The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-03-18
Selwood Of Sleepy Cat

W paw 0OAWOOu udO tOLu III
Toe his suspicious and directed him
what to do. Pardaloe. who loved
nothing so much as a row, dropped
In at times at the auction. To Big
Haynes he was not a welcome visitor.
Pardaloe would talk as long and as
loud as Haynes himself, and at times
would carry on with bystanders
wrangling arguments that distracted
the crowds attention.
One day Haynes. exasperated be-
yond endurance, stopped his sale to
demonstrate sharply with the noisy
wagner. This nearly precipitated
personal encounter. or, rather, 1t
seemed nearly to do so-for Parda-
loe's orders were not to fight but to
seem to fight-otherwise he would
have eaten Big Haynes alive.
Pardaloe's patience was at length
rewarded by seeing Fyler pass up to
the auctioneer a pair of boots, on
which Pardaloe fixed his beady eyes;
and. to show that he harbored no re-
sentiment, he promptly bid for them.
Despite spirited opposition he secured
the boots, and in the purchase he
had the opportunity he wanted. Sit
ting on the floor, surrounded by the
crowd, he tried the boots on. He
complained to Fyler they did not fit,
and called for more boots to try, on.
In this way he got HIS long nose In
behind and under the. counters, and
before he quit, by rowing and quar-
reling over his purchase, secured a
pretty fair description of the boot
stock.
Bob Scott also made progress in
his research. He made friends with
hostler Of Atkins, and, prowling about
in Atkins barn, down by the river.
at opportune times. he found hidden
in binful of oats one whole case
of boots and six barrels filled with
boots. From one of these barrels he
filched a sample pair of boots and
took them to headquarters for inves-
tfgation. They matched those Parda-
loe had bought at Big Haynes auc-
ton.
The next evening Pardaloe and
Scott were sent to the barn to levy
on the stolen property. Scott, keep
ing good fire going in the office
stove, held the attention of the night
barn-man with Indian scare stories
while Pardaloe. aided by a Selwood
teamster, dug the boots out Of the
oats, loaded the case and the barrels
on wagon, hauled them to Meal
pins barn. and locked them up in the
harness-rOOm.
Selwood repaired early next MORN
ing to the store. Haynes had not
come down. Fyiar was alone. Sell
wood waited until Fyler should ask
about the boots. When his impatient
question came. Selwood was ready,
made his report, and offered to re-
store such Of the missing goods as
had not been sold over the counter.
Fyler seemed not altogether
pleased. He was skeptical concern
ing the reputation that Selwood un-
hesitatingly gave his auction part
ners.
And Selwood was cruelty blunt.
"YOu may not know 1t. Fyler," he
said composedly, "but you've got a
pair of crooks in here with you.
Haynes partner is this man AT
kins. All Of the stuff that Atkins
supplies for this auction Is stolen
If you don't know it. you ought to.
Your twelve cases Of boots were
stolen from our warehouse in Medi-
cine Bend by some one Of Atkins
cronies and turned over to him to get
rid of-this is the way he is doing it,"
Fyler was unpleasantly skeptical.
'"This is all good talk. Where's your
proof the boots are coming In here?"
he demanded.