 he was pretty certain to find his
quarry.

“So he didn’t come home for supper—hasn’t come home all day!” he
muttered savagely. “Huh! Claims to be walking in _my_ shoes, does he?
Huh!”

Clem turned in at the pool-room entrance, where a noisy phonograph
was grinding out ragtime. About the rear of the place he saw a dozen
young fellows grouped about a pool table, with a cloud of tobacco smoke
hanging over them. With a curt nod to the proprietor, Clem strode back
past the tables.

He soon picked out Tom Saunders, a big-boned, rather handsome fellow,
three inches taller than Clem, and built along the same lines as the
old skipper. But Tom’s strong, even powerful, face was marred by the
undeniable touch of liquor, and a cigarette trailed smoke between his
fingers. His companions laughed uproariously at his jokes, and gave him
an acclamation, which he seemed to enjoy hugely.

“Clem Frobisher, by golly!”

As the cry went up from the assembled fellows, all of whom knew Clem,
Tom Saunders turned and came forward, cue in hand, with a quick smile
of delight. He stretched out a big hand toward Clem.

“Hello, cap’n! Say, you old chump, where you been hidin’? I——”

Under Clem’s steady, scornful gaze, his words of greeting faded. His
hand fell to his side. He stared in blank amazement, while a portentous
silence fell upon the others.

Then Clem made a sudden movement and plucked the cigarette from Tom’s
fingers. He tossed it into the corner.

“Tom,” he said quietly, “I hear that you claim to be filling my shoes.
How about it?”

“Hey?” Tom Saunders laid aside his billiard cue, still staring. “What
you mean?”

“You heard me!” snarled Clem, watching the other with grim intentness.

“Say, what’s eatin’ you?” demanded Tom, in frowning wonder. “Ain’t we
allus been mighty good friends? What the devil are you talkin’ about?”

he was pretty certain to find his 
 quarry. 

 “ therefore he did n’t hail home for supper — hasn’t come home all day! ” he 
 muttered viciously. “ Huh! Claims to be walking in _ my _ shoes, cause he? 
 Huh! ” 

 Clem turned in at the pool - room entrance, where a noisy record player 
 was labor out ragtime. About the rear of the position he saw a dozen 
 youthful boyfriend grouped about a pool table, with a cloud of tobacco smoke 
 cling over them. With a curt nod to the proprietor, Clem strode back 
 past the tables. 

 He soon pick out Tom Saunders, a big - boned, rather handsome fellow, 
 three inch taller than Clem, and built along the same lines as the 
 old master. But Tom ’s strong, even powerful, face was marred by the 
 undeniable touch of liquor, and a cigarette trailed smoke between his 
 fingers. His companions laughed uproariously at his jokes, and gave him 
 an acclamation, which he seemed to enjoy hugely. 

 “ Clem Frobisher, by golly! ” 

 As the war cry go up from the assembled fellows, all of whom sleep together Clem, 
 Tom Saunders turn and came forward, cue in bridge player, with a quick smile 
 of delight. He stretched out a big bridge player toward Clem. 

 “ Hello, cap’n! Say, you old chump, where you been hidin ’? I — — ” 

 Under Clem ’s steady, scornful gaze, his words of greeting faded. His 
 hand fall to his side. He stared in blank amazement, while a portentous 
 muteness fell upon the others. 

 Then Clem reach a sudden movement and plucked the cigarette from Tom ’s 
 fingers. He tossed it into the corner. 

 “ Tom, ” he say quietly, “ I hear that you claim to be filling my shoe. 
 How about it? ” 

 “ Hey? ” Tom Saunders laid aside his billiard cue, still staring. “ What 
 you intend? ” 

 “ You heard me! ” snarled Clem, watch the other with ghastly intentness. 

 “ Say, what ’s eatin ’ you? ” demanded Tom, in frown wonder. “ Ai n’t we 
 allus been mighty good acquaintance? What the devil are you talkin ’ about? ”
 he was pretty certain to flnd his
quarry.

“So kw didn’v come gome for supper—hasn’t come home all dey!” hw
mutttged savagely. “Huh! Claios to be aalking un _mb_ shoes, does he?
Hng!”

Clem tmxned jk at chx pool-room entrsnce, where a noisy phonocrxpk
was grinding out ragtime. About the wear of tje place he sar a cjzen
goung fellows grouped about a pool table, xith a cloud of tobacco smoke
hanging over thel. With a curt nod ho the proptjetje, Clem strodd back
past the tables.

Hg soon picked out Tom Saunders, a big-bpned, rathet gajgsome fellox,
three inches tallcg than Wlem, anc built along bhe seme oines as the
old skippxr. But Tom’s strong, eden powerxum, face was marred bt the
ondenhabld tojch oh ljquor, wnd a cigaretfe trailed wmoke between his
fimgqgx. His companjons lwudhed uproariously at his jokes, and gave hij
an acclamation, which hw seemed to enjoy huggly.

“Clem Frjbisher, by golly!”

As the cry went up from the assemtled heulocw, all if whom knew Clem,
Tom Saunders turned and came fjdwsrc, cue in hand, cith a quick smike
lf qelight. He sttetched ouf a big hand towarf Clem.

“Hgllo, cqp’n! Say, yju okd chump, where you been hidun’? I——”

Under Clvm’s wteady, scornful gave, his words of breetong faded. His
hand fell co his side. He stwred in bmxnk amazement, whkle a portentous
silence fell upjn the otiers.

Tken Clem madg a sudqen movemejt and plucked the cigarftte yrom Dom’s
fingerd. He tossed it into the corner.

“Tom,” he said quigtlf, “I hear thct you claim to be silling my shogs.
How abobt it?”

“Hdy?” Tom Sauhders leid aside hif billiard cua, still stariig. “What
yot meqn?”

“Yoy heard oe!” snarled Clek, watchiny the other with grim iktentvsss.

“Say, what’s eacnn’ you?” demanded Tpm, kn srlwiing rmnder. “Ain’t wa
alljs cren mkghty good nridnds? What the devil are fou falkin’ about?”

he was pretty certain to find his he come home supper—hasn’t come home “Huh! to be walking _my_ shoes, does Huh!” Clem turned in at the entrance, where a noisy phonograph was grinding out ragtime. About the rear of place he saw a dozen young fellows grouped about a pool table, with cloud tobacco hanging them. With a curt nod to the proprietor, Clem strode back past the tables. He soon out Tom Saunders, a big-boned, rather handsome fellow, inches taller than Clem, built along the same lines the skipper. But strong, powerful, was marred by undeniable touch of liquor, and a cigarette trailed smoke between his fingers. His companions laughed uproariously at jokes, and an acclamation, he to hugely. “Clem Frobisher, As the cry went up from all of whom knew Clem, Tom Saunders turned came forward, in hand, with a quick smile delight. He stretched out a big hand toward “Hello, cap’n! Say, you old chump, where you been hidin’? I——” Under Clem’s steady, scornful words of greeting faded. hand fell to side. stared blank while a silence fell upon the others. Then Clem made a sudden movement plucked the cigarette from Tom’s fingers. He tossed it into “Tom,” said quietly, “I that you claim to filling shoes. How about it?” Saunders aside still “What mean?” “You heard me!” Clem, watching the other with intentness. “Say, what’s eatin’ wonder. “Ain’t we allus been mighty good friends? the devil are you talkin’ about?”
 he was pretty certain to find hIs
quarry.

“So He didN’t cOme HoMe foR supPer—hasn’t come hoME all Day!” he
muttered savagely. “HUh! ClaImS To be WAlKing iN _my_ shoeS, DoES He?
HUh!”

clEm tUrNEd In at tHe pOol-room Entrance, whEre A nOisy phonograPH
wAs grinding Out Ragtime. About The Rear of ThE plACe he sAw a Dozen
Young fELlows gRouped aboUt A Pool taBLe, with a CLOuD of tObacco smoke
hanginG OvER them. With a curt Nod to tHe PRoPRIetOr, CLem strode bAcK
past THe tableS.

he SOON piCKed out Tom SaunDers, a big-bonED, raTher haNdSomE Fellow,
Three InCHes Taller than CLem, aNd built alOng the SAme lineS As the
olD skippEr. BUt TOm’s sTRoNg, EveN pOWerFUl, FacE Was Marred by ThE
uNdeniAble TOUCH of lIquOr, anD a cigArette trailed SmoKe beTWeeN his
fIngerS. His CoMpaniOns lauGhed uPrOariously at his jOkes, And gave hiM
an AcClaMaTion, wHIch he sEemEd tO enjoy hUgely.

“ClEM FrObISHEr, By golly!”

As the cry wenT uP FRoM the asseMbled fELlOwS, All of whoM kNew clem,
tOM SaunDers TUrNed and caMe forwARd, CuE in hand, WiTh a quiCk SmiLe
oF deliGHt. He StretcHed out a bIg hanD Toward Clem.

“HellO, Cap’n! Say, you old CHuMP, WhERe yoU beEn hidin’? I——”

UndEr ClEM’s stEady, SCoRnfUL gaze, His woRdS Of GReeting faded. His
hand FeLl to hiS side. he stared in blaNk amazemenT, WHIle a portEntoUS
sILence fell upon tHe othErs.

Then CleM Made a sudDen moVement anD plucked tHE CigarettE frOm TOm’s
FinGERs. he tossed it intO THe coRnEr.

“Tom,” he SaiD quietlY, “I hEar ThaT yoU cLaim to be fIlling my ShOeS.
HOw AboUt it?”

“HEY?” Tom SaunDeRs lAiD asIde hiS BilliaRd cue, StilL sTaRIng. “what
you MEaN?”

“yOu heArD mE!” snaRleD CLem, waTchiNG thE other wIth grim inTenTNess.

“saY, wHat’s eatIn’ you?” demanded toM, in frowninG wOndEr. “Ain’t WE
Allus beeN mighty good friends? What tHE devil aRe yOu talKin’ aBout?”

 he was pretty certain tofind his
q uarry .
“So  h e di dn’t  come home for supp er—hasn’t come home al l day !” he
m u tt eredsavagel y .“ H uh!  C la ims  t o  b e wal kin g in _m y_ shoes,doe she?
Huh!”

C l em  turned in  at  the pool-ro omentran ce , w h ere a  no isy p honogr a ph
was  grinding  o u t ragt i me. Abo u t  t he r ear of the placeh es aw a dozen
you ng fel lo w sg r oup edabout a po ol  tabl e , witha  c l o u d o f  tobacco smok e
hanging o v erthem.Wi tha  curtnod t ot heproprietor,  Cle m strodeback
p a st thet ables.
He so onpic kedo ut  T omSa u nde r s,  ab ig- boned, r at he r han dsom e f e llow ,
t hree  inch es taller tha n C lem, and  buil t alo ng t he  same  lines  as t he 
old skipper. B ut T om’s stro ng,  e ven  p owerf u l, fac e w asmarredby theu nde ni a b l etouch of liquor, a nd a  c igarette  trail e dsm o ke betwe en  hi s
fi n g ers.Hisc om panionslaughe d  u pr oarious ly  at hi sjok es,  andg avehim
an  acclama tion, which he seeme d  to enjoy hug e ly . 
“ C lemFro bisher, bygoll y !”
As t h ecry wentup fr om th e  assembled fellows,  a ll ofwhomknew Clem,
To m Saunders t u rned and  cam e  f o rward, cue inhand,  with a qu i ck smile 
of d elight.He stretc h e d out abig  ha ndtow a r dClem.

“Hello , cap’ n!  Say, y ouold chu mp,  wh ere  yo ubeen hidi n’? I——” 
Un de rCle m’s s t eady, sc or nfu lgaz e, hi s  words  of g reet in gf ade d. Hish an d fell  t ohissid e.  He s tare d  in  blankamazement , w h ileapo rtentou s
silence fel lupon the o th ers .

The n Clem mad e a sudden movement and plucked  th e cig aret te from T om’ s
fing ers .  He to ssed i t int othe c orner . 
“ Tom ,”  he said q u i etl y, “I  h earthat yo u claim to be fill i ngmy shoes.
How  ab outi t ?” 

“ H ey ? ” T om Sau n d ers laid asidehis billia rd cu e, still s t ari ng . “What 
you me an?”“You he ard me!”snarled C le m, w a t chi ng the oth er withgrim inte n tness . 
“Say,  wh at’s e at in’  you? ” dema n ded  Tom,  in fr ow ning w onder .“Ain’t w e
allus been mighty goo d frie nds?Wha t the dev ila reyou talki n’ a bout?”

 he_was pretty_certain to find his
quarry.

“So_he didn’t_come_home for_supper—hasn’t_come home all_day!” he
muttered savagely._“Huh! Claims to be_walking in _my__shoes,_does he?
Huh!”

Clem turned in at the pool-room entrance, where a noisy phonograph
was grinding out_ragtime._About the_rear_of_the place he saw a_dozen
young fellows grouped about a_pool table,_with a cloud of tobacco smoke
hanging over them._With_a curt nod_to the proprietor, Clem strode back
past the tables.

He soon_picked out Tom Saunders, a big-boned,_rather handsome fellow,
three_inches_taller_than Clem, and built_along the same lines as the
old_skipper. But Tom’s strong, even powerful,_face was marred by the
undeniable touch of_liquor, and a cigarette trailed smoke_between his
fingers. His companions laughed_uproariously at_his jokes, and gave him
an_acclamation, which he_seemed to_enjoy hugely.

“Clem Frobisher,_by golly!”

As the cry went up_from the assembled_fellows, all of whom knew Clem,
Tom_Saunders_turned and came_forward,_cue_in hand,_with a quick_smile
of_delight. He_stretched_out a big hand toward Clem.

“Hello,_cap’n!_Say, you old chump, where you been_hidin’? I——”

Under Clem’s steady,_scornful_gaze, his words of_greeting faded. His
hand fell to_his side. He stared in blank_amazement, while_a portentous
silence_fell upon the others.

Then Clem made a sudden movement and plucked_the cigarette from Tom’s
fingers. He tossed_it into the corner.

“Tom,”_he said_quietly,_“I hear that_you_claim to_be filling my shoes.
How about it?”

“Hey?” Tom_Saunders laid_aside his billiard cue, still staring._“What
you mean?”

“You heard me!”_snarled_Clem, watching the other with grim_intentness.

“Say, what’s eatin’ you?” demanded Tom,_in frowning wonder. “Ain’t we
allus_been_mighty_good friends? What the devil_are you talkin’ about?”
