k ' "
11
LADYEINGERS
By JACKSON GREGORY
Oopvripni, m 61 ?AralM Scribner't Bona
THIS STARTS THE STOftV
1 , Aoj of cracked and tho
What escaped. Ambrose, a detco
IV colts on Joo LcBhn, gangster
J. "it .,( "XVntili" JtfiOte nolMno
as" . and denounces Athe, other-
1m .? orT!W"m't
,Mi P0'?'' ""jLjjJeJl niJre- l?ee wag ths same pleasant einllc.
nrun. opjxar rt ntaniarcn wire . j. w , j,,..;, ,. ,.., ...
r .Nf. (Ant the it tntrsiu ana "v,v... v-""""" ""..f"' DU"
a eiin" -. i . . -.i j imnn. "ivnat ma v111 lurttin"
licon or 0 drtnlt. Amoroso not a
YtStrtgori for follv, out .?
l... i nrr urcintvo j" "
tier." 4 ronjerfciiPlM(no rto
ia ". .t::, F.i.U(; vim:
i off o&rvnfto. MA cie 'running
and forth between Ambrose and
t Bran, fleitner oj imcncr
j., rrnft o A rapid icords at
tih waited for him o so on.
AND HEBE IT' CONTINUES
KNOW something about this man
. . . 11 t, nntlniiil. lila voice
ACIIP. Ub .. - , .
Tji. mnM than a whisper, Ills air
SnVt ".. w-i "!
IknW wmeininB .-. ;--.. j .' "?
UD' il. ; .i .leal of autldon blus-
Into the words, "of J?u, Lieutenant
.bnie. I hnve lnal3c Uumy, bu"1,'cs?
know all tliere, to be found out
fjftnr,Amb.ro;e mushed.
can talk plainly, can't, wo?"
.i.anita vnirnr run uu. v
L hew ''own'1 ,ovo Ah0 ""y,100
P.? "u.. ,? NV ther docs Meutcn
It Ambrose. Hoth havo their reasons.,
A not avepeto .to .en;
rtiU uff just .penalty for h!e
', "V. Am T rleht?"
U. soli ain't crazy lot's see you prove
.. Vrnntr.1 Joe. "What nro you
ThMJcwcoiner, seeming on the verse
A,v . . ' .1 I.I- t,l litiff rim
, tip of his tongue back and forth
"ween tlicm, then stepped to the table
od poured out a small glass of whisky.
it. Ji.rrmieness had crown so that now
ii hmds were shaking.
Ambrose went to the hall door and
oolKl out. He had lormco nis own
.pillion or tlie sirnjiger uuu iu
ill miplclons of Polly.
"That's right," their visitor said.
'Wc nnt no witnesses. j.nerc is m
d for a long discussion "of Uie status
in Piinnpli to rencat thnt Ashe
crimlnnl and that you don't har
bor any friendly feelings for him."
He drank his whisky hastily and
wlprd his lips with a clean, white
bindke rchlef i Ambrose, with shrewd,
kten eyu, noted that tho bit of cloth
Ml of fine texture and a triflq dainty
for a man's. He judged, too. from a
1,11V flpcli of color in the checks and n
slight alteration In the voice, that the
tan was not given to alcohol.
Ambrose, n little theory already
forming in his brain concerning this
biu, looked down at his shoes. They
ere fairly new, but they were not "In
itilc" and they had not been shlned for
mcral days. They wero jeomfortabtc
lookinj, strong, squore-toea.
"Timid fort of guy," ho meditated
iwiftljr. "Status quo jb Latin. Wears
food, clothes, but doesn't think of get
ting bU shoes shlned or his punts
pressed. He ain't a city man; country
preacher or a country lawyer. 1
think jo'i want to make us somo sort of
1 proposition," he prompted. "Let's
Lave it if you moan business!"
"i'es, )es," eagerly, "let's get it over
nith. I don't wnnt to nsk any ques
tions and I won't answer nny. 1 "
In vpitc of him he hesitated, seeming
to find it next to impossible to get the
thing out. He drow' Ills -hat iowcr, he
troutht up his muffler higher.
Mae l a criminal,", lie announced
t Int. "He deserves no consideration,
lie is a menncc to society. The hour
lie Is arrested mind you with
(uScIeot evidence nguinst him and on
charge to t-cud him to the Dcnlton-
tiirjr for not less than ten years
jou can come to me for ?G000."
don't wftnt it down there. ,Gct It up on
that platform. I don't care It it is
heavy. Get it up there." J
Ho shouldered his Way forward; tho
young maq kept close to him. wflcn
Hamilton grew silent, watching the
carrying Out of his orders, hn was re
minded of the other's presence.
-ajny 1 nave mat word now, Mr.
Hamilton?"
The voice wag decidedly pleasant) the
smile which Hamilton, whirled about to
CHAPTER IK
Ladyflngors
Tbe Storv nf tlii rnlihor 'lirnkn" tor.
lte for the morning papers; but the
wms got it unu mnrte much of it. The
newsboys made u lively din with their
announcements :
. ''Mysterious burglary south of Mor-
t! Extra!"
Mr, Hamilton Hamilton, of Wood
ward: IIUVIll'K X- Tlntntlfnr. V...
Jork. wns in the West on business for
'is firm, one of International note as
tie manufacturers of the W. II. & II.
""Proof, burglurproof fcafes. Mr. Ham
iiton, going down to breakfast ns ukual,
"Ooclock, found on his table all of
me mornlnt; minnrx nmi nil r h. .
tru. He gave his uttention to the
sugaring of his grapefruit; then he
Wnced nt tho news. Thereafter he
;S.ao"'"y and ten minutes later,
tn the paptr Ftill in his hand, he
turned dou-r, in i,: m.... I in
ni'uk h'3 wlde-nwuko press agent,
I m Uush, wnH with him and tuklng
t'J orders, nodding In approval.
IISmmP ,h?..j;i,.or'r,.fllvc commanded
Sh It f 'Bh! " lic new stuff on
lt .unflbo front IIURC8- We wnnt
" on tuc frnnf imirxu ni.. i .,.-
-If. got thrju.ee In It togo
JLUJk?",iebu,l'. Be'8 behind it. Buy
.5 uriuna mi)
money." l '
"I'm
and spend
Buy
some
'"h'shnt uJl; Hiwh, reaching
.uiiimn nodded toward his Ivnlst
'Mor . 1 "ul "ireauy," ho salu.
wS off 7h.Boh" out 'H 'n8t they
... ,rttT. nnd more nro rnmlnn. t..
ruc.7Jtwnw'iod
W' SA iffifaMm lhK ? 8af0 t Mnu-
Vtd leasef rK1.? ?ro on M"kct
0 iruseu the build inr for i,rU
"IUrfi i1.1?"". W. A 'cm out."
.ni" wt hUKI irinlnv 1....1. !
ICC Wa" fr 'omnJient do
Ubinn).1?, no mean, tho beginning
ibfnBP!'.P?l.nP,,tn8. Just the
'. v "iv.Linnii utn VI.A i 1 w
,"had ldnimni 1 r',",e 'innio. nam.
"hirday.'n "1 h.h "emonstratlon for
ai . , 'i' ? ".'.ek from today, rint- i.
f(nt nd Um "I!"'!0 thnn his press
'lieki.,1 ..i..n?w that fru t iniV h.
adar. ,lu " wa ripe, not by caT-
Hi tha nin .,"? l" "".Pcrlntend per-
? Wi ,.'"" 01 the b B safe.
V,Vn, aried ' i,.i i. . " . nor"
,J Jn t B1.b"rAw"t!houtini: .
?,c ant 1,1-1,1 .' "."al "'"y u
7nlr did iri1..00?' ,."''M '' m
pUtonr,Mo n'word w"h you, Mr.
to? W. .".S'M .pi
k,T 1'ie.i.saiitiv ii,. i,T "v "IS Fi' c.
'n v'spiy : mvu away,
)Bll,lu."'0tliatTni ,.
low
man. "What do you want?
"That'M simple," laughed tho other.
Ills words, very distinct, were clearly
meant for Hamilton's cars alone j "I
want to save you '$(5000 if you don't
mind. And I'd like to make a like sum
for myself,"
Hamilton, the most, matter-of-fact
man to oor toumi in a day's search,
stared at him wonderlngty. The young
man met his iraze. frankly, his tins
twitching as with amusement.
"Who tho devil nri rou?" ilcmnnrfpil
Hamilton, ,
A neatly engraved card, eminently
proper as to stylo and form, was" pre
sented by 11 neatly gloved hand. The
card rend, "Itobert Ashe, Expert."
"Expert?" Hamilton lifted his
brows, a first gleam of interest
quickening his glanco. "What sort of
expert?"
"All sorts," laughed Mr. Ahe
genially. "Let us say expert on life,
lyric poetry and burglar
proof safes I"
"Damn it," snapped Hamilton, turn
ing away. "I haven't any tlmo for
foolery."
But evidently Mr. Ashe was neither
to be dismissed nor disgruntled this
morning. Still at Hamilton's sldo he
put forth a detaining hand while with
nnomcr lie held out a banknote.
"It's a hundred dolla.-s," ha said
carelessly. "Not much, but maybe It
would pay even a busy man llko you
for half an hour of his time
In case my proposition fails to Interest
you."
.With men like Hamilton "money
talks." The bill in his own hand he
regarded Hobcrt Ashe keenly and with
growing interest. After the big safe
waa properly placed, tho other safes
could be entrusted to Harlcy and Rush.
So after a few more words he and Mr.
Asho stepped into Hamilton's car and
drove back to tho offices.
The distinctive thing about this young
mnn, Hamilton told himself ns they sped
down Market street, wns that he wore
gloves at this time of day. You might
go a dozen times up and down San
Francisco's main thoroughfare and not
chance upon another gloved man. In
the private office, however, fronting each
other, he saw that there were many
distinctive things about this well
groomed, handsome young fellow. .
Ho had said something idiotic about
poetry "Damn it," thought Hamilton.
that's what he Is. A crazy poet J"
I' or, so far as Hamilton Hamilton was
concerned, poetry Wns pretty closely
synonymous with slush, drivel and a
VHNt mental vacuity.
' The largo eyes, soft for a man's and
luminous, were those of n dreamer of
drcainsj the tender mouth, the eager
face alight with tho gleam of joyous
youth, wero" thoso of a poet. As Im
maculate as n fashion plate, as suave
as a politician, as handsome as a
Shelley, as proud as Lucifer .
such on anomaly was Itobert Ashe, ex
pert upon life, lyric poetry and burglar
proof safes.
With a quiet, "If you don't wind?"
Asho took the telephone from Hamil
ton's desk. Into it he said u pleasant,
"Good morningi" And then, "It's a
fhnmo to disturb you so early slnco you
dldn t get much sleep lust night. But
if you'd care to call at the offices of
Woodward, Hayncs & Hamilton, you
might bo Interested hi n little private
demonstration of their latest burglar
proof safe. Yes; this is Ashe."
, "youdou't mind," said Hamilton
'"itob y, "we'll get down to business."
This 18 (inn nf vnilr mill nf.7"
Ashe stepped across tlm mnm tn if
stooping to read tho legend upon tho
KKuvjr Uoor. --jusi iiko tne one at Man
dcl's, only smaller?"
"Yes. What about it?"
mi . ?,?u.'11 put U'at hundred-dollar
bill In it." rptnrnori A tin "!(, T
loaned you, I'll take it out!"
"You will, will you?" grunted
wiuiuiioii. inu men, a rut suspiciously,
Who was that you just called up?"
One of the young fellow's rarely con
tagious smiles filled his ejes with shin
ing merriment.
'Oh, he's a very particular friend
of mine. Police Lieutenant Ambrose,
He rooms only a couple of block from
here, and if I'm. not mistaken ho will
PiV L,.i ."8 ft'most before you hove got
the? Dill in the safe, tho door bhut, and
I vo got my gloves off. A very en
thusiastic: sort of mnn Ii r.lmitaim.if
Ambrose."
' ;V'at, do J"011 wnnt ,,lm ''ere for?
"My dear Mr. Hamilton, to plvo n,.
" rrimon ior me many complex emo
tions commonly nctuntln? u. In tlm nr.
formnnco of even n very ordinary sort
i uct i generally nDsoiuteiy Impossible.
I am not keen on analysis, anyhow. I'd
say I asked him to come o that he
might in a way introduco us anlj
just for fun."
Pre-eminently was Mr. Hamilton
Hamilton a business mnn, sober-minded,
matter of fact. His visitor had
made a statement which Hamilton was
of no mind to ucccpt without proof. If
the tiling wero true it might mean u
tremendous business tragedy. Hamilton
would make it his affair to learn if this
young man were bluffing.
The hundred-dollar banknote was still
in I1L1 linnd. Ho swung the safe door
open, dropped the note Inside, busied
hlinself a moment with the combina
tion, sheltering the mechanism with his
body from any look Ashe might direct
toward it, and softly closed the door.
"There you ore," ha said, as he got
to his feet. "Go ahead."
"If you can spare n moment," asked
Ashe, "do you mind waiting for the
lieutenant?"
Lieutenant Ambroso came within
something less than fivo minutes. Hear
ing a Knock ut the outer office door
Asho suid coolly:
"If you'll welcome him, Mr. Ham
ilton, perhaps he can satisfy nnv curl.
oslty you muy havo concerning me."
Ambrose was in uniform. Hamilton.
going to him, said sharply:
-o.uere'H n man named Ashe here.
He claims ho can oncn onn of nur
snfes. It's nonsense of course, but
What do you know about him?
Who is he?"
Ambroso took uo core to lower his
voice as ho answered. Asho laughed as
tho words came to him.
"He's a damned crook I" exploded the
officer. "There's not a worse in tho
country. He's n mnn with n new name
for every new law; but whether ho calls
himself Itobert Ashe or Charles Elliott
or Jimmio Free, he's always Ladyfin
gers Just plain crook I And, on
top of that, he's a harebrained young
fool who is trying to show off now,
aiid who's going to find himself In a
peck of trouble before he's much older."
He pushed by Hamilton and burst
Into the private office. ''
"What are you up to now?" ho asked
harshly, ''What nre you doing here?
After last night God I The nerve
of you I" '
"You see," laughed Asho iuto Hamil
ton's puzzled face. "I'll bet you u hat
lie thinks I am the man who cracked
that safe last night!"
(CONTINUED TOMOIWOW)
THE GUMPS--7!heKin0, Passes
WEIL- nMEHc SOW THE rfrHG
W 7WSTCAUA- THERE GOES
- JORT 5 SOON A tViAT
1N1PCTW GRABS H M 'SMtl.U
TICVC WtV. root OH THE SKHO
LEvm wiv mu. BE, JUST
POOR KLAtfOrtS
A. I I tlktll ' Mi
rVU YTCUL OC
PUV THAT LiTTXE HAM&EB.
IN tME gown- lav rr
AVA.V- some TIME IK THE
jik nmJRe you mav have
USE TOR VT COU-SM
AMY t EH6A6EP- HAY E
W5U. GET AN IHWrATlON
"Tox-me vEPtmei-
OH WELL- SWeETNEArrr--
MONEV DOEfctfY MMte-
HAPPINESS- WE LOVE
NEACH 0,THErV BEFORE WE
HAJ A tIME VEIL JUST
f16 PANtEU0N, PICK '
MUSH ROOMS - WE'LL STAY
ON THE GROUND- WE'LL
HOI PICK STARS OUT
N OF TTHE "SKY- JUT
be: hafty olp peak
T-'
fit Sidney Smith
mrfrK
W iftHb VBAmE&Z'HI 2f ff-d " ' . . tB
SOMEBODY'S STENOGA New Bottle of Ink
c l
'9 ' J
Copyright. 1021, by I'ublla Lodccr Co.
1
"7
RED INK A AIE.W 8f?AMD
I'A GOIM.G 7t TRY -BUT
05E, UP THE OLD I4K FIRST.
DOHT, YOU OPE.H THI&
'TIL I TELL YOU I
- filV II.
K
W -
By Hayward
C ((
Ju
- 2MB
I WT-rf
M
OOTc?
MOOS
AGISTER 5A1ITHERS -
COME. TO THE. STOCK
ROOM RIGHT A WAV-
tt-i
0N
j , r j ) m
' AuwIrB W;ji
r -A - Wy i&fji
rBill W''f
RED INK MV GRAHPMOTH&
LEFT EYE: SHASHlHGTOHSi
BIRTHDAVTOO.
H AIEVER TdLD
-, A LIE :
si
.cC
h-f
G& '
T
HmM
&.& tw
f 'VWV
&?Mc-l
L I il
ti'A jri
x&
.-E.-HA.VWXt9t) - 2Z
'rm
I IM
?orj?.
MCOf)
'X
CJKXfr
Tho Young Lady Across tho Way
The Dry Agents Atfi About to Arrest a Dry Brewery
By FONTAINE FOX
SJj
The young lady across the ay
says she should think the man ar
rested for uttering a bad check
would have bad sense enough to
keep still.
Vir Yo DfttecT THfi ODOR of Joill MASH, Hops MALT.
t . . 1
SCHOOL DAYS
By DWia
PETEY Worse and Worse
la A L, t We.'r WMtmC (llBrlfco V K.8TV AHO-R-. KlfW
OH uhcce 1
MK.BRowu S
Here acreaov-
?LtfAiE GO .DOWM
AHp E.HTEWAIM,
nlM WHItfc
I TRESS
-KA-VA SAY,Jio
00 EYE; HEAKTHn' OME
AlkJUTTRelwo iKtsHWEN,
rT AMD MIKE SAY, LISTEL,
IHAT3 A TSIKJ) c
- - -n.1 n '1 -?
DrVT-w X 5- -
rcti 1 .f
-J L r.-r, "v I
J -iwwi'
' tsiESStL ,N,NW,Nr1l.n
i.ea3Br77 DU. ITS, V
Xii( A'i?icht:J " V ' fS
J?y C. . Voight
1 H'earp another ?ood .
owe NesTcrpay it
2EEM A NtAW-
HA HA
THE CLANCY KIDS Story Without Words
I,, 1 ...
A I XL S"- nu hli?- 7"
i ii x 11. in x ss sssysTTys
. y 1 ( Bi?dwli it Muvr &0Z.
. v f t -i L " ' YSS,
T " f ; pPnPP-ccimiAi Liiim I MfofrJ
r fa i .01?STAWDHAYE-Tb T
1
'
By Percy L. Crosby
31
rer
W!
,uoii'prfrffl .y,
'.i
r
."i .' l JXi
,7 M- -"ft ttH
LytflJvteib.iAiJttA.fa
tfJWtl - v.., lOK.WV'
'.tvJr--''. -i ViA" .fciita ,
t...
fXft
'jn1.
iik-,i