Nogales international., 1928-08-21

"What was it, Amy" John Drane
asked.
"Oh, 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 don't you say, huh"
Simon Judd demanded. Hes
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"
The 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 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 stroking 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 step.
81 think" Dart said, when john
Drane turned at the top OF the
steps, "I'll come back later on
tomorrow, perhaps"
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 it. | want to
thrash that matter out with you
Don't be fool"
Il only thought, as you had Mr.
Judd here"
"Now, that's just why I want you
to stay" John Drane said. III
Sine 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 "Talkin's my
long suit, and always was. | guess
But don't you folks let me bust ur
any plans you've made. If yor
want to talk, I've got a lot of stuff
| I've got to read over sometime
stuff | come down to New York tc
get hold of. / been made Clliei
of Police back home, John"
That is interesting. At seventy
too, Simon" Drane said
"Yes, l guess they got around tc
where they thought they needed
some brains at last" Simon Jude
chuckled. Folks do, sometimes
Yes, sir; made me Chief Of Police
If Riverbank, sure as you're foo
hight"
William Dart had come up tht
steps and taken one Of the wicke.
chairs. He put his elbows on it:
arms and now began revolving hi
thumbs, leaning forward and look
nl eff over the lawn.
"Ies, sir, John" Simon Judd con
''1'net. cheerfully, Il been all m.
- :ryin' cne thing AM another
-, yot can't discourage a gooC
| Ffan, SO .tnGT or !1tCT lie SO!H u
;.nt ut what hes made for Iher
VAS rne time tried prcachin' ant
IL locked awhile Hike that was goin
10 be it, but ain't got the voic
for it-when ! 60 TO let loose III
voice gets squealy on me. Their
was awhile tried the butcher busi
ness, kut sight Of blood always di
make me faintish, So I sort Of gay
that up. too. But ! got the righ
thing now, John Pretty near eve
since I was a boy I've had a leanir
toward it,
"@eing Policeman" Williar
asked
Crime tracin'," explained Simo
1u!i. turning toward the little ma
in tack. 'Huntin' out who don
3 the crime What you call detectiv
~ rk. feel got genius tha
n way"