The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-10-06
CHAPTER XII

The house physician, when Kelsey
dropped into his Office that evening,
happened to be in a voluble mood. A
medical journal lay upon his desk in
which he had just been reading an
article that controverted one or his
Pct theories; ard he seized upon the
opportunity to refute the fallacy, cit
ing authorities and giving his reasons
a. length, while he pulled Indignantly
at his old, black pipe.
Kelsey was pleased to find that he
could genuinely concur in the little
mans views; and by his advice and
with his assistance a letter was COM
posed to the publication, which they
were convinced left the offending au
thor not leg to stand on.
So delighted was Morton with the
vigor of the rejoinder ana SO CRATE
full, that he expanded into unaccus-
toned warmth; and Kelsey took quick
advantage Of the propitious moment
to strike.
by the way" indifferently, who
was the old rooster that arrived this
morning in such slater"
Morton looked at him in surprise.
why, you know. Or, sure enough;
you didn't come here until after he'd
left for Bermuda. That, my son, is
ex-Alderman William Higgins. Mean
to say you never heard of Hobo
Bill? Well" as Kelsey shook his
head, "a half dozen years ago he
used 10 be a power in New York;
about the same type, guess, as some
Of your picturesquely named politi-
clans out in Chicago. He started out
in life as a tramp, they say; but
somehow he managed to edge into
politics, and cleaned up big; worth
anywhere from seven to ten millions.
I guess. He stays heres when he's
not off on one of his periodical trips.
Funny old codger.
II should say So" Kelsey agreed
IT'S the first time / ever heard of a
man voluntarily making an insane
asylum his headquarters"
"Oh, he's no bug. Half blind, pretty
we'll brown down physically, but
mentally keen enough; shrewd devil
ish shrewd. let me tell you. And as
to his being here, why, he had some
nervous affection, you see, used to
go on fierce sprees and all that, and
Bristow got him into shape. They're
like brothers"
'So?" Kelsey was mildly interested.
81 saw the two Of them out together
this Afternoon in Bristow's new Rolls
Royce
Morton filled his pipe and looked
over It at Kelsey with a humorous,
contemplative smile and a wag OF his
head.
Yes; some car. I've seen the days
when Bristow had to hoof It all the
way to the station, if he wanted to
get into town"
Times have changed, eh?" Kelsey
was stretched out in his chair. Not
always so prosperous?"
mot always" Morton's reminis-
cent smile still fingered. when I
first came here, seven years ago,
things were so far from prosperous,
that we never know from one week
to another whether we could keep
going or not. Then, all of a sudden,
we were on easy street. Bristow be-
gan putting all sorts Of improvements
on the place, buying more land. throw
ing out new wings, installing modern
appliances, refurnishing, redecorating,
splurging on cars. turning himself out
like the lilies OF the field, and making
the old dump one of the highest priced
refugees for fashionable nuts in the
whole East"
Found the buried treasure under
the old mill. what?" Kelsey yawned
slightly.
Morton chuckled Where the
| money came from, 1 never knew.
| Bristow's close-mouthed and it would
| take a. holder man than 7 am to cues.