issued on 42d street again and
started to cross toward the Beaumont
he began to understand.
They mounted the Beaument's mar.
BILE steps together and approached
the cigar counter. The clerk here
was an older man. who was perhaps
accustomed to serving miilionaires in
Fshabbiness. Babbing found the box
IN the ehowcasc and pointed to it.
Ia e
bing took two. 'Do you sell many
Of these?''
"Yes. sir" he said. "Quite a num-
ber."
How rnany?"
We'll. I couldn't say exactly. I've
sold six this morning"
Babbing was slow about getting
the cigars into his waistcoat pocket,
and he was slow about getting his
money. out. six. eh? Counting
mine?"
"Yes Another gentleman tooL
'In bet that was Charlie" Bah
bing commented to Barney. Clean
shayen man with blue eyes?" he asked
the clerk. Heavy set?''
think you're right" the clerk
| replied. busying himself with his
eyes. but think you're right. :
Thank you. Nice day."
Babbing grunted. non -committaily.
and went to the desk. He turned to
the arrivals of the previous night
! Among the names of visitors from
Buffalo and Albany there was the
fiorid signature Of a Spencerian cali
graphist who had arrived sinRularIy
from washington, D. C. He was
"Thos. Sullivan"
Babbing led the way to leather
sofa. Il think our man is here" he
said to Barney, under the name of
Thomas Sullivan. He writes like a
forger. anyway. We've got to pick
him up and feel him out. I'm going
outside to telephone lie, to him; If he's
van. You follow the boy around
Nobody'n notice you. They'll think
you're looking for some one Spot
Sullivan II the boy finds him. and
Then we'll get together and rome
him. 49,,
"Yes. SIR" Barney said.
1.-THE telephone booths are down the
hall at the left Of the desk. There's
check this bag till ~ know what we're
going to do The dining-room's at the
end Of the hall Sullivan may be at
breakfast. II any one asks YOU any
questions you're looking for your uncle.
I'm your uncle Sit here for two min
X.
Babbing pursued his placid way to the
door, and Barney sat back on the sofa.
He had no doubt that Sullivan was the
swindler. Palmer. but he could not guess
how Babbing had come almost direct
ly to tho Beaumont to locate him. He
puzzled over it, happily. In the back
ground of his thoughts he was saying
to himself: Gee. this Jobs great!"
When his two, minutes had fnea sured
! themselves on the clock he went to check
his bag. He located the telephone
booths He made sure that the dining
room had not been shifted. AS he re-
turned to the lobby call boy cir
culating among the easy chairs and
smoking tables in front of the news
stand. suddenly began to crow ''Mr
| Sullah-van! Mr. Sullah-van"'
Mr.. Sullivan did not reply. The boy
| turned down the hall to the dining room
| and Barney sauntered after him. "'Mr
| Sullah-vani" The head waiter at the
door bent indulgentiy to ask Barney
| "One?" Barney numbled that he was
looking for his uncle. Standing in The