The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-11


 his young life. He is so insanely vicious he's trying to frame me. Three times in as many days I have managed to find a half pint plant in my car pockets and throw it into the weeds or ash can before his agent could hold me up and make search"
 'That almost gives me an idea," said the Judge. "D'y'ever hear me tell about Tom Graham? No? We'll this Scotch friend of mine, now departed, was an old time newspaperman and Mexico was his habitat for many years. He came here to San Antone during Madero's time, when our paternal government was deeply inter- ested in Mexican politics and awfully wor- ried for fear some plotting might be pulled off on American soil without letting the state department engineer the plot. Gen eral Bernardo Reyes, who wanted to be President of Mexico, was living here. Tom was up here on newspaper business and learned that the old general, friend of his, was present. So he dropped around to call on Reyes. Two detectives who had been hanging around the generals front gate followed Tom back to his hotel, then shadowed him on couple more visits. Finally they couldn't stand it any longer, held Tom up and demanded his business with Reyes. Pm trying to collect bill,' says Tom What for?' asks the detectives. For dynamite says Tom. 'Dynamite?' 'Yes-general bought a million pounds from me. Had me ship it to Yucatan inside cocoanuts. Lots of trouble. Now he doesn't want to pay me for it. The pair of pussy Hooters went away shaking their heads. But they didn't stop following Tom around as long as he was in town. He gave lem some nice runs, afoot and in taxicabs. Made the birds lose lot of sleep and earn part of their salaries Now will you put yourself in my keeping for few days? Let me work out something without asking too many questions-just follow instructions and let nature take it's course?"
 Cupid arose, thrust hand into his tight vest front and announced, in approved po- litical manner: 'I am in the hands of my friends"
 'Then get outa here so I can work on your case"
 As the door closed behind Cupid's elab- orate farewell, Judge VanFleet called: "Claudo!' Came his Mexican friend and IOTmeT secretary, TeCeLCly pToHiOteu CO partnership. Claudio wore pained grin. It pained him to refrain from laughing when he looked toward the door through which had recently passed the funny senor from Chicago.
 "Claudio,' said the Judge, "get me two sets of paperhangers, one for tomorrow and the other for next day. Also two patches of wall paper, one the brightest red you can find the other the most poisonous green on the market-enough of each to line room bout half as big as this. Also couple of men who understand machinery-hydrauli machinery, if you can find them. All hands to keep mum. Bring first gang of paper hangers and paper and the mechanics to the crank house. at 8:30 in the morning" An hour later Judge VanFleet came out of an obscure little sign painters shop on a side street with package under his arm and strolled down toward the wholesale district.
 Next day Cupid called at the office of VanFleet & Sanchez, and found the door locked. He strolled about town, occasion ally hastening his steps after a furtive glance around, when he knew the obvious shadow" was taking worried observation. He lodged into a photographers shop on Alamo Plaza because it had two entrnces, out on the back street and around the cor ner He was gazing with rapt attention at a window display of cheap cameras in front of the same shop, when the perspiring ''spotter" charged by, almost colliding with him.
 That afternoon he found the Judge ready