Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 22, 1913)
4 SEMI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE sagged toward his chin, his chin melted like loops of hot taffy on to his tlnbby chest, lie might have been a traveling salesman who gambled nights, or a gam bler who still maintained a foothold in two or three respectable clubs. As a matter of fact, he was neither. Anderson called the head waiter and swept the room with an all-comprehending glance; and the quietness of the place increased his satisfaction. Two shabby vaudeville actors opening steamed clams in a far corner of the room, a sleepy, gluttonous drummer at a side table, several Mieawberish waiters praying for something to turn up, completed the human aspect of the place. It looked good to Anderson who loved to feed alone, like the predator7 animal that he was. As ho ordered a cocktail his voice camo in a rough, bron chial croak, unknown to his glee club days. He smoked with ap parent placidity until tlio waiter had waddled away, then cauti ously, very cautiously, drew from his inner pocket a printed card such as detective agencies send around for the identification of felons. And at the top of the card was a photographic repro duction of Ins own face, brutal ized by Berlillon's skill head thrown back from a collarless neck, mouth distorted, chin stub bed with a thrco days' growth. "Ilambridgo Anderson," read the printed description under neath, "Alias Fred Weeks, alias Syd McGee, alias 'College Sport' ; height 5 feet 0 inches, weight 215 pounds, complexion light, slightly bald; red sear over right eye brow; well educated. Two pre vious convictions. Forgery." THE original of the unflatter ing portrait slipped the card guiltily into his pocket and went on ordering dinner. Hollo's is famous for its onion soup with roquefort gratin and Rollo's cook can prcparo a red-head duck in such a way as to defy cold stor age. Hambridgo Anderson or dered well, after the manner of. those about to die; for his trip to Atlantio City in the dead of win tor was not for health or pleas ure. In a word, Anderson was running away from the- police. and this stop by the boardwalk was merely another stage in a zig-zag course which ho had been cutting for the past few months with intent to deceive pursuing hounds. A bogus check for several thousands of dollars, passed on a rich Philadelphia brewer, had started the trou ble. That tho law was tightening its circle about him, Anderson knew with a crook's instinct and absolute advice from his friends justified that in stinct. In fact "Red" Bowers, a New York con federate, had telegraphed an hour ago the single word "Pink" which, in tho code, signifies "Look out for a detective." Tho hour of fear, then, was upon Hara-And Ander son. Ho know of a certain farm in Delaware whero ho could hide himself until tho figurative cows came tinkling home. The last available train left in an hour with no obstacle to escape save one. Ho had scarce enough money to pay for his dinner. Annoying. To raise tho amount required for escape ho would have to resort to some extra-hazardous expedient. He hated to pass another bad check at this perilous stago in his flight. However, he was not in a position to be too particular. If ho must, he must Therefore, he brought from bis overcoat a checkbook on tho Sugar Exchange Bank, New York, and while the waiter still lingered in tho distance, executed a skillful ch.cck calling for $150 under the signature of one Marietta Anderson of 2Tew York. "In case of fire," muttered tho obese forger, folding tho paper away. He intended to present the spu rious check only in tho last emergency, as it would necessitate his appearance in one of the more prom inent hotels where tho dreaded "Pink" would surely bo lurking. Still more annoying. However, the din ner was good, the diner was fat, and help oft comes to thoso who sit still and pray for prey. Does heaven heed tho prayers of the unrighteous? Perhaps. At any rate, help came reeling into Rollo's Qrill before the duck had reached the table. There was the bump of a wheel chair skidding over the snowy boards outside Tho door breezed open and a small, dizzy man in a large, mink-lined coat skated in so recklessly as to upset a large quantity of glassware on the nearest table. "Hello, Rol'l" cried the newcomer amiably with certain vague gestures toward the proprietor of tho place. "How are you tonight?" said Rollo, advancing, professionally pacific. "Nearly dead, thank God," replied the stranger cheerfully. Rollo led him to a table in a far corner of the room. "Gimme seven dozen steamed clams and two cold cocktails no, wait minute gimme seven "ThU sun' nine-kicker and the trinzer'e scntitira like poet' soul" dozen steamed cocktails and two cold clams," com manded the small man with a genuine air of alcoholic solemnity. "Very well, sir!" Rollo smiled indulgently. "Does he como hero often?" asked Anderson of the head waiter, never removing his eager, piggy eyes from the small man in the corner. "Every once in awhile. But, say I never seen him with such a load !" Tho fat crook chuckled "What luck!" to himself and controlled his features with difficulty. For the helpless individual over yonder was none other than Tommy Vonnoh, known to fame as tho easiest mark ever graduated from Elihu University! What god of thieves had sent this lamb to wolfish Anderson in tho hour of need? Ham-And went on eating his dinner, outwardly serene. Years of practical experience, leading up to two previous convictions, had taught him the value of looking before a leap. Ho waited until his former friend was gormandizing amidst a pile of shells before giving the sign ; then ho half rose from his seat and began to whistle the tune beloved by every son of old Elihu, Where Green Hills Meet the Blue. The effect was magical. Tommy Vonnoh sent a volley of clam-shells rattling along the floor, leaped to his feet and began braying tho college yell which he had never forgotten. "Tommy Vonnoh!" gasped Anderson, advancing. "Palladino gosh ghosts!" shouted tho little fellow. "Where the" "You regular little Indian!" Anderson began pounding him on the back, a trick at which he was adept. "When did you land in this picture post card Paradise?" "Been here a week. Lonesome. Say " His gog gle eyes fixed suddenly on his fat friend. "You haven't changed a bit!" Anderson winced. How much he had changed ho nlono knew. "Samo to you, Tommy!" he crowed, giving his friend an extra slap on the upper vertebrae. "Same old Sentimental. What '11 you have?" "Match vou for a bottle wine." The inebriate fumbled a quarter. "1 goclia!" Anderson brought out the coin ho always used in such cases. Tommy lost, as a matter of course. "Used to it 1" said the latter with a weak smile. "Always los' like sport, didn't 1, Ham? 'Cause 1 always knew you played square." Tears sprang to Anderson's eyes as he clasped his old friend's hand with the Yappa Alphabet grip. "Straight goods," he mur mured. "You have n't changed a bit!" Tommy called a waiter and or dered an expensive vintage. "What y' been doin' since you left college?" asked Vonnoh thickly. "Doin' the Gov'nor mostly," was Hambridge's light reply. "It s a long story. And you?" "I 'm traveling for a big New York concern." Outwardly the fat forger wore a rather patronizing look, as one who merely tolerated commercial pursuits. Inwardly he was pleased to know that his friend was work ing for a salary probably a good one. It would be good bus iness to borrow the money out right, if possible, and save the check for a last chance. The notoriously soft-hearted Vonnoh, ho knew, would stand for any thing if dished up with tho proper hard-luck story. He resolved to try for a hundred and fifty. "Gee, Sentimental!" he ex claimed with feeling, "You don't know how good it is to see you again !" "Wherever y' see Yappa Alpha bet men, y' see brothers standin' shoulder to shoulder," gurgled Sentimental. "All for one, one for all 'tell with the world 1" "You bet! Mutual help that's the fine thing about the fraternity spirit. Have another drink." "Here 's to the life that was back there!" The two touched glasses. "Those were happy days, weren't they, Ham-And?" "The best ever," said the fat man with emotion. "They can horse college all they please, those muckers who never went; but we know it's the only place where our sort come from the only place where they make Men. Fill up again, Sentimental." "Lez sing some'thn !" suggested Tommy. "You have n't changed a bit I" giggled Ham-And. Furtively ho looked at his watch. Precious time was flying. "Let's seo what '11 we sing? There's Integer Vitae. I hollered that song three solid years on the glee club, but never thought to ask what it meant something about 'All stand together,' ain't it?" " VONNOH was not too befogged to give a superior smile as he chanted the Horatinn ode: "Integer vitae Sceleresque purus, Non eget Mauri Jaculis et arcu " "That means," he translated, "'If you do the square by your pals there can't anybody get your goat.'" "Old Horace bad tho right idea, even if he could n't write good English," quoth Ham-And. "That's one thing college knocked into us, 'Do the square by your pals' ain't that so, Sentimental?" "You bet!" Tommy took another drink. "We had our mix-ups and troubles when wo were undergrads, and wo got each other out " "Those were happy days " "And the chaps in our crowd will never see a brother in the Sea of Trouble without fishing him out. That's the spirit!" A sob was in honest Anderson's voice. (Continued on Page 14)