Evening star., 1930-06-15

It haven't seen him for quite while, my
SELF" replied Jed Think III go over there
tonight and see how he's coming along with
his job down at the box factory"
A soon he had finished supper Jed started
over to see joe Although he had said
nothing to his mother, Jed was rather worried
about Joe. The two boys had been the best
of friends for several years, but recentlv Joe
had not been coming around very often. And
one night Jed had seen him in q pool room with
two three members of the Franklin street
gang" Jed knew that this bunch of boys and
young men, led by "Jiggs" Lane, had bad
reputation, which they richly deserved He
didn't like the idea of Joe getting mixed mp
with them
Joe lived in one of the many four family
buildings several blocks from Jeds home. When
Jed arrived there he found Mabel Pollock, Joe's
sister, sitting on the front steps. The girls
eyes lit up as she saw Jed approach and she
smiled as he dropped down ON the steps beside
her.
Hello, jed" she said. II haven't seen you
for ages. Where have you been all Summer"
"Oh, I've been down at Palm Beach," said
jed. Just got back last night in my private
car" Mabel laughed mo, I've been working
pretty hard" Jed went on, "and between times
I've been eating and sleeping, and that's
about all"
THEY chatted for several moments, and then
Jed asked for Joe. At the mention of her
brothers name, a disturbed look came into
Mabe1s eyes.
Jed, I'm worried about joe" she said in
low voice, glancing around first to see that no.
body could hear. Hes been staying out late
at night and going to work awfully late. When
I asked him about it, he said his hours had
been changed, and he tried to make me think
he was seeing you at night. But well, I
believe
why Joe would lie to me-"
Jed frowned. After a moments hesitation,
he admitted to Mabel that he had been won-
dering about Joe himself. They talked the
matter over, and finally it decided that
Jed should try to see Joe during noon hour the
next day.
Il don't want to butt in Joe'S private
affairs, Mabel said Jed. But hate to see
him get in with the wrong bunch
well, you're the best friend he has, JED,
and you could do more than anybody else if
there was anything wrong. So, if you will sort
of look into 1t, it viii be a big favor to me-"
CHE spoke very earnestly, and if Jed had
needed any extra inducement to look into
the matter, her words would have provided it.
They sat on the steps and talked for more than
an hour, and when Jed finally went home his
ppisgivings about Joe were partially obscured by
the realization Of what a hrst-rate sister his
friend had.
During the noon hour of the following day,
Jed got permission to leave the market for a
half hour and hurried over to the box factory,
eating his lunch on the way. When he asked
for Joe Pollock, he referred to one Of the
foremen.
Pollock" this man inquired when Jed ques-
toned him. He don't work here any more. He
quit two weeks ago"
Joe quit?" said Jed in a surprised voice.
"Yeh and it's a good thing, because he was
going to get canned, anyway" said the foreman
shortly. Getting around here late, all tagged
out from no sleep and not able TO work don't
go in this Shop
"Oh! Thanks" Jed walked slowly away
from the factory and made his way back to
the market So Joe hadn't been working for
two weeks! Jeds suspicious now con-
firmed
BY the time he reached the market, Jed had
made a decision. That night he would visit
Franklin street and see if his friend was hang
ing out with the gang there.