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IME DAILY BKRIIISI wiHIG, KINGSION. --By Walter DeLeon ILLUSTRATED BY JEFFERSON MACHAMER E Draw. One in the Dark J Mahoney's, down near the Plaza | in Los Angeles, every from seven-thirty till two. was why almost any night yo Flush Fanchon, the feather Spider Weish, the Jockey, and Silent Sam Simmons, who ran the poolrcom up tho street, dropping In 'or a cup of Java and a kidding match w-th/ Jane. And always standing >utside between trips was the taxi belonging to Louls Spinola, whose mother was still banking his savings only he- cause Jane had had a pint of hlood to spare the time the old lady was in the hospital. Big Bill Wysell, the Headquarters detective, who picked himself to marry Jane, looked at the cup of coffee she gave him one night and shook his head. "Don't give me no cracked cup, he sald, shoving it away. "It's bad luck. 1 ain't going to drink out of no cracked cup for a couple of weeks anyway. 1 got a hunch about tive thousand berries is going to fall my way and 1 don't want to disco. nge it none" "Where's it going to fall fron?" asked Jane, filling' up another cup for him. Big Bill lowered his voice, (he XK Buy. A yegg the Bankers' \s3>-ia- tion 1s offering five thousand to meet." "Check-passer?" 1 asked. Big Bill nodded. "Cashed four thousand dollars' worth of checks cn the First National Bank of Luliston, West Virginia, before anybody thought to ask was there a #irst N-tional in Lullston. There wasn't He was J. K. Kirkwood on them checks. That was in New 'ork. Pittsburgh donates about thrze hLou- sand to M. M. Milliken. On Lis way to Chicago he stops off at Cin~in- nati and collects ten thousand on doctored certified checks payable to R. K, Keane. Always a K in the name somewhere; see?" "What does he look like? Jane asked. . "He don't look the same in any two towns," Bill grinned. "la New York he was a banker in town fcr the Bankers' Convention. In 2itts- burgh he was a salesman for a Con- necticut hardware concern, In "incy Be showed pretty letters of credit and Spanish Introductions 'rom Buenos Aires, He spent two wecks in New Orleans waiting on table in the restaurant across from he jail listening to the plans the Chief of Police and the dicks were makiag to capture him. He left a note thanking the boys for the informa- tion." "What makes you think he's ccm- ing thi: way?" Jane asked. "They almost got him in San An- tone, Texas, a month ago, dut he gaily jumps into the river and swims a get-away in the dark. A week later some K checks appear in Fl Paso, but when they go for him he ain't there. New Orleans, San An: tone, El Paso--the next stop is Los Angeles, ain't it?" --A Queer Castomer Bf eased down off hia stoo) "'Night, Pete. I'll drop you a postal card from San Diego, Jane I'm going down there on a week's Job." and he walked out. "Talking about jobs," I said, "my helper quit me this afternoon. Find out if any of the boys need a couple of weeks' work, Jane." As Jane walked toward the other end of the counter I turned toward the door. Outside was a little chap, maybe twenty-five or so, his bg brown eyes following Jane, As 1] watched him, he took off his cap, opened the door and dragged himself in. His cyes were sunk back Into his head and his cheeks a little fcver- ish, His face and hands were clean, but I saw the red and black rim under his collir that comes from the drive and sting of dirt and pebbles chucked at a bo riding the rods of a fast-moving Pullman. He sat down at the long gounter. "May I {your table, mister?" There was a squint in his eye and a comical break in his high-pitched wvolce that would make anyone grin I offered him a cigaret. Refusing it, he waited for Jane to finish alking to Flash Fanchon. Then ne sroke up in his funny way. "Ah! 'Tis a good idea! They keep you walting here till anything they serve you tastes good." Jane turned around and gave the little chap a calm and cool look. He smiled. "1 beg your pardon, but is there & waitress around the place that could give me a little service?" Jane's lips twitched, "Where do you think you are--in & restaurant? Jane inquired. "\Vhat would you like?" "I'm not very thirsty: just give me a veal cutlet breaded, in a long glass" ; Jane's eyes snapped. "How win you take it--with a straw or a spoon "Neither, he answered. "M- ke it a bhy"-- He suddenly swayed and lurched o against me. 1 straizht- ened hifi up and flipped a little water in his face. He opensd Lis eyes. "Make it a hypo, 80 I can inject it" he finished. But Jahe had a bow! of soun in front of him and milk toast, a choy and tea ordered before the little oo had the water wiped off his face. A crowd came In and Jane was kept hopping for awhile. )Jnly one question did she get time tw ask "Sick, buddy ™ He shook his head. "Not anv more. 1 caught the flue in fyracuse & month ago and the Doc adyised the sun-kissed beauties of southern California for six months. So J came straight to you." "You could 'of done wo'se"™ Jane sald, walking away. I knew she was thinking of the K guy. Kid Walker's Luck . ORE tea?™ Jane ask-4 b'm , When the crowd thinnel out "No, thanks. Where's your boun- cert" | "What do you mean? *I could walk out, of course, but I believe In making bounces earn their money." "You mean you're not going to pay ANE ran the late shift at 'T-Beae | co 'dn't pay a deposit on grinned. Jane rang up the amount uf stranger's bill; from her pocket she took the money tossed It into the till the réceipt stub she shoved |* a pencil toward the little "sliow "Can she asked. easy looked at her then "K. A. Walker." he wrote.: "Thanks," said Jane. K for?" "Kid, to you," said the little laa "All right, Kid," she sald. listen, I'll leave word with Ja. give you a cup of coffee in morning." ? it' The grinned. "Much obliged, Miss Jane But I'll have me a job before hungry again." "A job?" Jane flashed me a look "You've got a job, Kid, if yoa the Idol lot. hotel, too. How about it?" low, softly. to heaven. night, angel. about you." Out he went, shaking his puzzled-like. "Win the boys whispered to Jane. turned dark and hard as sla e. I hear of you that the Kid going to change eating places or suf- for an autopsy." "I'll take care of the Kid, Leave him to me." "How's the Kid making rut with any?" Jane asked me afte the Kid's first week. "Aces. Tom Kush says he's going to make a director out of nim and the boss threatens to put him in the office." Jane's eves glanced at 'the Kid chinning with Louis Spinola. "He's getting real plump, don't you think?" I grinned. "He's fatter than this here old Egyptian mummy the papers have been printing so muck ahc Rilly Murray, the demon reporter coming in for his usual cup of cof- fee, told us. "I interviewed a deca- dent of his this afternoon." He pointed to an article on the see- ond page vhich announced the fact that Prince Ptolemy Ptarmigan. ete. ete, who traced his ancestry hack to the 'mummy had stonned off for a few days in our beautiful eity on the tour of the world he was making fol- lowing his graduation from an Eng- lish university. I'm from A Prince Arrives ELL, naturally, Monday morn- ing there were nineteen autos drawn up in front of the Prince's hotel, nineteen men Inside inviting the Prince to visit their own particu- lar studio and, on the sidewalk. nine- teen cameras focused on the front doors. When the Prince finally em- erged with my boss, nineteen shut- ters started taking sixteen exposures per second of a dapper-dressed young putty colored gent with a vacant eye Taking off his hat, he uncovered long sleek black hair, parted in the mid- dle and oiled down straight toward large, unornamental ears. And then he screwed a monocle into his off- eye and emitted "Extraordin'ry" in hand-picked Piccadilly accents. "So that's all that's left of a long line of Kings" grinned the Kid at my elbow. "Looking at a genuine Egyp- tian I begin to understand why Cleopatra fell for a foreigner. Why d> you suppose he picked on our outfit? In the car on our way back to the studio TI explained to the Kid that the Idol company would soon be pull- Ing an Egyptian film, inspired by the publicity given Tut-ankh-amen. "We'll take the action scenes and close-ups here in California," 1 told him, "and fill out the rest of the picture with long shots of the pyra- mids, the Sphinx, the muddy banks of the sacred Nile and any other suitable scenes we can buy from the news weekly companies' libraries. 1 suppose the boss beat the bunch by asking the Prince for his personal advice and suggestions® "Kidding himself or the Prince? "Kidding nobody. The film we'll shoot to-day, following the Prince all over our lot, will bring heavy money from aforementioned news weekly companies." The next afternoon we escorted our distinguished visitor into the projection room to show him how he looked to others. I was surprised to hear behind me in the dark room the boss' voice while the film was being run off. "I wish I knew some way to per- suade your Highness to play the leading part in my new picture. I realize that money is no object--" "My dear sir, the amount of money you offer would always be an object But it is the time, as 1 have ex- plained. I am due to sail upon the-- er, I forget the exact date. My sec- retary would know." the boss urged. "It will take our Mr. to complete the scenes you appear in Three weeks; in Mexico" "Mexico ?™ purpose. It has the heat haze notice- able in all genuine Egyptian desert film." . 1 "Fascinatingly interesting. heard." not be uncomfortable. It would re- apie no more than five days--and of course all expenses including a special pullman or two for the cast will be horne by the company" lark. I think--yes, I'll do it. I'll get a telegram off to Lord Moncton im- mediately ™ "Lord Moncton? for what you've eaten?" "It the check was a nickel } he he apron end Pulling out and you spell vour own name? little fellow "What's the Now, to the He looked up at her quickly, then get ant it." I said. "helping me shoot filin on There's a hot ba'h and a cool bed waiting for you at my "I've croaked," said the lit'ls fe'- "I've croaked and gone Come on, St. Peter. (?50d- going to dream head, 1 locate Big Bill or cne ef Headquarters?" J Her grey eyes "i tipping off anybody is the K guy, y. u're Her voice softened. ete. "Couldn't you postpone sailing?" Kush not more than threé weeks two here and another "There is a location a few miles from Tia Juana which is ideal for our ot course. But Mexico--it's dirty, I've "I assure you, your Highness would "By Jove, it would be rather al "Of the British Legation at Wash- ington. He's by way of being my sponsor here in this country, do you see?--furnishes the wherewithal and that sort of thing. By Jove, I mustn't 7 Tr i Wy! mY, J 7 fl 0 1 --c==| -- ={])id = i iN al 1] 1%) 2 say, you mustn't expect histrionie ability of me. 1 utterly haven't any.' His Royal Joblots OUR or five days later he showed he utterly hadn't something else But in the meantime Big Bill had returned to Los Angeles and found how thick the Kid and Jane bad be- come. "Last night there's some trouble in the kitchen and Jane goes out to fix it," according to Flash Fanchon. "The Kid hops back of the counter, takes off his coat, ties an apron around him and tosses a napkin under his arm when in blows Big Bill *" "Where's Jane? he asks. " 'Behind the clock in room' cracks the Kid. " "That'll be about all of that' Big Bill growls. "Tell -her Detective Wys= sell would ifke to see her. "*'Ch, Detective Wysell. Yes, sir, Can I give up a cup of coffee, De- tective, while you're waiting? "Bill grunts. The Kid rattles around in the crockery and comes up with a prize. The cup has a gouge in the rim. like somebody has taken a bite out of it. And the saucer--you can hear tho loose pleces grate, The Kid tills the cup and shoves it all toward Bill "Bill looks at it--once. 'Hey!' he yells. 'Do you think I'm going to drink out of this cup? "Drink out of the saucer if you want," the Kid fires back, 'we ain't particular here.' "Jane comes out in time to hear the first choice thing Bill calls' the Kid "'Oh,' says Wysell, when Jane ex- plains it's a joke. 'Pete Stevens' new helper, is he? "'Yes,' says Jane, 'and believe me. one grand little kidder.' " 'Grand little kidder,' repeated Big BIll slow. Then, for no reason at all, he smiles and holds out his hand. 'All right. No hard feelings. But you ought to 'be careful about foollne with cracked cups, Kid. It's bad luck.' "A minute later Jane chases the Kid out with a bunch that's going down to the beach, which gives her the chance to tell Big Bill, quiet, that she's thought over his marrying idea and it leaves her cold. Listen Pete tip off the Kid not to be pulling any funny stunts for Big Bill until he gets over his peeve." I didn't get a chance to warn the Kid that he'd acquired an enemy until it was too late. The day's work called for some tense melodrama on and around an Egyptianed .scow anchored near Santa Moni Tom Kush had run things right up to the last scenes, an exciting rescue stunt, and decided he had time tc finish up with the ship stuff that day. That would let us leave for Tia Juana early Tues- day morning. "Now, Prince," Tom explained to Ptolemy Ptarmigan, "your sweet- heart, Miss Morris here, jumps over- board to escape the villain. You break away from the slaves holding you, rush over to the rail here. jump up on it and dive in after her™ The Prince looked down at the heaving ocean twerve or fourteen feet below him. . "My dear chap, I can't dive" "Well, then, jump In," said Kush. "It doesn't make much difference." "But I--I can't swim, you see" announced his Royal Joblots. feeling for his monocle and not finding it. "That's all right" Tom insisted. *T've got a couple of men down there in' a rowboat--for safety's sake. As 'soon as you hit the water, I'll cut off my cameras, throw you a flock®of Minnie's neglect to Inform my secretary to change sailing arrangements. Oh, 1 life-preservers and you can hang on till the boat picks you up. The prince finally emerged with my boss. "Is--really, you know--Iis the scene absoluteely necessary?" He coughed "I've a touch of cold--" "Very well, your Highness." said Tom, "I'll get someone to double for you. All you'll have to do is run across the deck and jump on the rail." His eye fell on the Kid. "Can you ewim ?" "Sure." The Kid in Trouble "W ANT to double for the Prince?" "Sure," the Kid grinned. Later he appeared on deck in the Prince's costume, a little black false mustache on his lip contrasting comically with his light hair. "Oil your hair and vart it in the middle," Tom told him. "When its oiled and wet it will photograph as dark as: the Prince's™.~ "Take your places," Tom called "Ready, everybody? Camera!" Up and vver went Morris. The Kid didn't jump--he yust lifted himself off the rail and floated far out in a swan dive. The little side roll he gave himself took him under with- out a splash. Up bobbed the Kid's head. In long, strong strokes he cut through the swells toward Morris, They splashed around terrifically for a minute be- fore starting toward shore. 4 But when the rowboat pulled out, the Kid helped Morris in and then started swimming alongside it, Only it wasn't swimming. It was all the water stunts and clowning I'd ever seen and a lot more, I was telling some of the boys about it early that night at T-Bone's --the Kid volunteering to take my camera out and turn in my film for me, when Big Bill Wysell dropped in, "A water-dog, eh?" Bill quietiy left the place. Then 1 Temembered about the K guy jumping into ihe river in San Artone, "Where's the Kid? Jane when she came on duty. "He should bave Leen here twenty minutes ago," I sad. Something in my expression nada her ask, sharp, "Is the Kid in trouble?" "He wasn't the last time I saw him. He--" It was no use. 1 told her about Big Bill and everything as soothingly as I could. Eight o'clock--half-past--nrine o'- clock. Still no sign of the Kia. I rang up the studio. The Kid had come in about six and left fifteen or twenty minutes later. By eleven thers wasn't any color in Jane's. face. "Don't be silly Jane" I told ker. "Everything's all right." "Is It?" she asked. "You know my little sister--worked at the switch- board at the C--Hotel?™ I nodded. "They let her out this afternoon, without giving her any reason at all" "Well?" ind "Big Bill's cousin is the house detective there." i - A few minutes before twelve, Jane whispered, "Listen, Pete, will you ring up headquarters and--" She stopped dead, her eyes glued on the door. Lurching through it, stutabling and feeling around like a blind man came the Kid "Kid!" Jane had Tim in her arms before any of us moved. "What hap+ pened you?" ' "They gave me the works--at head- quarters," mumbled the Kid. "Janie, dear would you get a cold towel for my eyes? I've been looking into a hundred watt lamp for three hours" "For what? Jane usked as a couple of the boys leaped for the towel pile. i "They said the writthg on. the check I signed looks guy's writing." : . "Who said so? asked like the K "Big Bil." "Sadie," she called to" the other waitress, "You take my place be- hind the counter Louis"--to Spinola --"get your taxi, Pete, you'll stay here with Sadie till closing time, won't you? I'm going to take the Kid home with me to my mother." Royal Generosity HE next morning 1 was thinking about Jane and the Kid when I entered the studio. The girl at the switchboard stopped me. "Some woman phoned a few min- utes ago for you. She left word that the Kid wouldn't be out to the studio to-day," she said. In the office with the boss was the prince. "Good morning, Pete," the boss nodded, "Thé prince wants to ask a favor of you" "It's this way, old chap" the prince stammered, embarrassed, "I cc 1ldn't avoid hearing the message that came for you Rotten luck: what? Extremely likeable little fel- low. I hope it's nothing serious." "Oh, I don't imagine so," 1 said. "The exposure--his long immersion in the water--and he but recently re- covered from flu"--he broks off, "I feel a' keen Sense of responsibility; he was substituting for me, do you see? Do you think he might accept from me at least his doctor and nurse fees?" He drew a wallet from his pocket. "Sure," I sald. . The prince extracted from the wallet a few small folded papers and some large bills, Laying the papers on the desk he counted out two hundred and fifty dollars ard held it toward me, "You're too gererous," I sald, look. ing pointedly at the two ten-doliar bills which were all that was left of his cash. He shrugged his shoulders, "That's quite all right, My secretary--silly beggar--settled and closed all my accounts before cashing the usual check from Lord Moncton. He's try- ing to arrange that now, over the wire. I insist upon your taking these few dollars for the Kid, Stevens, I'll make out somehow, I'm sure" "You don't need to worry," the boss smiled, "What was the =ize of the check lord what's-his-name sent? I might be able to cash it for you." The prince unfcided one of the papers on the desk, stamped with the British Embassy seal. "Twealy-tive hundred dollars." "Oh, that's all right," the said. "Endorse it and I'll send a boy right down to my bank with it" "Oh, I say, please don't trouble--" "No trouble at all, your highness." Languidly the prince started writ- ing his catalogue of names on the back of the check, "The old fossil should have telegraphed it instead of putting me under bdbligations--" The boss interrupted with a laugh. "There's no obligation, prince. The amount of this check is just about what I'll owe you after your week boss | Jane's sister answered the ring. "Oh, "yes, Mr. Stevens," she said. "Jane left for Frisco this morning on business for--you know." "How is he to-day? "Kidding my mother ste.ics." "Tell him I'l be out to-morrow with--" Then I spilled the welcome tidings. A Circus Acrobat UT Sunday I had the feeling that someone was following me, so Jane's house was about the only place in Los Angeles | didn't visit. Late Monday afternoon, just as a few of us were going into the projection-room, Jane appeared. "Come on in with me," I said. I've got to look at some film. What's new?" "Just this Pete, There isn't a thing to keep them from railroading the Kid. He's a vaudeville and circus acrobat. But the vaudeville troupe he was with--the only men who can really identify and alibi him---they sailed for Australia last Saturday." I told.her about the two-fifty gift. 'Listen; let's retain a good lawyer with that jack; and go straight to Chief Rogers. He's square and fair and" "And in the hospital walting for an operation, Nobody can get to him." In silence we looked at the €ilm. It was Sid Hockins"s take. "That's the prince" 1 told Jane, "trying to register Occidental surprise and horror not unmixed with love." Jane leaned forward in Her seat. "That--the prince?" As she looked tha film lumped to the shot of the Kid #tanding oa the rail of the ship. "Watch his dive" I whispered, Then camo the footage showing him cutting through the swells, reaching Miss Morris and starting with her towards shore, Then {lashed on the screen a falrly close-up shot of the Kid, He was lying on his back in the watdr, hls' head stuck up so his wet hair was plastered tight to his scalp, his eyes staring up with a silly vacant expression, his mouth hanging opened. "I thought you sald the prince couldn't swim," said Jane. "The prince? That's the Kid" 1 grinned. 1 hollered back to Sia, "Where did that come from?" "lI bad a few feet of film left" he answered, "and when the Kid passed on his way to the ship I wound the roll out on him." "l see" Turning around I found Jane gone--so quietly I hadn't heaid her leave the dark room. "She went out" the gateman told me, "and got into the taxi with Silent Sam Simmons and" Louls Spinola" It was just half-past seven when 1 turned the corner to T-Bone's, Be- hind me running fast came little Flash Fanchion. "Come on, Pete," he called. "You can help" I got into T-Bone's two jumps be- hind him. "Jane!" Flash shouted. She cam: out of the kitchen. "Beat it," Flash whispered. "They've took the Kid--went out to your house and got him--and now theyre coming after you=to find out how much you know." " - + Jane Talks ITH her finger, absently, Jane began tracing slowly a long into hy- fjerack in .the cup of hot milk she carried. "Big Bill took the Kid--out my house--because I wouldn't him," she said in a dead voice. went her head. 'You'll never have any luck as leng as you keep cracked china around you,' he told me." . Wham! went the cup on the floor in twenty pleces. Bang--crash--the saucer followed it. Jane" "Get out! All of you! Out! I'm | going to tell them all I know. But I'm going to break up my bad luck first." A sweep of her arm cleared the counter of dishes. "Come en, fellows," 1 said. "Let's kebp the crowd out." For a mob had begun to collect. Bulling through the crowd came Ben Barrow, police lieutenant, and with him Swede Yaeger, Mill Wy- sell's buddy. "Oh, it's you, Lieutenant Barrow," cried Jane. "Come to take me tO headquarters to talk. You used goud fudgment in bringing Swede Yaeger with you to take a woman to jail His wife is still wearing the black eye he gave her last week." "Cut that!" yelled Ben. "Shut up and drop them plates!" \ "That line comes easy to you, does~ n't it, Lieutenant; your wife keeps you in practise saying it." Ben reached the door. splintered at his feet. "Stand back!" commanded Jane, "I'ma going to tell about the check you split with the Greek bootlegger in your precinet--" "Go get Wysell"" Swede. "Go get Wysell," echoed Jane. "I want. to tell about the jail sentence he framed on Silent Sam Simmons because he thought he could steal that little Mexican dancer frem him it Sam wasn't around." Suddenly I realized that she was expecting something. "Listen," Swede," she called after Yaeger, "tell Big Bill to bring his cousin along--the one that made my sister lose her job because she wouldn't tell me what a grand bus- band Wysell would make. Get him--" "Jane!" Big Bill himself plunged in. "What are you trying to do?" "Big Bill!" A shower of plates crashed to the floor. "You must be tired out after having to subdue an old woman and a little fellow like the one I'm going to marry---all in one day." "Now, listen, Jane--" A motor horn squawked around the corner. Pressing through the crowd, reckless, came Louls Spinola in his taxi. "Gangway!" he shouted, jumping down he flung open the door of his car. Out stepped Prince Ptolemy Ptar- migan of Cairo, Egypt, and right alongside him Silent Sam Simmons. The. point of the bulge«in Sam's coat pocket never wandered from his royal highness' short-ribs. Right in- to the restaurant they brushed. Another K Check ct ERE he Is, Jane," said Sam, cold as ice. "Come and get him Lieutenant," Jane called Barrow. "Here's your K guy. And remember, you got him from me." . "The K guy!" Barrow's éyes were popping. "That's the Egyptian prince--" "Are you going to argue, or do J take him to headquarters myself." "Listen, Jane--" "Look out!™ | yelled. For a second Sam's gun had wavered. In that sec- ond the prince jumped toward the kitchen door. Jane whirled around. A soup bowl streaked through the alr. Thud! The prince went down like a log. "Open his collar," Jane sald. "Now will you believe me?" Three inches below his cellar, the putty color ended in skin as white as any man's. Jane poured a little salad oil on a napkin and began rubbing the hair over his temple. In a min- ute she showed us a black smudge on the napkin. "Hair dye," she said. The prince shuddered, groaned and opened his eyes. Wysell helped him to his feet. "Who hit me?" ed. } He Igoked at Jane. In pure Brook- Iynese He moaned, "I'll say she packs a hefty punch" An hour later tha Kid and Jane were receiving congratulations at one end of the counter ai T-Hone's, "How did you work # out?" I fin. ally asked Jano, "What started you?' Sbe laughod. "The picture of the Wid fleating In ths water, thought it was tho prince. "In a flagh 1 remembered a lot of tbings--the K yuy being chased out of New Orleans, San Antous and Ki Paso. I remembered kuw uriater~ ested in playing in the picture he was unt) the boas mentioned Mexico. Right away he saw the caslest way imaginable to cross the horder, #1 knew the K guy was a crack swimmer. Yet the prince wouldn't get himself wet. 'His color would run. Then 1 ran out and asked Sam and Louis to locate the prince and bring him here." "But listen," I sald, "you must have had something more definite than a putty-colored hunch to make you turn the prince over te the police." = "Of course, 1 had. You told me about it--the British embassy check; the check for twenty-five hundred dollars. Before escaping for good, he just couldn't resist passing one more K check." "K check? I repeated, puzzled. "It' wasn't a K check he gave the boss. Moncton is spelled with a ¢'" Jane slowly smiled. "You've got to admit it sounds like a 'k.' Anyway the reward belongs to me." "Pardon--to us," piped up the Kid. "Ah, Mr. Walker," turned to him, smiling affectedlly, "did 1 hear you inviting the boys to a cup of coffee on the two hundred and fifty dollars the prince gave--us?" "'Tis a good idea," laughed the Kid. Then with a wink at the gang, he said: "And listen, don't give me no cracked cup." = "Try and find one," Jane laughe od. . (Copyright, 1924.) NO THEORIST ; EVERY skilful hunter is no theor- ist but a man of practical dims. A plate bawled Bem to the prince Inquir-