Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-04


little very valuable practice In the fine art Of
concealment
But he reckoned without the Perkins' dog
He was crawling along the creek bed not \
hundred yards from the house when he came To
fence. He had started to climb It when the
forth.
Get him, Dewey!" It's mistress was crying.
Get himl"
Ossie, looking over his shoulder, saw Miss
Perkins aiming ut him with . Iaree-noouthed
shotgun.
Ossie was over the fence before he heard
the explosion On all fours he made off through
the willows. He had gained the woods behind
the nearest Summer houses before he paused
He could see the Perkins farm, its dog stin
charging backward and forward, but Of Miss
Perkins herself there was no sign.
OF course, he could not know that at the
moment she was telephoning wildly to Sheriff
storm, describing the intruder she just had
driven of. the large ferocious mailman with a
knife in his teeth, against whom she had de-
Tended herself to the utmost of her strength
OSsie went on The first Summer property
ne approached was to all appearances unoccu-
pied. Blown sand, undisturbed By footprints.
covered the walk. He circled the building
twice, thinking of Mr.. Goat Callahan and
Sheriff Storm and $780,
HE second house and the third sat haxuri-
ously In their wooded parks Ossie OBJ
served them critically, passed to the fourth and
the fifth, and 80 came to the sixth. He recoe-
nized It, This was the old Baldwin place, pur-
chased last Fall by the neat Mr. Munson.
Ossie stood behind . tree, watching snd
listening. Then, cutting through the cedary,
he approached the gate. It was locked, as
ha@ aof@
But, shucks, . man could get over the cate.
slip up to the house and steal everything In 1t,
or live in 1t, and Storm never would know about
1t! Ossie squatted behind juniper bush and
eyed the rear door professionally.
Then a voice said unpleasantly, well, what
Ossie at the minute couldn't remember what
ne was doing. man stood behind him, ,
large individual with q square jaw His hands
were in his pockets. He repeated his question
Ossie smiled, but the man didn't. Ossie de-
cided to tell the truth
I'm detective" he said
"A what?" The man stepped closer
Detective" Ossie said "Of course, I amt
graduated yet"
The man said "Oh!" Then: "I guess you
better 60 somewhere else to do your detecting"
He stood between Ossie and the house. o.
sizes eyes strayed over 1t. Windows were shut
tered But from the chimney thin yellow
H.
Ossie engaged In the process of deduction, as
directed In his 10 lessons, and at once felt his
heart kick him IN the ribs, demanding action.
I'm lookin' over the cottages Ossie said
SOS to see nobody busts In and steals things"
The man said, you get outa here"
Ossie replied, "I think I'll arrest YOU on
gen'ra1 principles. I think" he paused
The mans jaw was thrust out. IT think you're
comm back to town with me-"
Ossie saw a fist approach rapidly through
the air. He never had been hit by a railroad
train but he knew now what it felt like He
lay on his back, overlooking with pain. voice
was calling, Hey, see what found"
Other voices replied. Ossie was carried,
roughly, to Mr.. Munsons cottage.
When he opened his eyes an electric Light
shone directly on him. He was lying on the
floor in q kitchen. The windows were shut
tered.
The man who had hit him and another were
leaning over him. Ossie, looking at them, was
confused. Then he remembered. This second
man was one Of the friends Munson had had