Evening star., 1922-11-05

W WIEN Webster G. burgess
A/ asked ten of his cronies TO
NN dine with him at the Uni
versity Club on q. night IN
January they assumed that the pr
dent Of the White River Nationai hao
been indulging In another adventure
which he wished to tell them ABOUT.
In spite Of their constant preuic-
tions that II he didn't stop hlains
crooks in his house and playing tricks
on the police department ne "ouio
ultimately find himself In JAIL MT.
Burgess continued to find amusement
in frequent dallyings with gentlemen
OF the underworld. In town OF ap--
proximately 100000 people banker
is expected to go to church on sun
DAYS and otherwise conduct himself
as a decent, orderly and law-abidins
citizen. but the president OF the mite
River National did not see things IN
that light. AS a member OF the noaro
of directors of the Released Prison
ers' Aid Society he was always ready
with the excuse that his heart was
deeply moved by the misfortunes OF
those who keep to the dark SIDE OF
the street and that sincere philan-
thropy covered all his sins in their
behalf.
When his friends met at the club
and found Gov. Eastman one OF the
dinner party they resented the pres
ence OF that dignity as likely to
impose restraints upon Burgess, who.
for all his jauntiness, was not wholly
without discretion. But the governor
was a good fellow, as they all knew
and a story-teller Of wide reputation.
Moreover, he was taking his Job seri-
ousiy, and, being practical men. they
liked this about him. 1t was said
that no governor since civil war times
had spent so many hours at his desk
OF had shown the same zeal and ca
paclty for gathering information at
first hand touching all departments
of the state government. Eastman. as
the country knows, is an Independent
character, and 1t was this quality,
shown first as a prosecuting attorney,
that had attracted attention and
landed him in the seat of the Hoosier
governors.
II suppose" remarked Kemp as
they sat down. that these tablets are
scattered around the table so We can
make notes of the clever things that
will be said here tonight. It's a good
idea and gives me a chance to steal
some Of your stories, governor
4 SCRATCH pad with pencil at
n tached had been placed at each
plate, and the diners spent several
minutes In chatting Burgess as 70 the
purpose Of this unusual table decora-
tion.
IT guess" said Gorirg, that Web
,s going to ask US to write limericks
for a prize and that the governor Is
here to Judge the contest. Indoor
winter sports don't appeal to me; ]
pass"
I'm going to write notes to the
house committee on mine" said Fan
ming: the food in this club IS not
what 1t used to be. and it's about time
somebody kicked"
"As I've frequently told you." re-
marked Burgess. smiling upon them
from the head Of the table. you fel-
lows have no imagination. You'd
never guess what those tablets are
Tor. and maybe III never tell you"
Nothing is 50 innocent as a piece
of white paper" said the governor.
oyeing his tablet. Wed better be
careful not to jot down anything that
nigh, fy W and hit US afterward
For sll we know. It may be a scheme
TO get our signatures for Burgess to
stick on notes without relief from
valuation o. appraisemant laws. Us
about time for another Bohemian oats
swind!A and our friend Burgess may
expect to work US for the prices Of
the d!nnar."
''Web's bound to go to Jail some
day" remarked Ramsay, the surgeon.
"and he'd better do It while you're In
ONCE, governor. You may not know
that he's hand in glove with all the
criminals IN the country: he quit
poker SO he could give all his time to
playing with crooks"
Tho warden Of the penitentiary
has warned me against him." replied
the governor easily. Burgess has
man at the gate to meet convicts as
they emerge, and all the really bad
ones are sent down here for Burgess
to put up At this club"
II never did that but once Bur-
CESS protested, land that was only
because my mother-in- was visit
stand for burglar as fellow guest.
My wife's got used to 'em. But the
joke Of putting that chap up here
at the club isn't on me. but on Ram
say and Cotton. They had luncheon
with him one day and thanked me
afterward for introducing them to so
interesting a man. I told them he
was q manufacturer from st. Louis
and they swallowed 1t whole. Petit
was the name. but he has string Of
aliases as long as this table. and
there's not a rogue's gallery in the
country where he isn't indexed. You
remember, Cotton, he talked q good
deal Of his travels. and he could do SO
honestly, n he'd cracked safes all
tho way from Boston to Seattle"
Ramsay and Cotton protested that
this could not be so: that the man
they had luncheon with was q shoe
manufacturer and had talked of his
business ~ only an expert could.
Tho governor and Burgess eK-
chanesd glances and both laughed.
He knew the shoe business all
right enough" said Burgess. "for he
learned 1t in the penitentiary and
proved 50 enicient that they made him
foreman Of the shop!"
Il suppose" said Kemp. that
vou'ye got another crook coming to