THIEVES RIDE BOLDLY Johnny Jewel heaved his weary bones off his bed and went stiffly to answer the 'phone.

Reluctantly as well, for he had not yet succeeded in formulating an excuse for his absence that he dared try on old Sudden Selmer.

Excuses had seemed so much less important when temptation was plucking at his sleeve that almost any reason had seemed good enough.

But now when the bell was jingling at him, no excuse seemed worth the breath to utter it.

So Johnny's face was doleful, and Johnny's red-rimmed eyes were big and solemn.
And then, when he had braced himself for the news that he was jobless, all he heard was this: "Hello! How's everything ?" "All right," he answered dully to that.