CRACKSMAN
AND CLEVER
BURGLARS
By WILLIAM K. GIBBS
+&) by short Story Pub Co.)
ASTING a hasty glance to the
right and left, and baving the
appearance of one being pur
sued, a well-dressed man slack-
ened his pace before an Imposing of-
fice bullding.
The town clocks struck six—first the
one in the courthouse tower, and then,
farther away, the one In the city hall
This one struck five times slowly, hesli-
tated a moment, struck eleven times
with great vigor, struck once with a
big. final boom and was through. No
amount of repairing could cure the
city hall clock of this peculiarity, It
kept time but kept it according to a
private way of [ts own,
Passing in between the marble pil-
lars that guarded the entrance of the
Trades bullding, the man ignored the
elevators and began to ascend the
stairs, Four flights up, he turned
down the corridor. He paused, re
moved an atternoon paper from his
pocket and read:
“Dr. James Whitheck, 456 Trades
building, left for New York this after-
noon to deliver a lecture before the
medical association, on his recently
perfected cancer cure. He will be gone
a week.”
With catlike steps, the figure crept
toward the door which bore, in mod-
est letters, the inscription—
Whitheck, M. D. The clang of an ele-
vator door startled the stodgy figure.
He paused, listened intently, then tried
the door. Much to his surprise, It
opened, and he stood face to face with
a tall, dark, middle-aged man of pro-
fessional bearing. evening.
doctor,” he sald biandly. “I did not
expect to find you here.” The volce
not betray what was passing
through the speaker's mind.
“No?
“I'l tell you
tured the newcomer,
Central detall,
catch a thief”
“What's the matter, have 1
overcharging my patients?”
. smiling
don’t understand.
who calls himself ‘Jeff
“Good
did
why I'm here,” ven-
“I'm Barrett,
and I came up here to
heen
questioned
the other
“No:
after n
We've
you
man
tance. We don’t know what he
like, but hd Invariably leaves a
for the police, signed ‘Jeff.’
a specisity of doctors’ offices.
“Why for
“For the very
are supposed to
York.
He makes
"
look him here?”
good reason that
be
The afternoon
says you are to deliver a
New York and left this afternoon.
Jeff” works while the doctors
Then,
er sald:
“Yon see, I'm
‘pinch’ myself, as it will give
stronger ‘pull’ with the chief
a proposition to make and
help me, I'll be sure to get him.
do you say? Will you?
“(Of course:
give me
on me.”
“Thanks. my proposition Is
this: Jeff Is shrewd; he will pretend
to he sick If he finds you
give him something,
doing that. give him every chance
get vour watch and your money. Th
I'l do my part.”
Jarrett’s persuasion
to the agreement to stay
could and still eateh
train for New York,
off one corner of the
ing a comfortable
vigil,
A second figure. short and squatty,
entered] the Trades hullding. He
up to the fourth floor nnd walked bold
iy into the doctor's office,
“It's lucky I found
tor.” he began,
was talking with a man this afternoon
nnd he recommended you to me I
need something for my nerves: they're
ull gone to pieces, vou know”
“That Come In the consulting
room and let me look you over” The
usual routine of a physician over, the
“patient” was given a small dose of
Hquid from a bottle on the doctors
desk. As soon as he saw he was not
being watched the “patient” turned
the contents of the glass into the cus
pldor, and turning to the doctor, sald:
“How long before it works?
“It should take effect Immediately.”
came the reply, but you had better let
me examine vour heart”
The “patient” unbuttoned his cont
and vest, and ns the doctor bent over
and placed his ear to the other's chest,
the latter extracted a wallet and
watch from the former's pocket,
“I don’t find anything the matter
with yhur heart, but you had better
take another dose of this,” and an.
other dose from the bottle was given
the “patient.” This time he was
watched nnd he had to swallow It. He,
thought it quite the worst of anything
he ever had tasted”
“Let me know how you feel tomor.
row.”
“Yes—" a hand was Iald roughly on
the speaker's shoulder, Interrupting
his reply. “What's the meaning of
‘this?’ he demanded, when he had re
gnined his equanimity, ’
i chief wants to see you, Jeff,”
ealmiy
well on
to New
are out.’
in a confiding tone, the speak-
What
great pleasure,
Now
here,
the
as long
an early
won
evening
and select.
began bis
room,
chair,
you here,
sw?
announced Barrett, “We've
‘queered’ your little game at last, 1
happened to see you lift Doctor Whit.
beck's wallet and watch just now, Bo
you're a ‘dip’ too, eh? We didnt
know that before
“Well, you got me,” sulked the pris.
oner, dejectedly, “but I'm no piker. I'l
«» quietly.”
“These will make me feel a little
more secure,” remarked Barrett, as he
fastened the handcuffs on the prison
er's wrists. Turning to the doctor, he
sald:
“We'll want to see you probably,
svhen you get back from New York"
“But what about my watch and my
money?" the doctor asked.
“Oh, you'll get them all right. We
need them for evidence and I'll have
to take them to the station”
The two men—detective and pris
oner—passed out and closed the door,
The physician called a taxicab com-
pany and asked them to have a tax!
in front of the Trades bullding In
forty-five minutes,
The outer door of 4568 Trades build-
ing opened nolselessly, Two figures
entered stealthlly, As the light was
switched on, one who had been pres-
the two as the same detective
prisoner, although now the handcuffs
were not in evidence,
Jim," sald Parrett,
game like a two-year-old.”
They gathered up
value and placed It In a
seemed to have heen left
their especial benefit,
silence,
eyes watched
grip that
them from
hiding place a short time before,
Jarrett broke the silence. “That's
all we want” he said.
looked ahything, I'm
two emerged from
room,
ver.
sorry.”
the
game's up, boys,” ssid
at that moment,
“I'l take
ihe
man who,
of the situation
and money.”
“You're a shrewd one,
tor \Whitbeck,” parried Barrett.
take our bats off to you."
“Cut that chatter and face the wall”
They obeyed. I'l just
you of these cannons. There,
better unload everything you
have in your pockets and quick
it”
At the
wy
“Now
Now,
be
of
as they were
point the revolver, the
iprits did bidden
Sure you haven't missed anything?
the man with the gun.
“That's all there is. boss ™
“How about the bracelets?
“T've got replied Barrett, dog
gedly,
“Put one on your
your
‘em,”
wrist and one on
with the
give you a tip. My
down In front: don’t
ike any nolse or try to fol
me I'm afraid 1 might
control of my trigger-finger.”
“Aren't to send us to the
‘stir’? Jarrett,
pal's,” ordered the man
“Now, let me
walting
low or
you going
queried
“No: 1 hadn't
“Well, that's
thought
sure
of that”
white of you
Then in slow,
the re piy
“Doctor Whitheck lef
this
“What?
measured tones, came
t for New York
#fternoon.”™
from Barrett
almost as one word.
“You heard now keep quiet
That chaoffeur Is waiting and 1 don't
miss him,
carry this
came and his
me,
grip you were
.
pard, .
but
“Say,
clever,
Keeping
began Barrett,
who are you?”
both
“you're
them covered with
man picked up
office door and In.
from the outside, then
the
opened the
Jeff"
door
“I'm
The
closed softly,
and he
key
lock, Wis gone,
Spanish | Believe That
Bread Is Sacred Food
Do you ever throw away your bread,
a friend of the Companion. or
crust? In Spain it
to do so, 1 am told
newcomer from that country,
children,
food. To Illustrate just what happens,
bread away, let me tell you an actual
incident that occurred in Barcelona.
A little Spanish boy left his house,
eating a slice of bread, but he soon
tired of it and, without thinking,
threw it down upon the sidewalk.
Hardly had he done so when a hand
grasped his elbow and he looked up
into the face of a policeman.
“You cannot throw bread away like
that,” the man told him. “You are
breaking the law. Pick it up and come
with me.”
The boy, startled, picked up the
bread, and the man drew him along
down a side street until they came
to a sheltered corner between two
buildings.
“Kiss the bread, hijo mio, and lay
it carefully down here on this stone
that the dogs may eat of it, and It
shall not be wasted,” commanded the
policeman, and the boy did as he was
told.—~Youth's Companion,
Worse and Worse
“The needcessities of life ‘pear to
be going up all the time,” in the cross
roads store, announced Gap Johnson
of Rumpus Ridge.
“Say they are!” returned the pro
prietor of the emporium,
“Yeah! 1 see whur just ylste'd'y
they took and fined a feller for whal
HA Mary tulle. —— Kansas Clty
tar.
Hh
er 03
THE CRUSTY CROCODILE
&“ EAR, dear, but this has been a
dull day.” yawned Cheerups.
Stretching his arms above his head and
brushing away a passing fly. “Howe
life Is splerdid, but a change now and
then Is good, too. I'm going for a
walk! Ceme on, Quixie Boys: what
do you say to a stroll down by the
Yellow River™
Of | course, Hrighteyes, Quickear,
Softfoot and Sniffsniff were willing.
So In single
Way they went,
eyes on Cheerups' little red shoes
they twinkled'in and out of the
Grasses. They &ldn't want to
sight of their leader and the promised
lark.
On and on they trudged
came to the Yellow River,
on the muddy bank In the shade of
ax
until they
i
“Oh, No, Thank You, Crusty,” Cried
Cheerups in Alarm.
for hundreds
rough brown log.
for weary
“Whew,
of years,
Just a splendid
folks to rest,
but I'm
ured and
down for a while!”
hat's a A iden,”
with a leaf
warm exercising”
“Sh,
lay a
place
tired,”
hot.
puffed
Let's sit
sald Cheerups,
“It's very
don't,” cried Brighteyes, just
us they were about to settle down on
old rough log lease don't sit
you might hurt his feelings!”
the
there :
irighteyes?
scolded Sniffsnif
hurt mine certainly
we haven't all of us Softfoot’s padded
We are tired!”
doa’t you
eyes in the end of the
hteyes, “It's Mr. Alilgator,
Now wouldn't It have
sat on him?
his hands
“It won't
“But see those
shiny
round
I do belleve.
been funny If we had all
and irighteyes clapped
gleefully.
“You musin’t be rude
Brighteyes, for you
teiling what it might
Ahem, good afternocn,
sald Cheerups, in his
fee
furn
Mr
best
there's nc
out to be,
Alligator,”
manner. “I am sorry we didn't
nize you at once.”
“1 hear that you can stay under
water a long time, Mr. Crocodile,” sald
Cheerups, trying to keep him in a good
humor.
“Right you are, Mr. Cheerups. I
can stay uader water with my mouth
wide open, too, and that's more than
any of you can do, I'll wager.”
“Goodness ! I should say
gasped the Quixies In chorus.
“That sounds a bit like a fish story,
Crusty,” ‘eased Cheerups, “but of
recog-
ter
80
fly, ns thc Croeodile began to open
“No fish story about that,” he rum-
“I'll take you un-
with me, If you would like
“Oh, no, thank you, Crusty.” eried
perfectly
but
am
sure you are right about it,
is how
“Well, it's this way.”
nil
back of my
repli
nature again “Al
throat is a curious
which closes so tight when |
my mouth that not the tiniest
drop of water can get down my throat,
tut that® isn't wy only accomplish.
run very on
ought to see me
this
from side to
through the water
lightning. But
talking about
Please excuse me,
ied Crusty
good
the
valve
can fast
Just swim!
tall o
you
iy switching powerful
side, 1
lke a
dear me!
myself
Mr.
chose to
Can
streak of
Here |
the
Cheerups
all time
and
tell me why you come to
exactly choose™
merrily: "we
lived on the
in America
®_o
didn't
Cheerups
You
of a Great Mou
ever
nnd
“Oh,
Inughed
we
ROP, Wo
tain
came to
top
and
nobody Oe us we
wished wished for a chance to
Eleanor Boardman
fritid
This is the latest picture of hand-
Eleanor Boardman, the well
known “movie” star, who advises the
too fat or too lean to go on a milk
diet—either one will profit
Then
We
our itantice
here
people
are
and 1
that
for you."
e to help
am sorry, Mr.
haven't
“Oh,
Crocodile
ything
sir
just to
done an
but you
Lrighter
eerups,
have,
taik
fooks
Mr. C
you,
“S8ometl smile,
as you wil}
way of bel
mes a
very best
slid
swim," he
called, and van
ished In a curve of the Yellow River.
Bee wn & Cos
the water
“Wat ch
ne waved is tall
Then into
{'rocodile, me
as
by Little
By H. IRVING
KING
BIRDS ON WEDDING GIFTS
MANY
considered unlucky to receive
pleted an it. This arises
sociatiop of ldens—a primitive concep
tion of relations and, therefore, cause
and effect, sympathetic magic of a sort,
flight fleet
and for the married state perma-
desirable, Therefore,
should not
or it will produge imper-
irds suggest something
pnency is
wedding gift
permanency
suggest
it is found in
Those superstitions which are clear
problem ip their survival
?
: whence it
day and lucky jewel
MONICA
INICA is not nearly as popular a
name as it deserves to be. Not
has It beauty of sound and sig
nifleance, but a strikingly Interesting
as well, It comes to us al
most direct from the Spanish,
nevertheless regarded
in its native country.
golden-haired., biunseyed English
bears the name first used to designate
Dominica is a af
rect offspring of this word and there
have been Saints Dominica, Domingo
and Dominico, without number. One
holy man by that name, who is asso.
clated with the Inquisition, had name.
sakes In all the Romanist lands, and
the feminine of this popular title came
to he officially Domenica; for short
Menica,
The mother of Raint Augustine was
the first to be called Monica. Some
etymologists even belleve that her
pame should be classified as one com-
ing directly from the Latin verb
“moneo,” meaning “to advise.” hut the
consensus of opinion Is that Monica
was evolved In the manner aforemen-
—
ID In a safe deposit box
I've filed my cares away
feoured with armor-plated locks
For use some other day.
And there until I need them I
To leave them will endeavor,
Which . 1 fisute wil some by
Home six weeks after ver.
Newspaper Syndicate
«® by McClure
tioned. Monica Is also a favorite in
Frunce and the peasantry call it Mon
igue. Moncha is the Irish form.
The emerald is Monica's talismanie
is belleved to bestow upon
her the gift
future events. She will have
cially keen perception when she wears
espe
deceit, Wednesday is her lucky day
and 1 her hicky number,
(© by Wheeler fiyndieats )
N
BBREVIATED
STORY
DWINDLE DOWNS
NCE upon a time there was the
dearest, prettiest, cutest little girl,
and her name was Goldilocks, and she
acted In the “movies” so dearly and
prettily amd cutely that every one that
saw Lier fell In love with her and saved
up to see her in her next pleture, and
Goldilocks made $50,000 a wpek and
nobody begrudged It to her except one
person, and that was her landlord.
Her landlord's name was Dwindle
Downs, and he raised Goldllocks® rent
and raised it and raised it and raised
it and raised it until poor Goldilocks
was driven almost to distraction. But
she couldn't move because all the other
when Dwindle Downs told her she
would either have to pay him £200 a
month or move, she summoned Cream-
puffin, her good fairy.
“If you raise Goldilocks’ rent once
more, you wicked man" sald Cream.
puffia tp Dwiadle Downs, “I wili wave
my magic wand and change you into a
bee hive, and all the bees will come
and live fn you free of charge without
a cent of rent.
“Ha. ha, ha Inoghed Dwindle
Downs scornfully. "One more threat
They were the primitive
the best he
system
man's science,
| They were conld do with
his defective of ratiocination
to explain the phenomena by which he
But
man of today they are so far from be-
ing the offgpring of his. reasoning that
are directly
be supposed when the
of intellectual which pro- |
duced superstitions had been passed—
had under civilization—the
superstitions evolved from that stage
But such is not the
It has been said that in the past
hundred years there has been a great |
ine In popular superstition jut
many still cling to their beliefs,
It may be sald that these supersti- |
tions have banded down from |
generation fo generation to account |
for their persistence. But unless there |
is some other quality to sustain it =a
conception handed down becomes void
when enlarged experience and more |
perfect reasoning disprove: it. The |
conception of the earth as a plane was
down for ages, but when ex- |
perience proved the fallacy of this con. |
ception it censed to exist. Primitive
superstitions are as much opposed to |
modern experience and reason as the |
conception of the earth as a plane, yet i
they persist with astonishing vitality.
Modern ratiocination and primitive sy- |
would appear to be incom- |
patible, yet they exist side by side. |
What is the answer? i
(© by MeC
might that
life
died out
deel
been
lure Newspaper Syndicate )
N -
i
8 by MeClure Newspaper Syndicate.)
outa you and I'l send word to the
Affiliated Landlords of Fajeyland to
raise your rent to n hundred ounces of
thistiedown a month.”
With a ery of fright Creampufa
flew away, and poor Goldilocks had to
pay $200 of her #00000 a nwonth for
(0 by George Matthaw Adame.)
%
*
When a Girl at Home
Charleston, W. Va — “Ever since 1
was a girl at home | have known of Dr.
Pierce's medicines,
for my parents
always kept a »
ply on hand My
first personal ex-
perience with Dr.
Yierce’s Favorite
Prescription was
when I was 21, and
inclined to be sick-
ly. After a few
months’ treatment
1 grew strong and
w Since then,
frist sotherlod and afterward the
ion’ was my great hel and
friend, and through the critical oe of
life it was a inf sreng comfqrt in soothing
my nerves ing my entire
poay * "Mrs, W. Robinson,
Bigley Ave,
All dealers. Tablets and liouid
The Right Breed
This summer, for the first time,
Ellen lived on a farm. The rest of her
been spent in sn In
1730
Naturally, she
farm
Ro,
wach
especia
was
animals,
when some
interested
fy the
Holsteing w hich
urcha Came
lane
wr had just p
down the
sed
one evening
almpst breathless.
last one passed, she fom
3 “Oh, mam-
last one of those new cows
word pnizzle on ”
ped
TORR
im
hat >
H, why can't I have a skin like
other giris? Why do I have to
“If I could only find something that
give me
back my soft, rosy completion, { know
world! What can I do?
Is that you talking? If it is, you
a minute! Just
build up the wich, red biocod in your
and soft as anybody's.
That's whit S. 8. 8. has been doing
rich, red blood! You can build red-
bloodcells so fast that the impurities
pure blood annfhilates them — kills
them right out -—stops them from
breaking out through the skin
And then this rich, red, pure blood
feeds and nourishes the tissues of the
skin and keeps it looking healthy,
That's all there is to
it. Healthy, vigorous,
red blood such as 8. 8. 8.
helps Nature build
all
over. It beautifies your
skin «drives away pim-
ples, blackheads, blotches, rash, Dolls
and eczema-—gives you back your ap-
petite—bullds firm, plump flesh and
fil}f you full of new life and energy.
All drug stores sell 8. 8. 8. Get the
iE i
Use Cuticura Soap
And Ointment
To Heal Sore Hands
GASTRITIS IS DANGEROUS
STOP IT QUICK
When your stomach is bloated . when
R ia 80 distended with gas that pressure
en the heart almost suffocates you
What are you going to do?
Take a chance or get rid of the gas
quick?
The one big selling stomach medicine
todey is Dare's Mentha Pepsin and ity
mighty power to relieve terrible gastritis,
acute or chronic is a blessing to tens of
thousands of people who have been un.
able to get help from any other sourve.
It's splendid for any stomach trouble
f8 Dare's Mentha Pepsin,
So when your food won't digest or gas,
bloating or shortness of breath cause you
to become nervous or dizzy or have a
headache always remember that you oan
get one boltie—~of Dare's Mentha Pepsin
from your druggist and If it doesn't help
your disordered stomach--your money
will be returted.
Vaseline
WE 0 PEE