Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-16
THE VAGRANT DUKE
BY GEORGE GIBBS
.r, sorendid Outcast," "The Doue" "The
lufhor OF Ine 'P' Witness" Etc.
\ co,,rtn w D ApD,et q 90.
III have to think about It, jim"
NCnn,t ALi,,l. Ill.,. =. I....i. DaAa I,

III have to think about II, jim"
Cant think when yer drunk, Pete"
ne a.,r muttered with an expiring grin.
'Tomorr'. Mother drink an then
well 90 sleep. Don't mind my sleepn'
nid mere, .,,, Pete Nice glachc shleep. Goo
Peter paused in the act of pouring
out another drink for him and then at
o sound from Kennedy set the bottle
down again. The man suddenly |
sprawled sideways in the chair, his head
back, snoring heavily. Peter watched
him for moment, sure that he couldn't
| be shamming and then looked around
the disordered room, Hawks overcoat
| and hat lay on the bed. On tiptoe
| Peter got up and examined them care
fully, watching the man In the chair
intently the while. Hawk stirred but
did not awaken. Peter searched the
overcoat inch by inch. There was moth
Ing in the pockets but tin of tobacco
and Philadelphia newspaper. SO Peter
restored the articles and then hung the
hat and coat on the nails behind the
door. Hawk Kennedy did not move.
He was dead drunk
The repusive task of searching the
recumbent figure now lay before him.
But the game had been worth the
candle. II the fateful confession was
anywhere in Hawks clothing Peter
meant to find 1t and yet even now he
hesitatcd. He put the whisky bottle
away, cleared up the mess and then
bodily picked his visitor up and car
ried him to the bed. Hawk muttered
something in his sleep, but fell prone and
immediately was snoring stertorously.
Then Peter went through his pockets
methodically. removing an automatic
pistol from his trousers, and examin-
ing all his papers carefully by the light
of the Tampa hotel bill receiptcd, some
letters in woman's hand, few news
paper clippings bearing on the copper
market, pockctbool containing bills
Of large denomination, some soiled
business cards of representatives Of
, commercial houses. a notebook contain
ing addresses and small accounts, n
pass book Of Philadelphia bank, the
address of which Peter noted. And
that was all. Exhausting every re-
source Peter went over the lining of his
coat and vest, inch by inch. even exam
ined his underwear and his shoes and
stockings. From the skin out, Hawk
Kennedy had now no secrets from
/ Peter. The incriminating confession
: was not on Hawk Kennedy's clothing.
, At last Peter gave up the search and
went out into the air, and lighted his
corncob pipe, puzzled at his failure.
, And yet, was it failure after all?
Hawk had cluded every attempt TO dis
Cuss his copy of the confession. He
had 1t handy" he had said. a safe
deposit box ut the Philadelphia bank
of which Peter had made record would
. be handy, but somehow Peter thought
the chances were much against Ken.
!, nedy's having put it there. Men Of his
type usually carry everything they pos
sess about their persons. Peter remcm.
bered the ragged wallet of the Ber
q mudian.
I What if after all these years o
hardsnipG the paper had been worn s.
that it was entirely illcgible, or indecr
: that in Kcnncdy'S many wNndcrings i
had been lost? Either of these thcoric
was plausible, but none provoked ;
, decision. SO after while Peter wen
y indoors, and, opening all the window
y and doors to cleanse the air, sat in til
Il big chair and bundling himself in
- blanket, fell asleep.