The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-02-02

timc," admitted Jimmy forlornly.
Like taking q shot in the dark"
"Who's throwing cold water now ?,
jeered the little detective. "This
morning you were saying it was
chance, at least"
The lobby gradually cmptied.
', "Comc on" said Mooney, "wcll
take that chance now"
'.Sold out for the Matinee" the
young man behind the BARRED win
dow informed them before Mooney
could ask his question.
"We'rc not lookin' for matinee
tickets" replied Mooney.
Advance sale over at the other
window" The young man was pre-
pairing to close up for the afternoon.
"Not so fast, brother, not SO fast.
We want to get some information"
Mooney pulled back his coat and al
lowed the ticket seller . glimpse Of
his badge. do you ever keep a
record here Of the people who buy
tickets?"
what do you mean. keep . rec
ord? The man behind the window
was scornful and annoyed at being
held up.
"Hcrc's what mean" Mooney
persisted. Suppose John Smith calls
up and asks for a reservation on
Monday night. Would you have a
record Of the scat you had laid aside
for him."
"Not after he had called for it.
We write his name on an envelope
and hold the ticket until q certain
time. If he doesn't cain for it by
then we put it on sale. If he does,
he takes the envelope with his name
on it,"
We've got q ticket stub here"
put in Jimmy. land we're trying to
locate the man who used it. I sup
pose we're carry to bother you, but
it's pretty important"
There was frank friendliness in
his voice, and the ticket seller ap-
pcared modified.
That's all right, you're not both
ering me. Ill be glad to help you
out if can, but there isn't much
we can do about it. It's almost like
trying to trace the purchaser Of a
yard of ribbon in department store.
Let me see the ticket" He held out
his hand.
Mooney took out his wallet and
fished out the handkerchief and the
yellow stub. He replaced the hand
kerchief and tossed the stub beneath
the brass window grating.
The young man picked it up and
studied it. monday night, Novem-
Der 25,' he read. "That was last
Monday night He returned to the
stub again. "Row H, Section c., Seat
81" He looked at Mooney and
Jimmy and shrugged. II might have
sold the ticket myself, friends, but
I'm darned if l could tell you who
bought it."
well, thanks very much for your
trouble" began Jimmy.
"Wait q minute" The man be-
hind the window had picked up a
seating chart. There's an outside
chance that this seat might be Il
permanent reservation. We have
quite few seats laid away for reg
ular patrons. and II Center is
pretty good seat. H-m-m, let me
See" His forcfingcr raced oyer the
floor plan.
by gosh, you're in luck!" he cried
cxcitedly. He reached for little
leather bound book and opened it.
"Tfiis record says that Seat H3r is
reserved every Monday night by
Thomas Fogarty-address Mayfair
Hotel. A chance in million, and
you hit it,"
Imagine that" Jimmy exclaimed
softly. "Just imagine it, Mooney.
The luck Of it,"
Mooney was still staring at the
ticket seller.
Finally he found speech. Thomas
Fogarty!" ne exclaimed. "That's big
Tom Fogarty, I'll bet million dol
lars! One Of these hard-boiled polit-
ical bosses and as crooked bird as
ever managed to stay on the outside
Of . jail"
Ito Be COntinued)