Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-09-27
A Pressing Matter
By EMELINE BOYER
g. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
WNU Service.

same even voice; $50 we got q pass
key from the janitor and came in"
Keeping a close watch on his host,
behind him. While the one held drawn
revolver, the other ran his hands over
Joie Rays clothing. mo rod" he re-
ported.
ave want you to come down to
headquarters" said the detective.
"What for?" asked Joie insolently.
"You've got nothin' on me-"
100 bad about Sol Noses" OBJ
served Big Jim. HE worked hard all
his life, lived in two little rooms above
his store, didn't even get glasses when
he needed them. And now, when he'd
put his boy through college and was
| gonna retire to the country, he gets
bumped off on his way to the bank
tonight" He paused, but Joie offered
no comment. Somebody was after
his money, I guess" Big Jim contin-
ued, 'but left without taking 1t, or his
gun either. Maybe he was afraid that
his shot had attracted too much at
tention."
"Whaddva tryin' to feed meT asked
Joie derisively. "The banks close at
noon on Saturday"
''But the night depository doesn't"
answered the detective.
| Joie was unimpressed. "What do I
care about Sol Moses and his chicken
feed?" he asked airily.
| Big Jim's reply was a question.
"What have you been living on since
Louie was sent up the river7"
"Oh, have an income" replied
Joie, grandly.
"You wouldn't think an old fellow
like Sol would put up a fight" re-
marked the detective.
If he expected reply, he was dis
appointed. With a yawn that looked
real, Joie observed "Well, drop In
again sometime-any time. I'm going
to bed now"
"Since when do you go to bed at
half past tenn" asked Big Jim.
>"Is that what you wanted me to
come down to headquarters to find
out?" Joie inquired sweetly.
mo-" said the detective. 1--WE want
ed to ask you where you were this
evening"
Fright here" declared Joie fatty.
Reading and smokingT asked Big
Jim.
Reading" answered Joie; "but I've
cut out smoking" His glance strayed
over the empty ash trays.
The detectives eyes followed his.
1T thought you might like to see
this" he said, taking from his pocket
piece Of cloth-cheap, shoddy suit
material. ut was in Soils hand" he
explained. Somebody in the crowd
said it matched suit you've been
wearing"
Big Jim did not need to take the
word of some one in the crowd. The
material matched the suit that Joie
had on.
But Joie's smile remained idyllic.
II don't feel any draft" he remarked,
'but pr'aps you'd like to take look. "
He rose and insolently turned about.
'Look it over, boys" Big Jim or
dered The policemen did, thoroughly.
swell, 1 guess we've drawn blank, "
he observed. "But Wen take look
around before we CO."
At the end Of an hour, everything
had been subjected to a close scru-
tiny, without result. But Big Jim was
not through. you boys stay here and
keep your eye on Joie," he ordered.
"I'll be back soon."
In less than ten minutes, Big Jim re-
turned 'Too bad" he told Joie, shat
the new janitor didn't keep the In
cinerator going. I found another pair
of pants down there just like yours
only the other pair has a piece torn
out"
Joie's calm was apparently unbrok-
en-. $50 whatT he asked, rising and
moving aimlessly toward Big Jim.
But with a sudden motion his aimless-
ness disappeared. He leaped for the
door.
The detective was too quick for him.
With flying tackle that would seem
impossible for one his size, he brought
Joie to the floor.
Lucky there was q new janitor up
there" observed one of the policemen
to Big Jim, after Joie had signed a
confession.
"Yes," replied Big Jim. "Joie
wouldn't have believed me If had
told him that an old hand had for
gotten the incinerator."
did the piece in Sors hand Just at
the hole in the pants" asked the po-
liceman.
81 don't know" was the reply.
Didn't you try itT The policeman
was obviously shocked.
Big Jim reached In his pocket and
pulled out a handful Of twisted but
tons.
Here's what found In the incin-
orator." no explained. 1.-THE janitor
was right on the job"
$50 1t was a bluff" said the police
man admiringly. But what made you
think Of a two-pants sultT
"When Joie stood up for as to look
him over" explained Big Jim, II no.
ticed that his pants were pressed, but
that his coat was wrinkled. Just be-
fore came on duty at six o'clock"