Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-08-27
Che Mugs Came

awkward hiatus made itself at home.
Its none Of my damn business" he
remarked at length. but isn't there
lust chance that the girl friend may
be right2 It's happened before, and
a resort like this Is rather a happy
hunting ground for all kinds OF crooks. .
7 know 1t is, said the other sotIrly.
He turned and looked at the Saint
again miserably. ~But 1 am pig-headed
and can't bear 10 admit to her that
could have been such a mug. She's
my fiancee-T supposed you guessed
that. MY names Mercer"
Simon Templar Is mine"
The name had significance for
Mercer that it apparently had not had
for Mr.. Naskin. His eyes opened wide.
Good God, you don't mean-youre
not the Saintl"
Simon smiled. He was still immodest
enough TO enjoy the sensation that his
name could sometimes cause,
That's what they call me"
"Of course, I've read about you, but
well. It sort of''-the young man pet
cred out incoherently. And I'd have
argued with you about crooks :.
But-well. you ought 70 know. Do you
think I've been mug3"
The Saints brows slanted sympa-
thetically.
IL you LOOK my auFlCc, ne Hu-
swered, you'd let these birds find
someone else 20 play with Write u
off to experience, and don't do 1t
again"
but can'tl" MERGERS response was
desperate. AShe-she was telling the
truth. I've lost money that wasn't
mine. I've only got q job in an ad-
vertising agency that doesn't pay very
much, but her people are pretty well
off. They've found me q better job
here, starting in q couple Of months,
and they sent US down here to find e.
home, and they gave US $4,000 70 buy
it and furnish 1t, and that's the money
I've been playing with. Don't you see?
I've got to go on and win 1t backi"
"Or 90 on and lose the rest"
"Of, know But thought the luck
must change before that. And yeti
don't see how they could have done
it. After she started talking about 1t.
1 watched them and I couldn't catch
aboveboard. Then began 70 think
about marked cards. sneaked away
one Of the packs we were using last
night. and I've been looking at It this
morning. I'll swear there isn't q mark
on them. Here, can show you"
He flmbIed feverishly IN a pocket OF
his beach robe and pulled out pack
of cards. Simon glanced through them. /
There was nothing wrong with them
that ne could see, and 1t was then the, that
he remembered Mr.. j. j. NaskiN.
Does either of these birds wear
glasses2" ne asked.
One of them wears pince-nez," re-
piled the mystified young man. But
-
I'm afraid" said the Saint thought
fully, that 1t looks as II you are a
mug"
Mercer swallowed.
IF I am" he said helplessly, what
on earth am going to do2"
Simon hitched himself up.
'T'll keep these cards and make sure
about them, II you don't mind. Then
suppose we meet IN the bar for q
cocktail about six o'clock, and maybe
I'll be able to tell you something"
When he returned TO his own room,
the Saint put on Mr.. Nasktlls horn
trimmed glasses and examined the cards
again. Every one OF them was clearly
marked with the value of the card
and the initial Of the suit, exactly ike
the deck that Naskill had given him;
and 1t was then that the Saint knew
that his faith in Destiny was justified
again.
Shortly after six o'clock he strolled
INTO the bar, and saw that Mercer and
The girl we're already there. It was
lear that they had buried their
quarrel
Mercer introduced her: Miss Grange
-or you can Just cali her Josephine.
She said. Were both ashamed Of /
for having q scene in front
II you this afternoon, but I'm glad we [
lid You've done Eddie q lot Of good.
II hadn't any right to bllIrt out all
ny troubles like that" Mercer said !
you we're damned nice
bout it" II
The Saint grtnned.
I'm a pretty nice guy" he MUIR
nured. land now I've got something
o show you. Here are your cards"
He spread the deck out on the table, I
nd then ne took the horn-rtmmed
-lasses out Of his pocket and held
hem over the cards so that the other
wo could look through them
The girl gasped-
II told you sol"
MERGERS fists cIenched.
by God, If don't murder those ]
wine" I
She caught his wrist as he almost I
Jumped UP from the table.
But that wouldn't help Waltz"
he chung to him frantically. I've got
J. You could borrow Mr.. Templar's
Iasses and play them st their own
anne. You could break Yorfng's glasses t
sort of accidentally. They wouldn't 9