Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1928-08-18

NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
What was it, Amy!" John Drane
asked.
ooh, nothingl" she said ut was
only about Robert; whether you
wanted to see him now, but If you
have visitors"
This evening, perhaps" John
Drane said. "But, one minute,
Amy. This is an old friend of
mine"
"Chum, black my cats, when we
were kids, why do~'t you say, huh p
Simon Judd demanded. He's
afraid to tell. how long ago that
was, huh?"
Eyes, one of my boyhood chums,"
John Drane said, smiling slightly.
"Simon Judd, in fact. And Judd,
this is my grand-niece. Amy"
TIE girl gave Judd her hand and
for minute or two they talked, the
girl smiling and Judd laughing for
no reason but because OF his own
unfailing good humor; then she
said, having learned that the jolly
fat man might stay a day or two,
that Bob was waiting for her and,
after a word of greeting to Dart,
she hurried away. She did not like
Dart; she had never liked him; she
could not imagine what her uncle
John saw in him.
Dart stood strohns his gray
beard, studying Simon Judd as the
big man climbed the veranda steps.
From the rear the movements OF
the man from Riverbank were al
most grotesque as he hoisted his
great bulk from, step to siecc
"I think" Dart said. wh.r John
Drans turned at the toy OF the
steps, arn como back later on
tomorrow, perhapa"
Drane scowled his annoyance.
Now, don't do that William"
he said. you know I don't Like
to have my plans disarranged You
said you would stay the night and
/ have counted on il. ! want to
thrash that matter out with you.
Don't be a fool"
II only thought, as you had Mr..
Judd here"
Now, that's just why want you
to stay" John Drane said. IF
Slime and I get to talking boyhood
days we'll never go to bed Don't
you see? Well be talking over the
old days. Well never stop"
Cant stop me, once / get
started, that's sure enough
laughed Simon Judd. ''Talhn's my
long suit, and always was, guess.
But don't you folks let me bust up
any plans you've made, If you
want to talk, I've got lot OF stuff
I've got to read over sometime
stuff l come down to New York to
get hold of. been made Chief
of Police back home, John"
THAT is interesting. At seventy,
too, Simon" Drane said.
Eyes, ! guess they got around to
where they thought they needed
some brains at last" Simon Judd
chuckled. Folks do, sometimes.
Yes, sir; made me Chief of Police
of Riverbank, sure as you're foot
highp
William Dart had come up the
steps and taken one of the wicker
chairs. He put his elbows on its
arms and now began revolving his
thumbs, leaning forward and look
Ing off over the lawn.
Eyes, sir, John" Simon Judd con-
tinued cheerfully, II been all my
life tryin' one thing and another,
but you can't discourage a good
man; sooner or later he's goin' to
find out what he's made for There
was one time / tried preachin' and
it looked awhile like that was goin'
to be it, but ! amt got the voice
for it-when / go to let loose the
voice gets squeaky on me. There
was awhile ! tried the butcher bust
ness, but sight of blood always did
make me faintish, so ! sort OF gave
that up, too. But | got the right
thing now, John. Pretty near ever
since l was boy I've had a leanin'
toward it." ,,,.,,.
Being policeman" William
asked
"Crime tracin'," explained Simon
Judd, turning toward the little man
in black. "Huntin' out who dcAc
the crime. What you call detective
work. I feel l got genius that
way"
"And that's what brought you %