New-York tribune., 1921-02-13

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acquiescence, but when Humpy
joined in Mary's expostulations he
curtly bade the reformed yegg to
shut his mouth.
They bent over him as he scru-
tinized the locket.
ROGER LIVINGSTON TALBOT,
April IS, 1918
was engraved on the back of the
trinket. The Hopper made a calcu-
lation and announced two and a
half years as Shaver's age.
"They'd be kale in it, Hop, heap
O. kale," said Humpy mournfully.
"His folks is rich, 1 reckon. If we
wuzn't playin' the white card''--.
Ignoring this evidence of Humpy's
moral instability, The Hopper rose
and put on his hat. "I'm goin' back
to have look at the place where ]
got i'm"
Don't be a foolw Mary pro-
tested.
The Hopper opened the door of
a clock over his head and drew out
revolver, which he examined
carefully and thrust into his pocket.
Then he possessed himself also of
a jimmy and an electric lamp. Mary
buried her face in her apron and
wept. Humpy planted himself
against the kitchen door. The Hop
per pushed him aside roughly.
" 1T
RY THE use of various trolley
lines The Hopper placed him
self within easy range of the cottage
from whose gate he had removed the
roadster and studied it with the eye
Of an experienced strategist. The
frantic parents, fanked by constables
that he had visualized on the YER
anda. we're not Immediately discern
ible, nor did his closer approach re-
veal them. The cottage lay as
serene behind it's shield Of trees and
shrubbery as though it's young heir
had not vanished to parts unknown.
He pondered these curious circum-
stances as he investigated the rear
of the premises. The lattice door to
the summer kitchen opened readily,
and he made his way through un-
locked doors to dining room whose
appointments spoke for good taste
and degree of prosperity in the
household.
In small hamper on the table he
found silver cup, plate and por-
ridge bowl. The Hopper grinned as
he viewed these articles in the light
of his cautious lamp flashes. Shaver
either belonged to the house or had
lately been visitor there, and mani
testify Shaver had been deposited in
the roadster while his lawful guar
dians returned to the cottage for the
hamper. Cup, plate and bowl bore
the name engraved on the locket,
Roger Livingston Talbot, and so far
The Hopper was satisfied with his
Investigations.
He went upstairs and passed rap
idly through bedchamber which had
evidently been deserted in haste. The
adjoining room could be none other
than Shaver's. A white enameled
child's bed, with other furniture to
match and generous assortment of
toys, pointed unmistakably to Shaver
as the occupant. A frieze of dane
ing children and water color sketches
of Shaver's head dabbed here and
there on the walls in the most in
formal fashion limited at an artistic
household. This impression was
strengthened when The Hopper, con-
tlnuing his exploration below, found
studio opening off the living room.
On the floor where it had slipped
from the easel was sheet of sketch
paper on which was written:
Dear Sweetheart: This is a fine
trick you have played on me, you dear
girl. I've been expecting you back
all day. At 6 o'clock decided you
were going to spend the night with
your infuriated parent and thought
I'd try my luck with mine. put
Billie in the roadster and had gone
over to the Flemings to tell them we
were off for the night. They kept me