Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-09-14
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BY CHARLES E. BAXTER


"
TT WAS only because things were
4 getting desperate at home that
Larry the Blood had fallen back into
his old ways. Minnie and he were
down to their last Ave, and there was
the kid. That was why Larry assent
ed to his friend SINNERS proposition
that they should pick up a few honest
iron men by trimming some boob.
"Ya see, Larry said Skinner, $50.
ciety owes guy living, and Il So
cfery d0ht pay up It's up to him to
take it."
That was how Larry and Skinner
found themselves In conversation in
the Hotel Gresham with the we'll
dressed stranger who was glancing
rather apprehensively about him.
Five thousand is Il nice, tidy little
COLL" admitted Larry. but aren't
you afraid some of these plckpockets
might take 1t off your
ooh no, can take care Of myself"
laughed the other. Pm going down
to a brokers' first thing in the morn
ing to invest 1t In sound mining
stocks"
Must have had good cotton
crop" said Larry.
BEST ever" the stranger answered.
"And the minute l got paid | made
tracks for New York to put the money
In some sound enterprise"
"It's lucky we met YOU" said Larry
ptia
pen to have just five thousand each
to invest, and we were talking Of try
ing to find a partner, and say! You
being cotton planter, 1t seems like
providence. Not troubled with the
boil weevil down your way, are your"
"Why, yes, it's regular pest" an
swered the stranger. "Why?"
Because my friend here's n chem
list, and he's discovered sure cure,
that's why" said Larry. Were going
to start factory to manufacture the
remedy wholesale. There's millions
in It,"
The patter went on for Ave minutes.
Then came the crucial point But
why should you trust us strangersT
asked Larry morosely. How can we
prove to you we aren't confidence
menT
"Oh, my dear sir. can tell the gen.
uine article a mile away" protested
the other.
an tell you what wen do" said
Skinner. "fll hand you two gentle
men my roll, and you walk around the
block with 1t, and then come back to
me. That will show you that I've got
confidence In you. Then my friend
here will hand his roll to us, and Wen
do the same. And after that, II you
think you've got confidence In us"
"Oh, no, couldn't think of such a
thing" protested the planter. among
gentlemen there can be no question of
honesty. However, must insist that
| prove my own faith by handing my
five thousand to you and waiting here
till you return"
Larry and Skinner exchanged
glances. The poor boob was easier
than they had dared to imagine. 1t
seemed Incredible that anyone would
fall for the ancient game at this
time Of the day-in this year And
yet-there he was How true the
words Of the ancient philosopher who
said zone Is born every minute"l
They put up n felgned protest, but
the planter was adamantine.
mo, no, gentlemen am stranger
and / positively insist on proving my
good faith" he said. And, drawing a
wallet from his pocket, he peeled off a
number Of bills of large dimensions,
amounting to Ave thousand dollars,
which he handed Larry.
Don't be long, gentlemen" he said
you will fnd me sitting here on your
return, and then, l trust, we can go
into that matter Of the boil weevil
together"
Larry and Skinner beat 1t toward
the door rejoicing.
Hardly had they gone when the cot
ton planter, who had seemed uneasy
all through the Interview, arose and
slipped out unostentatlously through a
side entrance.
At the same moment two shrewd-
eyed men came In at the main en-
trance and grabbed the confederates,
one by each arm.
"Well, we'll, II 1t amt our old friends
Larry and Skipnerl" exclaimed the
Spokesman. "What you got on you,
boys2"
In moment the spokesman had
Larry's newly acquired wad in his
hand
Say, that's me own roll, Dome
gan !" protested Larry. you amt got
nothing on me-"
you said IT," answered Donnegan.
Come along and talk TO the sergeant,
Larry, you and your side-hck. We
got the tip we'd pick up some Of them
phony bills that's been floating round,
in the Gresham tonight, and guess
that tip was true"