Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-29

| Charles. leaping upstairs TO her
| Shrek, confronted /. Bum. now on
/ the floor again and putting some
thing in his pocket.
! Hes got 1t. Charles" said Luci.
Your bond: He had it hidden, THAI
why he's been prowling around here
looking for it,
Let me have that bond Charles
advanced toward l. Bum. who Kept
his hand in his pocket.
| Now. look here, mister" he e<-
| claimed. Don't get too funny
| Charity. appearing in the doorway.
said. efficiently. III call up tho
cOnstable.'
| Right" said Charles and seemed
relieved.
He moved few steps to block tho
way to the window by which |. Bum
had entered. Lucy stood before the
door leading into the hall. and jus,
outside Charity conversed brskly with
the constable.
Here. right away" she reported.
when she had said good.by. He live
! just round the corner, thank good.
ness"
She breathed heavily behind Luc,.
and seemed to poise for any emer.
gency. In the stiffness it became ap-
parent that I. Bum chewcd.
i; 4 x X
I ICY collected clothing and fed I"
- Polly'S room. where she dressed
rapidly. Five minutes saw her back.
| just as running footsteps announced
the constable Charity went down to
open the door and he came upstairs,
clanking handouts. I. Bum said,
| "Lo, Jim. affably.
The constable said. Well. Ike as
though family surprised. and Charles
and Lucy set about telling him what
| they knew.
When they had finished. 1. Bum
said. Want anything from me,
| JIM"
| Tell 1t to the squire. Ike" Jim al
vised. He looked AROUND at Lucy.
Lady, if you're ready, let's go"
| ITO the magistrates office.
! Charles explained.
ooh. See said Lucy vagueI,
I'll get my hat
I. Bum moved aside to let her open
| the closet door. When she hal
snatched from n shelf the first hat
which came to hand, an inexplicable
| package came with 1t and skidded
across the floor to his very feet.
! A white envelope, with a broad
red rubber band about it. After one
! frozen second Charles reached it n.
| ii DOuIlu anu TORE II open.
THAT bond Where'd it come
| "Why-why-under my hat" Lucy
babbled. 'I haven't had it on since
7 came
| Good heavens" Charles gasped
| IT'S my own fool fault He paused
and over his face came the dreamy
| look of the crystal-gazer.
| Lets see-Elsie asked mo to get
! hay of tIic rln 1t-Ec
she was packin'. She had just given
me the bond and / suppose I had it
in my hand, instead of putin it in
my pocket. 1t all comes back to mo
now. I'd just opened the closet door
| to get the dress when Elsie got a
terrible snceZin spell and scared
Polly so she fell all the way down
stairs. I rushed out and found Elsie
screamin' and sneezin' and Polly with
a nosebleed. And / never gave the
bond another thought. I'm sorry,
Bum"
| l. Bum eyed him with chilly dig
nifty. AT last he removed his hand
from his pocket. bringing with it :;
gold watch. His eye strayed past
| Charles reproachfully and he al
dressed the constable.
| Got Il hole in my pocket, jim.
while I was painting this here house
Stuck my watch up on Il ledge. and
then took down my scaffoldin' and
went around tother side of the house
and forgot it. Don't carry 1t all the
time, nohow. Tell time by the wills
ties. Never thought of It again til!
that night when I was In bed and
the job here all finished. Since then
! been stoppin' by for a few minute
every mornin' and afternoon on my
way to and from work. Couldnt
seem to remember just where ! was
workin' when I put the watch down
on that ledge"
He paused. and the constable nod
- ded judicially.
Sure see, Ike
"Well, them said I. Bum. IT gucsf
I'll be goin. Got to get to work"
They stood back while he climbed
haughtily out of the window and
down his ladder.
Hot cross Bum Lucy nlurmured
with sympathy. and Charity said
We'll, he coulda told us, couldn't
! he?"
The constable seemed to hover, and
Charles put something into his hand
His going left a feeling of anti
climax.
! There was suddenly shrek from
the doorway. Polly had climbed the
stairs. with little Dandelion droopinG
| from her arm. She was bristling with
justifiable indignation.
| Put in dose screams" she shrille.
II don't want a. bummel-bee stungin.
my nose.''
Charles meekly put them in. Cha
ity, lecturing on manners. bore Pol,
downstairs. Lucy prepared to follow
them.
wait a minute" said Charles.
| She waited.
you looked mighty pretty in tina
neglige. Lucy" he said. You're
darn pretty girl"
! 80 I've been told" said Lucy, with
out enthusiasm, frequently"
| mo doubt" admitted Charles. "E.
Lucy. how long are you going to IL
here?'
About MONTH" said Lucy
Why"
IT wonder said Charles. Wei,
I've got to go to Chicago tomorrow
but l just feel that the office is goinc
to send me back next week. I've left
a lot Of work unfinished here
Yet you work fast" said Lucy.
coldly. and he grinned.
Play around with me when I get
back" he inquired. Little old bank
accounts intact now"
II don't like men for their bank
accounts" Lucy informed him. start
ing downstairs. And I've never
liked a Southern man yet"
"Ouch?' said Charles. still. III
take chance
Breakfasts ready. Come WEEKLY
screeched Polly from below.
,Cops.4.nt. 1881