Evening star., 1923-06-24

i've got something important for
you"
The hustler's manner was impress
sive. Murdoch arose and followed
his visitor to the sidewalk.
Now" said the Kid. "you had the
right dope about old Jimmy Whiskers
being dangerous. That empty stall
Is he bunk, understand? You've
been heading for a sweet little death
right along, and you never got wise.
Come with me, and you'll learn some
thing"
Murdoch's swarthy visage iblanched.
What are you handing me?" he
growled
I'm handing you the best tip you
ever got in your life" the Kid as
sured him. Don't you ask no more
questions, but come with me, and
I'll show you the worlds champion
frame-up."
The Kid had judged his man cor
rectly. Murdoch accompanied him,
asking QUESTIONS as he went along.
Keep your shirt on" the hustler
told him. You'll see the whole thing
in a minute"
They turned in through the gate,
showing their badges to a watchman.
and walked north in the darkness
until they came to the Sheridan barns
The Kid took his companion by the
arm.
I'm here" he directed, "and for
heavens sake, don't strike no
matches. It's the third stall on the
left
II thought the old fool had moved
out of here" said Murdoch.
That's the point retorted the Kid.
Hes moving back. Here we are.
Now, can You make out what's under
the feed-box?"
81 can't see. It's too dark"
Bend down like am. Now feel
what 1 got in my hands"
Murdoch's body bent forward His
fingers groped along the Kids arms,
and suddenly encountered cold steel
that Imprisoned both wrists with a
sinister click. The spasmodic up
ward fling of the trainers arms was
checked by a chain that connected
handouts to fodder trough. At al
most the same instant, light dust
cloth, with a sponge as gag, was
passed swiftly over Murdoch's mouth
and tied in back. He struggled des-
perate against rope that was drawn
tight around his angles-lost his ball
ance-and toppled PROSTATE. The In
formation Kid left the stall, walked
along the corridor and turned on a
wall light. Then he came back and
surveyed his captive
Some little frame-up amt 1t. pal ?"
he leered. and in his voice there was
note that struck terror to the heart
of Murdoch. Cultural pleadings es-
capped from the sponge and wrap
pings.
mo USE" said the Kid From now
on, I'm going to do all the talking.
I'm going to tell you the story of
Jimmy Whiskers and the empty stall
that he's been keeping for a dead
horse"
And there in the semi-darkness. the
Kid leaned calmly against the wood
en- partition and narrated the romance
of an old man and his lost love. 1t
was a curious version, embroidered
with phrases that the narrator had
absorbed from the Arabian Nights,
and interspersed with the whimsical
slang Of the race track And it
reached a conclusion as fantastic and
startling as the setting in which it
was told. The Information Kid
wagged a finger at his sole auditor.
And SO, Murdoch-the old guy is
just hanging on from day to day,
waiting for Polly Oliver. He's
crazy. says you, and of course you're
right. The little Ally is under the
dirt in Mexico. You let her burn.
And just because you did, pal-just
because Polly can't come back to
Jimmy Whiskers. you're going to the
same place she went, and you're GO
ing in the very same way"
THE figure on on the floor threshed
1 in a convulsion of protest. The
Information Kid disappeared a mo-
mont and came back with an armful
of straw. He vanished again, and re-
turned carrying five-gallon coal oil
can, the contents of which he
emptied on the floor and walls of the
stall. The cold liquid soaked through
and reached the skin of Black Muir
doch. From one pocket the Kid pro-
duced the stump of candle. He lit
1t, and gingerly made place for the
flaming wax in a corner where 1t
could burn down to within reach of
the soaked straw. Then he nodded
grimly at his victim.
You have my best regards" he ad-
monished softly. land may your con-
science guide you. So long"
! Presently the Kid retraced his