Evening star., 1924-03-02

Bone Mahoney0. down near
the Plaza in Los Angeles, every
night from 1880 till 2. Which
was why almost any night you'd see
Flash Fanchon, the featherweight;
Spider Welsh, tho jockey, and silent
Sam Simmons. who ran the poolroom
UP the street. dropping In for a
cup of Java and kidding match
with Jane. And always standing
outside between trips was the taxi
belonging to Louis spinola, whose
mother was still banking his savings
only because Jane had had a pint
of blood to spare the time the old
lady was in the hospital.
Big Bill wysell, the headquarters
detective, who picked himself to
marry Jane. looked at the cup OF
coffee she gave him one night ana
shook his head.
Don't give me no cracked cup
he said. showing 1t away. ITS BAD
LUCK 1 amt going to drink out OF
TO cracked cup for a couple OF weeks
anyway. I got a hunch about nVe
thousand berries is going to 1all
fny way and I don't want to dis
courage it none"
where's it going to fall from"'
asked Jane, filling up another cup
for him.
Big Bill lowered his voice. The
X guy. A yegg the bankers asso-
citation Is offering Ave thousand to
meet"
Check -passer?" I asked.
Big Bill nodded. "Cashed -FOUR
thousand dollars worth of checks on
the First National Bank of Lullston,
W. Va, before anybody thought TO
ask was there a First National IN
.Lullston. There wasn't. He was J..
K. Kirkwood on them checks. That
was in New York. Pittsburgh do
nates about three thousand to M.
M. Milliken. On his way to Chicago
he stops off at Cincinnati and col
lects ten thousand on doctored GER
titled checks payable to r. X Keane.
Always a K in the name somewhere
see?"
what does he look like?" Jane
asked.
He don't look the same In any
two towns" Bill grinned. I'm New
York he was a banker in town for
the bankers convention. In Pitts
burgh he was salesman for Con-
necticut hardware concern. In
Cincy he showed pretty letters OF
credit and Spanish introductions
from Buenos Aires. He spent two
weeks In New Orleans waiting on
tables in the restaurant across from
the Jail. listening to the plans the
chief of police and the dicks were
making to capture him He left a
note thanking the boys for the in
formation
What makes you think he's COM
Ing this way?" Jane asked.
"They almost got him in San An
tone. Tex, a month ago, but he gayly
Jumps into the river and swims a
getaway in the dark. A week later
some X checks appear In Ell Paso.
but when they go for him he amt
there. New Orleans. San Antoine, Ell
Paso-the next stop is Los Angeles.
amt it?"
Bill eased down of his stool
"'Night. Pete: I'll drop you a postal
cared from San Diego. Jane. I'm
going down there on a weeks job"
and he walked out.
Talking about jobs" said. my
helper quit me this afternoon. Find
out If any OF the boys need couple
Of weeks work. Jane
u \ r
A Jane walked toward the other
"A end Of the counter I turned
toward the door. Outside was a little
chap, maybe twenty-five or so. his
big brown eyes following Jane. AS
watched him, he took of his cap,
opened the door and dragged himself
in. His eyes were sunk back into his
head and his cheeks a little feverish.
His face and hands were clean, but
saw the red and black rim under
his collar that comes from the drive
and sting of dirt and pebbles chucked
at a bo riding the rods Of a fast
moving Pullman. He sat down at the
long counter.
May share your table, mister?"
There was a squint in his eye and a
comical break in his high-pitched
I offered him a cigarette. Refusing 1t,
he waited for Jane to finish talking
to Flash Fanchon. Then he spoke up
in his funny way.
"Ahi 'Tis a good idea! They keep
you waiting here till anything they
serve you tastes good"
Jane turned around and gave the
little chap a calm and cool look. He
smiled.
II beg your pardon. but IL there a
waitress around the place that could
give mo a little service?"
James lips twitched.
"Where do you think you are-in a
restaurant?' Jane inquired. What
would you liker'
I'm not very thirsty; Just give me
Q veal outlet Dreaded, in q long glass"
James eyes snapped. How will you
take it-with q straw or . spoonT
Neither" he answered. Make 1t q
by" He suddenly swayed and
lurched over against me. straighten-
ed him up and tipped a little water
in his face. He opened his eyes.
make 1t a hypo SO can inject It,"
he finished.
But Jane had q bowl OF soup in
and tea ordered before the little DO
had the water wiped of his face.
A crowd came in and Jane was kept
hopping for awhile. Only one Ques-
ton did she get time to ask. ''Sick.
buddyY"
He shook his head. mot any more.
7 caught the hu in Syracuse a month
ago and the Doc advised tho sun