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Show Tictocq The Great French Detective in Austin By 0. Henrv j country know these figures. If they know them, I ask thin committee what thy ore thinking" of that they lire not hero in Washington at this time, in sunn numbers an to block our traffic? "The business woman, now she ha become a political factor, will overlook the large business of government, but will insist upon a ea,no nnd wise business busi-ness policy. "Our American people are slow to bo aroused, but they wilt be now, when this enormous burden of taxation h&a to be borne, not for constructive pur-poas pur-poas for which the whole world la crying in Its anguish, but for destruction." (Copyright iMd, by Poubtetlay. fag V ; published by spctn.l jirrnnKnient with th Wheeler Syndicate, lm A SUCCESSFUL POLITICAL. INTRIGUE. It is not genernlly known that Tic-tocq, Tic-tocq, the fmnoua French detective, waa in Austin last week. He registered at the Avnu; hotel under an assumed name, und his quiet mid reserved manners man-ners singled him out at once for one not tit be singled out. No one knows why be rnme to Austin, Aus-tin, but to one or two h vouchsafed the ' information that his mission was an im , port nv one from the French government. govern-ment. Un report that th Vrrnch minister of state hai discovered an old statute among the laws of the empire, rftulting from a treaty between the Kmperur Charlemagne and liovernor Huberts which expressly provides for the north gate of the capitot grounds being kept opn, but this is merely a conjecture. laist Wednesday afternoon a well dressed gentleman knocked at the door of Tictocq'a room hi the hot-l. Th detective opened the door. cleiy's mine was heralded by such an auspicious display of hospitality, is a iT.der brunette, with large, lustrous -Yf. a winning smile, and a charming ingemit manner. Hh wears a china silk, cut princesse, with diamond ornaments. nd a con jilt of towels inserted In the iMck to conceal prominence of shoulder blades. hSe Is chatting easily and naturally nat-urally on :i plufh covered tete-a-tete with Harold St. Clair, the agent fur a Minneapolis pants company. Her friend and schoolmate, Klste Hicks, who married mar-ried thre drummers in one day, a week or two before, and won a wager of two bottles of HudwJier from the hanSsome and talented young hack driver. Bum Htmtht-ns is promenading In and out the low French windows with Kthelbert Windup, the popular young candidate for hide Inspector, whose name Is familiar fa-miliar to every one who reads police court reports. Somewhere, concealed by shrubbery, a band is playing, and during the pauses in conversation onions can be rmelt frying fry-ing In the kitchen. Happy laughter rings out from ruby I lips, hindsome faces grow tender as they bend over white necks and droop-ing droop-ing henda; timid eyes convey things that lips dare not speak, and beneath silken Italic und broadcloth, hearts beat time to the sweet notes of "Ixve's Young Jjrea m." "And where have you been for some time past, you recreant cavalier?" says Miss St. Vitus to Harold St. Clair. "Have you been worshiping at another shrine'' Are ou recreant to your whilom friends? Speak. Sir Knight, and defend yourself." "oh. come off." says HarolA, in his deep, musical baritone; "I've b-en having hav-ing a devil of a time fitting pants on a ; lot of bow legged ays from the cotton j patch. Got knoba on their legs, some ( of 'em as big as gourds, and all expect a fit. I'id 3 ou ever try to measure a bow legned I mean can't you imagine what a jam-swizzled time I have getting pants to fit 'em'. Business dull too, no-bodr no-bodr wants em over $3-" - "You witty boy," says alias St. Vitus. "Just as full of bon mots and clever savings sav-ings as ever. What do you take now?" i To be con t In aed) "Mm.-ieur Tic tocn. I believe," said the gentleman. "You will see on the register that I j sign my name Q. X. Jones," said Tie-tncq, Tie-tncq, "and gentlemen would understand that 1 wish to be known as t-uch. II you do not like being referred to as no gentleman, t will give you satisfaction any time after Julv 1st. and fight Steve Ionnll, John Mclonall. and Ignatius Donnelly in the meantime if you desire.1' de-sire.1' "1 do not mind it in the least, said the gentleman. "In fact, I am accustomed accus-tomed to It. I am Chairman of the Democratic Kxeeutive Committee, Platform Plat-form No. 2 and I have a friend in trouble. trou-ble. 1 knew you were Tictocq from your resemblance to yourself." "Km res vous," said the detective. The gentleman t-ntered and was handed a chair. '! am a man of few words," bald Tictocq. Tic-tocq. "I will help your friend If pos- ' sible. Our countries are great friends. I We have given you lafaetto and French fried potatoes. You have given ! us California chnmpagne and taken 1 back Ward McAllister. Slate your case." "I will be very brief," said the visitor. J "In room No. 76 In this hotel is stopping I a pro.nment I'opulist candidate He i alone. l-ast night .'omo one stole his socks. They can no; be fount!. If th-y are not recovered his party will attrlbuw i their losa to the Democracy. They will make great capital of the burglary, although al-though 1 am sure it was not a political mov at all. The socks mum be recovered. recov-ered. You are the only man that can do II." "Am! to have carte blanche to question ques-tion evsry person connected with the hotel" t t ""The propneior na. mrr.ay urru j spoken to. Kverything and everybody Is st your service." Tlctovq consulted his watch. Vome to this room tomorrow afternoon after-noon i ( o'clock with the Umllord, the ropuliel csndl'iste. snd anv other wit-1 ners elected trom both parties, and I will retu'ii the socks." j "Bien. Morsieur; schlafen sle wohl." j' "Ail revoir." The Chairman of the Democratic j Executive Committee. Platform No. J, j bowed courteously and withdrew. . 1 Tictocq sent for the bellboy. j "liid you go to room Ts lat night. i "V.i sir." "Who as there V Ah old hayseed what come on the J::s." "What did he wa.nl V "The bouncer." What for?" To ut the light out. "I nd you take anything whilo ;n the j room'.'" No, he didn't ask me i ; 'Whet Is your mire!" 1 Jim." ; "Vou can go." j j ... The drawing rooms of one of the most ! j magnificent private residences in Austin': sre a blase of lights. Carnages line the : streets In front, and from gale to doorway door-way Is pread a velvet carpet, on which j the dehcate feet of the guests may,: tread. i The occasion is the entree Into society , : of one of the fslrest buds In the City , of the Violet Crown The rooms are : filled with the culture, the" beauty, the j youlh and fashion of society. Auslin so- ; elety Is acknowledged to he the wittiest. . the most select snd the highest bred to j : be found southwest of Kansas Citv. I : Mrs. Rutabaga Ht. Vitus, the hostess,!! Is secustomed to drsw around her a circle cir-cle of tlnt and bonuty. rarely equalled . 5 anywhere. Her evenings come nearer,! approachtng the dignity of a salon than .' I soy occsston. except, perhaps.' a Tony t Faust end Marguerite reception at the Iron Front. I Mtss Mt. Vitus, whose advent into so-1 I |