The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-08-24
When Fortune
Knocks
y, GILBERT PAYNE


seat In the railway compartment. hot
and uncomfortable. II was n whiting
July day. and he had come twenty.
seven miles on a dlsagreeable Journey.
haynes was district attorney for .
tiny rural territory that had practical
~ no criminals. and he had regarded
the job NJ q sinecure until "Dopy"
Troop. n notorious criminal. saw M
90 turn his activities 10 his direction.
and. entering the house ~ an old
lady. murdered her In cold blood and
got away with a haul ~ several thou.
sand dollars worth ~ jewelry.
The old lady in question happened
10 be highly connected with CERTAIN
Influences. Wherefore. on the nrh
day after the occurrence. when
'Dopy" appeared Ia have made his
getaway successfully. Chester Haynes
received a summons 10 the capital
20 undergo grilling AZ the hands
~ the governor
lie took with him the chief ~ 20
lice. who had been grcccr. and
whose severcst task had hitherto been
the impoundlng ~ stray dogs and the
pursuit ~ urchlns caught In the act
~ stealing apples OF tying tin cans
To ours tails
The train vas practically empty
except for the chief - police. lolllng
asleep In one corner, with his mouth
open. aud volumnous old lady op
posite Haynes who shifted prodigious-
~ In the intervals ~ applying her
handkerchief to her nose.
The slow way.trHin went jogging
along. stopping unrcasonably every
few minutes rs u seemed n Ches-
ter lie wiped his vet forehead with
his handkerchief. then rammed u
down his collar, then put u back In
his pocket. Everything was sticky and
humid and IL would he hotter still
when haynes had his interview with
the governor and tried 10 explain
why "Dopy" Troop had not yet been
detected
The chief ~ police insisted that
he was hiding somewhere near the
scene II the murder. until the hue
and cry died away. hut Chester Haynes
and all the rest ~ the citizens. were
sure that he had made his getaway
Tn" train logged on. Chester got
hotter and hotter. the police chief
snored. and the old lady. leaning
back with her eyes closed. shifted
Chester listened 10 the music ~ the
wheels. and he fitted a snlff into every
sixth revolution. Sometimes 10 came.
sometimes II Just missed. ~ last u
became unhearable. lie leaned for.
ward In his seat.
For Gods sake stop that smiling.
madam :" he said.
The old woman opened her eye.
looked at him mildly. and went 60
sleep again. Snin sniY-snir out
came the handkerchief
Chester was becoming absolutely
frantic lie sat there. thinking ~
what the governor would say 20 him
and - what he would say TO the
governor
"Snln' SnIn!"
Chester was feeling murderous lie
'esned forward again and beloved In
the old lady's ear:
"For Gods sake. madam. stop that
shifting I tell you I can't bear t."
The old lady opened her eyes again.
looked at him. and nodded politely
Evidently the old lady was stone deaf
she thought he had made some re-
mark about the weather She leaned
back. closed her eyes again.
sniff Sniff sniff"
Chester glanced deliberately about
him. and his eyes fell on the police
chiefs gold-headed cane. which had
been presented 90 him by admirers
on the occasion ~ his vacntlng the
grocery counter for his more exalted
Once He had lost all control over
himself lie felt homicidal.
'snln, Snlff'"
Chester haynes raised the cane and
held II. knob downward. in the air.
"Snin. Snlf'"
Chester haynes let the knob fall
on the old lady's head.
An oath burst from the old lady's
lips. The chief 81 police sat up and
rubbed his eyes Chester rubbed his.
The stick had knocked on the wig
With the bonnet. disclosing the cropped
head II redhalred rufiian. who was
even now making a quick dash for the
window.
Hold him." the police chief shout.