The Washington herald., 1921-07-31

.
bursts into flower.
Bill Heron, super crook, retired from
criminal pursuits with q snug fortune, un-
vept, unsung but not unhonored-for there
IL honor among thieves-bestowed by the
many who are caught upon the few who &c:
away with IL And Heron had never been
eaught-with the goods. The bulls did not
even have his fngerprints- A supreme
and exalted dip, q scientist who had done
much to eliminate that element Of chance
which alone prevents poker from being q
respectable profession, q King Of con men,
be had abdicated, reGsned and retired in
the heyday Of success, with Q couple Of big
prospects In view, because he found himself
ne ownsr Of . certain sum which he hae
long ago nIed upon - necessary for riSht
living.
Threupon hs had married the right girl,
built the right sort Of q house IN the right
section Of q small city and settled down.
He did not attend church, but his children
did. he freely INDUCED his simple tastes
for hunting, fishing, following the racing
circuit and the big league games, aud in
time overcame his old prejudice against per
without his pausing to give them the double
o in the reflection of a shop window.
There drifted from time to time sinister
ghosts Of the past across the serene leth-
srgy of his present Kings in exile are Wis
tied BY furtive shadows Of bygone empire
one time testers, minus cap and bells seedy
eonspirators; old, faithful retainers claim
ing sanctuary. So there came to Bill Her
ron derelicts from the SHOWS Of yesteryear,
and sat uneasily, or impudently, or be-
seechfngly in his pleasant study, and
smoked his cigars, and blinked perplexedly
in his domestic atmosphere, and would fain
share his prosperity.
From casual panhandlers he shielded him.
self by scrawling on his own gate post a
magic symbol which he had learned In his
unresenerate days, a symbol which warned
the fraternity to, keep out and live long.
But he never red dsed to sec an old pal. II
broke. he came across with q generous
stake; often he paid fines, sometimes put
up bail, more frequently hired ratty and
secretive criminal attorneys for them Now
and then one tried to blackmail him, and
to srch he showed no mercy. Nobody had
anything on him-so he kicked them i'm
partially down the front steps, and, II
necessary, clear across the lawn and
through the gate. And II they came back
with anonymous letters to his wife, or
guarded tips to muckrakers, disagreeable
things transpired in their lives. Some
times they were even cut of In their prime
to the gain Of the social fabric and Of Her
ron's peace Of mind
TO HIM there came an old playmate one
i mellow twilight as he sat smoking q mild
panetela in the grateful anticipation of a
dinner whose chief feature was to be a fine
landlocked salmon he had hooked that very
day little, w1xened, sad-faced man, with
the fingers of q sculptor, but nicotine
stained and nervous, and the brow of one
born a few thousand years too late.
"Good evenin', boss" said he.
Greetings, Ferret" replied the re-
spected citizen, who had not seen him for
more than ten years, but who never forgot
q face. Besides, his caller had an easy face
TO remember. whats the story? Busted7'
The Ferret shook his head.
mo fear" he said. I've got a swell
rraft. It's about Louie the Leper 1 come
Guess you've read the dope on him?"
Heron nodded. Louie had usurped the
front page for days, and his trial for
numbering old Bayliss had resulted in tht
unanimous opinion of twelve good true men
who probably could not have found another
topic in the whole world upon which to
agree.
He goes up the river next week" con-
tfnued the Ferret. Thursday, prSbably,
though we're not sure. To the death house.
He's all through"
Heron exhaled a mouthful Of blue smoke.
and the Ferret, having refused cigar, dug
up a packet Of cigarettes unworthily per.
petuating the name of a great dynasty, and
absent-mindedly scratched a match on the
Circasstan walnut arm Of his chair.
"An' I can put you wise to another
Cling" his voice rumbled on from cloud
Of yillainous smoke. HE was framed! The
bulls bad b get somebody, and Louie couldn't
fx I'D IN atr-tght ala. He was trying to
pull something else In the same street as old
man Bsyless lived on, though he didn't know
nothing about him Eertinx himself croaksd,
TN he was rounded up In the dragnet You
know Louie never was very strong for the
rough stuff. 'Twasn't his lay"
"who did kin Bayliss then?' demanded
Heron
TlHE Ferrets shifty eyes passed warfly
! from the closed door to the shaded win
dows. He leaned forward in his chair and
whispered: The Baltimore kid. You know,
McCuen! But they can't hang it on him;
he made a clean getaway"
"Does Louie knowf'
''Sure he knows. But he won't squeal
He's a good little guy, in his way. That's
why come to you'll
Heron regarded the Ferret steadily for a
long minute.
Cummings and Gettings defended him, I
believe?" be asked.
"They tried to-