The Washington times., 1938-06-06
Daily Short Story

shall invest your 500, ana In re-
turn secure enough to permit the
purchase of q share in pearl
fishing schooner-indeed in far
more than that" The man held
his hand toward Joe, Now, if
you will give me your money, my
young frien', I will secure your
ticket-and invest the balance.
Here is my card, If you will call
at my offices within the hour I
shall give you your tickets and a
receipt for your investment"
Joe had heard Of men who
cheated people out Of their saw
ings, but his new friend seemed
very different from what he had
imagined such men to be like.
And besides Mr.. he looked
at the card Mr.. HUMPHREYS
would give him a receipt.
Almost automatically he handed
over the money which Mr.. Hum
phries counted with great care
and placed in an inner pocket.
Almost hastily, then, Mr.. Hum
phrieS left him, and disappeared
down the street.
An hour later, promptly, Joe ap-
peared at the address on the card,
and found it to be police station.
1t took the kindly sergeant behind
the desk full half hour to con-
vince Joe Of what had happened.
When he finally understood COM
pletely that he would never see
Mr.. HUMPHREYS nor his money
again, he walked out and sat in
his car-dazed. AS he sat there,
he felt light touch on his arm.
Joe" the voice that used his
name was familiar-it was Estelle.
"Estelle," Joe said, "Estelle.
How do you come to be in Hart
ford?"
She told him how she had driven
her mother in, to catch the Boston
train.
And was walking around and
shopping, and I happened to see
you. joe" Estelle'S eyes were soft,
Tim sorry about last night"
HATED TO FACE FATHER
Joe was silent in his misery, but
he opened the car door and she
got in. Without speaking he
started the motor, and they drove
to Asylum Street and out toward
West Hartford. AS they drove, he
told her, haltingly, at first, the
whole story of what had hap
pened.
Estelle's eyes flashed, and you
could see she was kicking herself
for letting him get out Of her sight.
But she didn't say anything, just
pressed his hand.
Maybe it's just as well. Maybe
you'll make a better tobacco
farmer than pearl fisher" she said
soothingly. But Joe was hard to
console. How could he face his
father without the $55?
''WeIl figure it out some way,
joe" ESEe1le answered.
They drove along, and finally
came to a field, in the middle Of
which was a clump Of feather
buster elmS, one Of them looking
Just like their own, the one with
their initials on it. Estelle noticed
it, and suggested that they walk
in to see it. So they did.
THEY HEAR VOICES
The grass was very soft under
foot, and they weren't saying any
thing, both thinking hard on their
problem, so their approach was
completely silent. They had hardly
reached the tree when they heard
a voice from the bushes behind it.
What an umpchay," the voice
said, and Joe turned white, then
deep red. It was the voice of Mr..
ITumphrics. What an umpchay.
So took him for his whole wad.
I wonder where he is now?"
"Squealin'," came another voice,
"Squealin', like all suckers. Look,
let's divvy now, and scram."
Mr.. HUMPHREYS had no oppor-
tunity to answer because human
thunderbolt, swinging both arms,
landed between him and his asso-
ciate, Mr.. Buggsy Durfle. Estelle
shook her head, and marvelled as
she watched the progress of the
carnage, and the final complete
route of Messrs. HUMPHREYS and
Durfle.
"Joe," she said, as her swain
returned to her, grinning, his
hands full Of currency, you may
have your weak points-but you
sure have your strong ones, too"
About three hours later they
drove into Joe's back yard, and
there was his father. fit to be tied.
where you been?" he yelled.
IT called up Sharpe, the hay and
feed man, about the time you
should have got there. and he said
he didn't seen hide or hair Of you. "
He looked in the back of the car
and saw the bags of sheep bone.
well, guess you got there after
called. But where you been?"
RACE is TO THE SWIFT
Estelle blushed-and she was a
pretty girl. we've been getting
married"
I'm going to run the farm for
you, pop" Joe added, remember
ing everything EStelle had told
him to say, land you can live on
with us. 1 was going to be pearl
fisher, in the South SeaS-but I
guess I'll make a better tobacco
farmer"
Well, Joe's father knew when he