White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-10-03

Next he produced boiled shirt, a
collar, and a black tie.
It took him some time to assemble
these infrequently used accessories,
and he was dismayed to find no COL
lar-button.
| A collar-button was the cornerstone
of his toilet-the object on which ev-
erything else depended. Should it fail
to be forthcoming, the game was up.
He could not administer the law with
out it.
Perhaps, viewing the matter from
every angle, its disappearance was a
| fortunate, rather than an unfortunate,
omen.
To grapple with an experienced
criminal was suicidal Suppose the
criminal did escape? Were not law
breakers doing so every day?
But, alas, there was Eleazer to
whom he had conhded the entire
story!
No, there was no possibility of his
backing out of the affair now and
washing his hands of it. He must go
through with it.
He went downstairs to hunt up his
badge and handouts. These he kept
in the drawer of the tall secretary in
the sitting room. To his CONSERVATION,
the drawer was empty!
And not only was it empty but it
had been left open as if marauder
possessed of sticky hands had hastily
abandoned it,
Unwilling to believe the articles were
gone, Elisha peered feverishly into
every corner the piece of furniture
contained. But beyond thick coating
of dust, nothing rewarded his search
At length, as last resort, he re-
luctantly shouted to May Ellen.
'Wal, sir?"
MAY Ellen, who's been explorin'
this secretary of mine? Some of the
things that oughter be in it, amt"
clustered he ''My handouts an sher-
ifs badge"
Mercy on us! You don't tell me a
crimes been committed in Wilton! I
guess it's the first time in all the
towns history. Won't folks be agog?
It'll stir up the whole community
"You mustn't peep about this out
side, May Ellen" Elisha cautioned.
Was you to, no end of harm might be
done. The criminal, you see, is still a.
large an we want to trap him fore he
suspects we're after him. Now bout
the badge an handouts. You see how
important tbs should have 'em. They
was in the drawer an the whole place
is messed up an sticky as if some
person who had no business meddlin'
had overhauled it,"
Its that miserable Tommy Cahoon!''
interrupted May Ellen. Ellis mother
left him an Willie here with me a
week ago when she went to Sawyer
Falls shoppin'. The little monkeys
must "a sneaked indoors when ]
wasn't lookin' an. took that an the
handouts. I'm dreadful sorry. Last ]
saw Of the imps they was out yonder
under the apple trees. S'pose we have
look there"
/ Almost beside himself with an indig-
nation he dared not voice, Elisha fol-
lowed May Ellen out of doors.
i Yes, trampled into the sodden ground
lay the badge. There, too, lay the
handouts, tightly snapped together
and without trace Of key to un-
; lock them.
Elisha obviously eyed the muddy OBJ
jects. Well, at least, thought he, every
thing was not lost. He had gained
time.
To wear his badge until new pin
was soldered to it was out of the
question. In addition, the handouts
were of no use at all unless a key
could be found to unlock them
AS he turned to re-enter the house
Eleazer hailed him.
Give had the devil of time with
this revolver" announced he, putting
into the yard and jauntily Furnishing
the weapon. Then regarding his COM
rade's greenish countenance, he re-
marked abruptly, "Say, what's the
matter with you, 'Lish?"
Elisha told his story.
oval, if that amt the ole Harry!'
TUNED Eleazer. That's goin to ball us
all up. There's no use dom this thing
If it amt done in bang-up style. We
got to get that badge soldered an
them handouts unlocked fore another
move can be made. spose mebbe
Nate Harlow over to Belleport could
J help us out"
AN go blabbin' all over town the
predicament the Wilton sheriff was
IN? No-sir-ee! Not if I know it
The only thing to do is to motor tc
Sawyer Falls an hunt up Pete Nc
Grath, the blacksmith. He's wizard