Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1934-10-03
A Pressing Matter
By EMELINE BOYER
@ Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

JVuuB mhu . ucTFOuS pdclDE.
Keeping a close watch on his
host, Big Jim motloned to the two
policemen behind him. While the
one held a drawn revolver, the
other ran his hands over Joie Rays
clothing. mo rod" he reported.
1--WE want you to come down to
headquarters" said the detective.
what for?' asked Jole l~nsolently.
You've got nothing on me-"
Too 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 re-
tire to the country, he gets bumped
off on his way to the bank tonight"
He paused, but Joie Offered no COM
ment. Somebody was after his
money, | guess" Big Jim continued.
but left without taking 1t, or his
gun either. Maybe he was afraid
that his shot had attracted too much
attention"
"Whadda tryin' to feed me?"
asked Joie derisively. 'aThe banks
close at noon on Saturday"
But the night depository doesn't"
answered the detective.
Joie was u~nlmpressed. "What do
| care about Sol Moses and bis
chicken-feed?" he asked airlly.
Big Jim's reply was d question.
What have you been living on since
Louie was sent up the rlver7"
"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.
II he expected a reply, he was dis
appointed. With q yawn that looked
real, Joie observed, "Well. drop In
again some tlme-any time. I'm go
Ing to bed now"
"Slnce when do you go to bed at
half-past temp" asked Big Jim.
rs that what you wanted me to
come down to headquarters to find
out?" Jole inquired sweetly.
NO" said the detective. 1--WE
wanted to ask you where You were
this evening""
Right here" declared Joie fatty.
"Reading and smoking?" asked
Big Jim.
Reading" answered Joie, "but
I've cut out smoking" His glance
strayed over the empty ash trays.
The detectives eyes followed him.
II thought you might like to see
this" he said, taking from his pock-
ct a piece of cloth-cheap, shoddy
suit material. ut was In Soils
hand" he explained. Somebody
In the crowd said 1t matched d suit
you'd 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.
Il don't feel any draft" he re-
marked, "but pr'aps you'd like to
take a look" He rose and insolently
turned about.
Look 1t over, boys" Big Jim or
dered. The policemen did, thor
oughly.
well, I guess we've drawn a
blank" he observed. "But wen take
a 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. "I1l be back soon"
In less than ten minutes, Big Jim
returned. TOO bad" he told Joie,
shat the new janitor didn't keep
the incinerator going. I found an
other pair of pants down there just
like yours; only the other pair had
a piece torn out"
Joie's calm was apparently I'M.
broken. $50 what?" he asked, ris-
ing and moving aimlessly toward
Big Jim. But with a sudden motion
his almlessness disappeared. He
leaped for the door.
The detective was too quick for
him. With a flying tackle that
would eem impossible for one his
size. he brought Joie to the floor.
Lucky there was a new janitor
up there" observed n of the po-
llcemen to Big Jim, after Joie had
signed a confession.
YES" replied Big Jim. "Joie
wouldn't have believed me II I had
told him that an old hand had for
gotten the in~cinerator."
did the piece In Soils hand just
fit the hole In the pantsY' asked
the policeman.
~ don't know" was the reply.
didn't you try it2' The police
mar was obviously shocked.
Big Jim reached In his pocket
and pulled out a handful of twisted
buttons.
Here's what | found in the In.
%cinerator," he explained. 1.-THE Jan.
ltor was right on the job"
80 1t was a bluff," said the DO