The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-15

Yes. it might" admitted Peter
ruminatively.
Sure it will-but Wen give him
chance. Are y on?" he asked.
Peter was silent for a moment. And
then:
81 don't see why you want that
paper of McGuire's,'' he said. 9TH ey're
eactly alike, you say-both incrimin-
ating. And If you've got your paper
handy
Peter paused, but Kennedy was in
the act of swallowing another glass of
whisky and he didn't stop to answer
the ha1f-formulated query. He gave
a gasp of satisfaction and then Shrug
ged.
No use, Pete" he said huskily. al
said I had paper and I have paper
handy, but I've got to have McGuire's
paper, too. I amt got money and
spotless reputation like Mike Mcclure,
but I don't want paper like that float
in round undversh with my name
signed to it,
ct don't blame you," said Pete dry
ly.
Hawk Kennedy was talking thickly
now and spilled the whisky in trying
to pour out a new glassful.
600 whisky this-goo' ole whisky,
Pete. Goo ole Peter. Say, you'll get
pater, peekI mean Peter pape-Oh,
h Paper. You know"
'eTIl have to think about it, Jim"
Can't think when yer drunk, Pete,
he muttered with an expiring grin
''Tomorr' Mother drink an then
we'll go sleep. Don't mind my sleep
in here, Pete. Nice plache shleep-
Goo old shleep. ."
Peter paused in the act of pouring
out another drink for him and then at
a. 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 a 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 ex-
amined them carefully, watching the
man in the chair intently the while
Hawk stirred but did not awaken.
Peter searched the oVercoat men by
inch There was nothing in the
pockets but tin or TOBACCO ana d
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 repulsdve task of searching the
recumbent figure now lay before MIN
But the game had been worth the
candle. If the fateful confession was
anywhere in Hawks clothing Peter
meant TO find it and yet even now he
hesitated. He put the whisky bottle
aUay. cleared up the mess and then
bodily picked his visitor up ana car
ried him to the bed. Hawk muttereo
som ething in his sleep, but 1elI prone
and Immediately was snor1ngg Sterloi-
ous1y. Then Peter went through MS
nockets methodica1ly, removing an au-
~ is
examining all his papers carefully by
the light of the Tampa hotel Dill re-
ceipted. some letters in woman
hand a few newspaper clippings pear
ing on the copper market. a pocket
hook containing bills of large oenoH-
nation some soiled business cafoS OIL
representatives of commercial houses,
a notebook containing addresses ana
small accounts, a pass book OF a Ph1l-
adelphia bank, the address or Wnlcn
Peter noted. And that was all. Elk
bausting every resource Peter went
over the lining Of his coat and vest
inch by inch, even examined MS I'M
derwear and his shoes and STOCKINGS
From the skin, out, Hawk kennedy
had now no secrets from Peter. Inc
discriminating confession was not on
Hawk Kennedy's clothing.
At last Peter gave up the search
his corncob pipe, puzzled at his rail-
ure. And yet, was it failure AFTER
all? Hawk had eluded every attennPt
70 discuss his copy of the confession.
He had it 'thandy," he had said. a
safe deposit box at the Phnadeiphia
hank of which Peter had made record
would be handy. but someno" FeleL
thought the chances We're 49,
a eainst Kennedy's having put II nnere
Men of his type usually carry every
thing they possess about their persons
peter remembered the ragged waHet
of the Bermudian,
what if after all these years OF
bardships the paper had been worn so
that it was entirely 1lleslple' OF ihu
- :, Kannedv's many wanderings 1T
rod been lost? Either of these theories
was plausible, but none PROVOKED d
decision. So after while Peter wen
indoors. and, opening all the WINDOWS
oDd doors to cleanse the air. sat IN the
big chair and bundling himself IN
blanket, fell asleep.