Perrysburg journal., June 01, 1916, Image 2

About Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965

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Jewel Worshiper
t
BY VARICK
Copyright by the Frank
But ho was glad when It was over;
more pleased still when tho brldo
and groom had taken their departure.
Nevertheless, Lorn a Beverly found
opportunity to say to him hurriedly:
"Papa and Jerry both know that
some of tho presents aro missing.
They liavo not said so, but I can read
it In their manner, riease, please,
Mr. Morcaux, find them for me."
Tho artists smiled down upon her.
"I will do tho best I can," ho re
plied. "It Is rather out of my line;
but possibly I can think of somebody
who might find them. There Is a man
named Crewe, whom I know, who
may bo able to help us. I will appeal
to him perhaps."
"Oh, do! Is ho a detective?"
"Well, no.t exactly. As a matter of
fact, he Is on the opposite
Bide of the fence. I have n
Taney that one of Crewe's ac
qualntances was here tonight. It was
only a fancy, but I shall satisfy my
self on that point later. I am sure.
Lorna, that your jewels will be recov
ered." A moment later Beverly slipped a
card Into the artist's hands, saying
hastily as he did so:
"Hero is a list, so far as I could
determine, of what is missing. Of
course, I am not as well Informed as
Lorna concerning what was there;
but I could not bear to spoil her pleas
ures this evening by telling her of tho
theft."
"You aro quite right, Beverly. Keep
It to yourself, if possible, until your
return. Then look mo up."
"You bet I will," was the hearty
response.
A moment later the voice of Detective-lieutenant
Muchmore broke in
upon tho artist's reverie into which
he had fallen.
"What is that about Crewe, Mr.
Moreaux?" he inquired sharply.
Morcaux raised his eyes leisurely,
and with a slow smile he replied:
"Oh; you heard that, did you?"
"I could not avoid it. I was just
coming to speak to you, and stood,
waiting, behind you but without any
Intention of overhearing your conver
sation with Mrs. Beverly. But now it
13 my duty to ask you what you meant
by that reference to Crewe. He la
rather a shady character, as you
doubtless know."
"Oh, yes, I know!" the artist re
plied with another of his slow smiles.
"Will you answer my question, Mr.
Moreaux?"
"I very much doubt If I could, even
Jf I tried."
The lieutenant was silent for a mo
ment. Then he said with pointed
directness:
"Mr. Mortaux, I am going to put It
to you straight."
"That is surely tho best way to do,
lieutenant." They had drawn aside,
away from others, and stood in the
embrasure of one of the windows. "I
suppose the two agency men are on
the job in your absence?"
"Yes; and an olllcer of the Croydon
Safe Deposit Company is superintend
ing tho packing of the presents. He
Is also taking a careful Inventory of
them. That part of the job is off my
hands now."
"Good. Now, what is it that you
were going to put to me straight?"
- "This: Mr. Richard Delorme made
application to tho department for a
man to bo detailed here tonight. I am
that dejail. The responsibility of what
has occurred rests upon me,
"I have been called a capable offi
cer, and yet those things were taken
under my very nose, and I was none
tho wiser. How it was done I have
not tho least idea; but if young Bev
erly spoke tho truth, or know what lie
was talking about, I have a pretty
clear Idea as to when tho thefts oc
curredor at least ono of them that
o! tho lavallier. But never mind that
just now.
"Tho point Is this. I am responsi
ble to the dopartment for it. I will
bo called to account for it, and I will
bo made to suffer for it unless those
missing articles aro found, and speed
ily. "In a sense, I am In authority In
this houso at tho present moment. I
want you to look at my position fair
ly. I heard you say to tho brldo I
quote your exact words 'I have a
fancy that ono of Crowe's acquaintan
ces was hero tonight.' I want you to
tell mo exactly what you mean by
that statement. I think I havo tho
right to know."
"You have, lieutenant. This 1
what I meant: I am acquainted with
Crewo. I havo visited his place in
Eoutli Fifth nvenuo. Being an artist,
I havo n good memory for faces.
"Two or three duys ago, in tho low
er part of tho city to bo exact, la tho
Bowery, near Houston street I saw
a faco which I remembered to havo
seen at Crowe's upon tho occasion of
ray visit there. Another man was In
conversation with him and that
other man was hero tonight."
"Who was ho? Tell mo that,"
t
VANARDY
A. Munsey Company
'1VrV' "VW
"Oh, no, lieutenant; I won't tell
you that."
"Why not?" a
"Well, for ono thing I ir.'ght bo
doing him a great wrong In dolns so.
You sco, he might merely have been
asking a direction of tho mm I saw
at Crewe's. They woro together only
a short time, for I stopped and watch
ed them from a mero sense of curi
osity, I assure you. You know l wan
der through all parts of the city, seek
ing 'types,' as we artists call them."
"But great Heavens, man, don't
jou sec what I am up against?"
"Naturally; and I am going to do
my utmost to help you push it over."
"Don't you see that I'm going to
catch hell when 'lie inspector finds
out what has happenrd here torlght?"
"No. What I do see is thle: I am
quite sure that Mr Delorme vould
greatly prefer that nothing should be
said about this publicly, I mean. He
is a man of power and influence.
"I am sure that he will not blame
jou for what has occurred. I will ask
him to say as much to the lnrpcctor,
and to request, at tho same tim-, that
you be assigned to the case of find
ing the lost Jewels."
The lieutenant throw out both
hands In a gesture of despair.
"A lot of good that will do." he
said. Then: "At least, you can tell
me who the man was whom you had
seen at Crewe's."
"I can't tell you his name. He Is a
tall, dark, Mephlstophelian looking
person. I was told that by vocation
he is a sleight-of-hand performer In
vaudeville theaters, and a vor clever
one: that by vocation ho is a thief.
And that is all I can tell you about
him. Perhaps you know him."
'No, I don't; but, by jingo, I'll find
him, whether I am sent back to the
pavements or not, and you can put
that in your pipe and smoke It, Mr.
Moreaux. And when I do find him
I'll make him give up the name of
that other party."
"If he happens to know what it Is
which 1 very much doubt."
"Anyhow, I'll see Crewe before 1
go to bed this night."
"Do. That is a good idea. Excuse
me. I see Mr. Delorme beckoning to
me. I think that Mr. Delorme will
want us both in consultation with him
before wo say good night."
Tho evening was young yet.
The ceremony had been pet formed
at five; tho supper was at eight. Tho
bride and groom had just gone to
their special train and private car,
and It was not yet half past ten.
The guests were thinning out rap
Idly. In another half-hour there would
be none but servants and the mas
ter left in tho great house. It had
had no mistress, alas! since Lorna
was very young; she had only a faint
recollection of her mother, and sup
posed her to bo dead.
The son, Paul, was a globo trot
ter never at home and he was the
product of a former wife of the steel
baron.
"Come into the 'den' with me,
Dirge," the elder man said, "I have
got Mills's Inventory the safe de
posit company's man, you know."
Then, inside tho small room where
Moreaux had been once befoie that
evening, he continued: "Have you any
idea how man articles are missing?"
'Five possibly six although 1
think that Lorna may not have left
that in tho 'exhibit'; one calls it by
nc other name. The five ai tides aro
tho diamond lavalllere which was one
of Jerry's presents; the diamond and
emerald bracelet that Paul sent to her
from Paris; the tiara of rubles and
diamonds that my pi'cr Eunice gave
her; a bandeau of peails, almost
piiceless in value, the gift of ono of
mj business associates, and I hesi
tate to tell you about it, Blrge."
"I know already, Mr. Delorme.
The small bauble that I donated."
"Bauble, indeed; Tho wire gold
bracelet with tho single but wonder
ful ruby that was given to you by
homo India raja when you were a
joungster, and which you prized so
highly.
"I recall very well Indeed that day
at your studio, nearly ten years ago,
when Lorna, when only a child, went
into raptures over It, and you told
her that when sho grow up nnd was
married you would mako her a wed
ding present of it. Why, sho woro it
vhen you mado tho portrait of her.
You painted it on her wrist in tho
picture."
"So I did, to bo sure. What Is that
sixth articlo that may bo mlpslng, Mr.
Delorme?"
"A present that I mado to hor
mother before wo woro married, and
which sho loft behind when sho went
away. A cameo brooch of exqulsito
workmanship which onco belonged to
my mother."
Tho artist nodded understanding.
Ho knew that any subject which re
lated to Lorna'a mother waa painful
to Richard Delorme.
-JLWJjat ehaU I do about It Blrwr
the older man asked anxiously. "You
must advlso me. I much prefer to
keep tho Incident out of tho news
papersIf that Is possible"
"Then I should advlso that you
accompany Lieutenant Muchmoro to
police headquarters now. Bo with
him when ho makes his report to his
superior. Exonerato him as far as
possible. Show your belief In him by
requesting that ho bo assigned to tho
case of running down tho thief.
"Give as your reason for that rs
qucst tho fact that you do wish to
avoid publicity. You havo power and
Influence. You will find that tho In
spector will respect your wishes. And
4show jour confldenco In Muchmoro
himself by making him a substantial
present before you leave the houso to
gether." "But you will go with me, won't
you?"
"No. Unfortunately I cannot. I
htve another engagement still to
night." There was an odd little smile about
tho corners of Birgo Moreaux's mouth
when a moment later he left tho small
room and found Muchmoro impa
tiently awaiting him.
"Mr. Delorme wants to see you,
lieutenant," he said. "He is going to
headquarters with you. Don't stop to
tfclk with me. Go right In and find out
what the old gentleman has to say to
you."
Moreaux drove directly to the tall
building In Blank street where he had
his studio.
Oddly enough, less than halt an
hour after he arrived there tho man
called Crewe he of the blemished
face and unsavory reputation left
the same building by the rear door,
for the building runs through from
street to street.
As he stepped outside and turned
to lock the door after him a limouslno
car drove rnpidly through the street
directly behind him.
He did not turn his head to look
toward it. Had he done so he would
have recognized the car as one of
Richard Delorme's and he would
have seen the face of Lieutenant
Muchmore peering out at him from
the window In the limousine door.
CHAPTER III.
That Same Night at Crewe's.
Crewe stood with both arms out
stretched, his strong but delicate
hands gripping the inner edge of the
bar of ills famous place In South
Fifth avenue.
It was his customary attitude when
he was not wiping glasses or other
wise engaged.
The ugly, almost hideous blemish
on one side of his face, which shaded
from red to a hue that was nearly
purple, seemed more pronounced than
ever, although if he turned his head
so that It did not show, and one c6uld
see only the smooth side of his face,
one would unhesitatingly have pro
nounced him a handsome man.
There were possibly a score of
"regulars" seated at the tables, whit u
were many, for the saloon was both
wide and deep; but Crewe's I rusted
assistant, Christy, was attending to
their wants, so that he was himself
unoccupied.
The hands of the clock above the
back bar pointed at five minutes to
midnight.
The front door opened and a tall,
darkman of the elder Hermann type
came swiftly toward the bar where
Crewe was standing.
He moved with a peculiar grace and
erse that suggested both lithness
and great reserve strength, and his
black eyes under their heavy brows
were remarkably soft In their expred-!
sion. Women would have admlied
him at a distance. I
Men would have shrugged their '
Ehoulders and shook their heads if his
good looks were mentioned. j
Crewe maintained his familiar atti
tude until the newcomer was directly
in front of him; then he said, still
vithout moving from his position:
"How are you,. Sindahr? What aie
you going to have?" But, as if he
had known before he asked Hid ques
tion, he reached Into one of the re
ceptacles behlhd him and brought
forth a bottle that was never called
foi save by this particular customer.
It contained some kind of an East
ern cordial, which must be name'ess
hero for the reason that it is unpro
nounceable. "Thank you, Mr. Ciewe," Sindahr
said in a low voice that wa.s soft as
velvet and in perfect English, al
though one could see that ho was a
foieigner, and doubtless of Hindu
origin, notwithstanding tho lnkv-black
mustache and Imperial ho wore.
"Well, were you there?" Crowe
asked as he helped himself to a glass
of vichy.
"Surely! Did I not say that I
would be there? I was tho Italian
Count Suclnl I much resemble I had
no dllllculty in obtaining the .nvl
tation, Mr. Crewe."
"Don't 'Mister' me, count." nnd
Crewo showed his white teeth In a
half smile. "I am just plain Crewe.
I have no other name. Did you oboy
my orders?"
"Most assuredly."
"You aro lying, Sindahr," Crewo
announced coolly.
And when the man in front of tho
bar took a step backward away fro:ii
It and shot a gleam from his eyes that
was half hatred and half fear, tho
Proprietor added as coolly as bofore:
"lou East Indians think that you are
tho only wlso guys on earth, but ycu
will find when you know mo better
that I am gifted with something of
tho occult myself. Shell out, count."
"What do you mean by that expres
sion, Crowe," tho Oriental demanded,
and there was no mistaking tho ha
tred in his eyes then.
"I sent you up there, Sindahr, to
watch, not to 'lift.' I told yon ex
pressly that you wero not to pinch a
'thing, even If tho opportunity ofcrcd.
You disobeyed mo. Shell out!"
"I havo nothing. I stole not a
thing."
'Count, do you want mo to send
you up tho river?"
"No, no, no! Not even If you
could do so," was tho hasty but half
uncertain reply.
"Then dig down In your jeans and
cough up that cameo brooch that you
lifted tonight."
SIndahr's expressive eyes grew wide
with fear. Then, without a word of
reply, ho thrust ono hand Insido his
waistcoat and brought forth an article
wrapped In tissue-paper.
He passed it across tho bar to
Crewe, who opened tho wrapping
enough to seo what it contained, then
turned and dropped It into a drawer
behind him, which ho locked.
Tho Oriental's expression was mur
derous when Crewe confronted him
again; but it changed to fear once
more as he murmured:
"You are a devil yes, a devil
another Siva! How could you know
about that?"
"I knew. That Is enough. Wero
both of your pupils there?"
"Yes."
"Did they get busy? Did they
pinch anything?"
"I think not. If so, I did not de
tect them."
"Was anything stolen - besides the
cameo?"
"I do not think so. I came away
Immediately after the supper. If there
were things missing I did not hear of
It. I was"
The front door opened, and Crewe
Interrupted him sharply:
"Here comes a man who may ques
tion you. Be careful what you say."
Lieutenant Muchmore strode swift
ly to the bar. Another plain-clothes
man was with him.
"Hello, Crewe!" he said. Tnen:
"Who's your friend?"
"Good evening, Muchmoro. How
are you, Bunting?" Crewe replied
easily. "My friend is the celebrated
and justly renowned Professor Sin
oahr, known to tho puolic as the
'Worker of Miracles."
"And known to the police as the
slickest 'dip' that ever happened,"
Muchmore snapped out, whirling up
on tho Oriental savagely.
Sindahr, however, remained appar
ently unmoved by the statement or
the attitude of the officer. Indeed, his
tr:'"' gleamed and his soft eyes shone
In a smile that might have been ap
preciation of the compliment.
"That is, unfortunately, a reputa
tion that fell upon me because I
bfve given exhibitions of pocketpick
lng on the stage," he said In his vel
1 voice. "But I have done that
merely to teach my audiences how to
avoid the dips, as you call them. You
havn no charge against me, I know."
'No; I wish to Heaven I had one!
But, all the same, you are the man I
want to see. I had a description of
you tonight, and I remembered then
that I knew you. He turned sharply
to the man behind the bar. "Crewe,"
he demanded, "you havo some ac
quaintance with Moreaux, the artist,
haven't you?"
"A slight one."
"He has visited your place this
place?"
"Possibly. I have a wretched mem
ory, lieutenant."
"Well, I am going to speak to you
presently about something that you
will remember, because it happened
so recently not much more than an
hour ago. Just now I want to know
who the new pupil was that you in
troduced to this miracle worker the
night, or one of the nights not very
long ago, when Moreaux, the artist
islted this place."
"Really, lieutenant " Crewe be
gan, but Muchmore wheeled again
fpon Sindahr.
"You know the occasion to which
I refer," he snapped out. "Tell rae
the name of that man. You met him
in tile street on the Bowery less than
a week ago and talked with him. It
was near Houston street. Who was
he?"
"My dear lieutenant, I mpet so
very many people. How should I re
member? And I have so very many
pupils from time to time, HW should
I recall them?" Sindahr shrugged
his shoulders with a gesture so inso
lent that it angered both the officers.
As if with one impulse, they acted.
Bunting seized his arms from bo
hind. Muchmoro snapped handcuffs
on his wrists before ho suspected
their intention.
Crewo looked on without moving,
having reassumed his favorite posi
tion with arms extended; but ho man
aged to catch SIndahr's cyo in a
meaning look. Tho other occupants
of tho room paid no attention what
ever. It was none of their affair, what
ever else It might be.
"I'll take you anyhow as a sus
picious character, and hold you forty
elrht hours for Investigation," tho
lieutenant said shortly. "I can ques
tion you better over at headquarter?.
Tako him aside, Bunting. Put him In
that chair over thero and corao back
here.
"I am going to ask Crewo a few
ouestlons about something that hap
pened tonight, and I want you to hear
them nnd his answers to them. Chris
tj, you beat it to tho other end of tho
room and stay thero till you're want
ed. I'll take charge of this place for
the next few minutes,"
Crewo did not move. Tho cxprcs
Bion of his faco did not change. But
he asked his assistant a question thnt
founded odd under tho clrcumstnn
oes. "Christy," ho said In a tono that
was entirely calm and half-amused,
"did you feed tho pigeons tonight?"
"Yes. sir," Christy replied.
"Guying me, nro you?" Much
more demanded.
"Dear me, no, lieutenant," Crewo
returned smilingly. "But I am very
fond of my pigeons."
'Well, I" The electric lights in
tho placo "winked." That is, they
went out and flashed on again Instant
ly. "What tho bla2cs was that?" tho
lieutenant exclaimed. "Did you do
that, Crewo?"
"I? How could I do It? They've
been winking like that a good deal
litely. Just about this time, too."
Crewo glanced about the room.
What he saw seemed to satisfy him.
Christy was at the far end of It. Two
or three of the patrons were unosten
tatiously taking their departure.
Sindahr was seated at a tablo not
far away with the irons still on his
wrists. Bunting had returned to the
bar beside Muchmore. Tho lights
winked pgain.
"You were going to ask me some
questions, lieutenant," Crewe re
marked. "What were they?"
'This is ono of them, Crewe. I
Baw you tonight when you left the
building where the artist Moreaux has
his studio. You had a key that fitted
the lock on the door, too. What were
you doing there?"
"I had been passing tho evening
with some friends."
'You He! You had been waiting for
Moreaux. Now I "
"Stop." Crewe's voice was sharp,
Incisive, but was not raised; and he
added coldly: "It isn't safe to use that
expression in addressing me. Lieu-,
tenant Muchmore. Don't do It again."
"You dare to threaten me?" Much
more demanded angrily. "I have
more than half a mind to servo you
the same way I have served the mira
cle worker." e
"I don't think I would attempt that
If I Were you," Crewo said mildly,
and yet there was something In the
very mildness of it that compelled
the lieutenant to hesitate.
"You've got something in common
with the artist, Crewe," he said cross
ly. "You are hand in glovo with him.
I want to know what It Is all about."
Crewe made no reply.
"Things happened tonight at a
house where I was present and where
that artist was present also. Articles
of value were stolen. I am pretty cer
tain that you know something about
it, too.
"Anyhow, I'm going to invite you
to walk down to headquarters with
me where you can tell tho Inspector
all about it. You're not under arrest,
understand," ho added with a grim
smile. "This is merely a courteous
Invitation."
"Thanks," said Crewe; and at that
instant the lights went out and
stayed out.
For a moment there was silence
while all present seemed to wait for
them to flash on again. Then the front
door was heard to close with a bang,
and something metallic fell to the
floor beside the two officers.
Another moment passed and the
lights flashed on again and the two
officers found themselves looking
wildly about them, and then staring
blankly Into each other's faces.
The place was deserted savo for
themselves and Christy, who was
placidly wiping glasses behind the
tar. The chair that Sindahr had occu
pied was vacant. .He was gone, and
on the floor at their feet was the
pair of handcuffs which had bound
him, still locked.
Even Crewe himself had disap
peared. "Well, I'll be" Muchmore began
and stopped. "Christy, come here!"
CHAPTER IV.
The Many-Sided Crewe.
"Where is Crewe, Christy?" Much
moro asked with extreme but dan
gerous mildness. He was quite con
scious that he had gone a step too
fni with the man of the blemished
face that night.
Christy ceased wiping the glass,
raised his chin and his eyes gazed
thoughtfully toward the ceiling before
he replied. Then he said:
"Seems to me that I heard him say
something about a date that he had at
ten minutes to one. It's about that
now, ain't it, lute?"
Bunting had picked up tho hand
cuffs and was examining them. He
held them out toward his side-part-nei
with tho remark:.
"That miracle-worker slipped them
all right. They were a snug fit, too."
"Never mind that now," Muchmoro
replied. 'Now, Christy, where Is that
switch, and how do you work it?"
"What switch, lute?"
"I want to know how thoso lights
weie turned on and off so neatly," the
lieutenant Insisted, still In the samo
dangerously mild tone of voice.
"Lord love you, lute, that thing
happens every now and then, and al
ways 'long between twelve and ono
o'clock. I guess thero must bo some
thing wrong with tho wiring or
something."
"Very likely. All tho same I'll go
aiound behind the bar and havo a
look for myself."
"Sure. Come ahead. Say, what'll
youso havo to drink?"
Neither man paid the slightest at
tention to tho Invitation. Muchmoro
passed around tho end of tho bar and
spent five fruitless minutes search
ing for an electric switch and gava
it up; but ho remained behind the
bar, facing Christy.
"I want to know how Crewo loft
this place," ho said shortly.
"Well, lute, I guess you'll havo to
ask him about that. I'm blowed It I
know. Why, I'vo ,known him before
now to disappear while my back was
turned In broad daylight, too. That
miracle worker ain't got nothln' on
him if anybody should ask you."
"You will show mo tho way ho
went out if you know what is good for
you, Christy," tho lieutenant said
sharply. His quick temper was as
serting itself again.
"Gee, I trlsht I knew it. I wouldn't
havo waited here, either with you
that mad that you wanted to fight.
Say, lute, don't you know that you
can ketch more flies with merlasses
that you can with vinegar? That
aint no way to stack up against
Crewe, the way you done it."
"Well, Christy, ono thing is quite
certain. You and Crewe both aided
a prisoner to escape, and so I'm going
to take you down to headquartera
with me, just to find out If your
knowledge nnd memory of things
won't improve on the way "
'Now, wouldn't that jar you?"
Christy exclaimed without excite
ment. He was midway of tho length of
the bar, facing Muchmore, who stood
in the opening at the end of It. "I
wasn't anywhere near the miracle
worker, and I heard Bunting nay Just
now that tho guy slipped the Irons
off'n him. Anyhow, he wasn't any
prisoner. You didn't have any war
rant for him. He was only a suspi
cious character, as you call It and I
ain't one of them. I guess, maybe, If
you take mo In for what happened
here tonight I'll go an' see my lawyer
tomorrow. How about that, lute?"
Christy was too "wise" to the
game to bo frightened.
Muchmore realized that? with a grlro
smile. The only way to take him In
would bo to plant something on him,
or frame him up, and Muchmore and
Bunting were above that sort of thing.
"Do you think you could find a
way to ask Crew to return here,
Christy?" Muchmore asked him
and as he finished the question the
electric light winked again.
"There they go again," the bar
tender chuckled. "Why, lemme see.
I don't think he meant to be gone but
a few minutes when ho went oui.
You see, he was In his shirt sleeves,
end ho hadn't no hat, and "
Christy stopped, gazing directly
ahead of him, past the lieutenant, to
ward the hear of the room. Borh offi
cers had their eyes upon Mm and liaiS
not heard nor seen a door as it open
ed suddenly at that end of the place.
But they turned their heads quickly
to follow Christy's gaze and discover
ed Crewe advancing toward them
with the swift motion that was hhr
chief characteristic. And he seemed
not in the least disturbed.
"I can't find it, Chris Hello!
Where is the professor? Oh, I see,
Muchmore; you decided to let him
go. I think you did right, too. It Is
closing time, boys. What will you
have before I lock up?" and ho step
ped behind the bar and stretched out
his arms in the customary gesture,
thus drawing the two officers around
In front of him again.
"We didn't let him go; he let him
self go, Crewe," Eaid Bunting.
He had said very little since he en
tered the place; now, for some reas
on perhaps Muchmore had signaled)
tu him he took up the conversation!
and, had he but known it, Crewe likeci
him, and respected him above the av
erage. "He slipped out of the cuffs and)
chuckled them on the floor at our feet
while the lights were out. Oh, he's a
miracle worker all right; take it fron
me."
"Well, well!" said Crewe, and put
out bottle and glasses, and a siphon
of vichy. He had never been known
to drink anything stronger than vichy
In his own place.
"But we don't care anything about
that, now, Crewe," Bunting went ors
quietly. "The thing that we aro cu
rious about is, how and when you got
out?"
"I? Why, I just walked out--to
tee If I could find out what was the
matter with the lights."
'Aw, say, Crewe, do we look as;
easy as that?"
Crewo shrugged his shoulders.
"Ob, well, I won't try to convince'
you. Havo another? No? Well, it's
after closing time, now, and I don't
want to get into trouble with tho in
spector of this district. And say,
Muchmore, if you btill insist, and will
wait, I'll take a walk down with you
for that talk with your chief. How
about it?"
"Go ahead and close up," Much
moro replied, still a bit unsettled as
to temper. "Then come into the back;
room where Bunting and I ran h ive a
taik with you. That will do qulto as
well." (To Be Continued.)
Weakness of Moors.
A traveler says that a curious
weakness of grown-up Moors Is tho
love of eating newly baked bread.
Tho cald of Azemmoor, in Morocco,
discovered that old bread was
thrown away as waste. To waste
food Is a serious offense In tho eyes
of a Moslem. Tho cald of Azem
moor therefore issued a bylaw pro
hibiting tho baking of bread upon
ono day in each weok. Tho citizens,
ho declared, must eat up tho breadi
already bakcd.and he fixed Wednes
day as" the "bltalah," or holiday.
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