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(Continued from page 6, column 4.) forget her face, her manner, the clear, womanly look of her eye?she was no murderess, and it was not in my heart to denounce her as such. Besides, if I took this responsibility it would only serve to shield other crimes of more importance than the violent death of this Chilean revolutionary? the murder perhaps of many innocent Victims, and the destruction of much valuable property. For Alva's death would hardly stop the plotting already on foot. The money was still here in New York ready to be used; the propagandists at Washington would never permit it to long lie idle. They would find somewhere ahother leader, and I alone seemed to be in a position to balk their' hellish purpose. Perhaps it was even by their orders that Alva had thus been put out of the way. He had acted too slowly, and suaV.otin Koan aac trt yiUVil llligui ua>c IU VUOVU uu vv his real purpose. On every side I was assailed with doubts. Y#t, even if I held silent, I knew not in which direction to turn. I had apparently lost all touch with the girl. She had failed me completely? either by accident, or design. Her appointment with me had served to reveal only one fact which might prove of importance?247 Le Compte street was undoubtedly a link in the chain of the conspiracy; it was the home of Ivan Waldron. Once I told this discovery to Harris the way might be opened to closer investigation. But what had become of Harris? It was already approaching six o'clock, and the man had not telephoned me. Surely he must be aware by this time of the murder of Alva; the uselessness of seeking longer to find him alive. Was he also endeavoring to avoid me? was his purpose deceit? or had some suspicion arisen in his mind as to my really being Harry Daly? Aroused by this possibility, and unable to remain quiet longer, I slipped a revolver from the depths of my bag into a coat pocket, and departed again v.//////, iiiim "They Tell Me You're Hunting Parker." for Costigan's, determined to learn the truth. I approached the same bartender with whom I had spoken in the morning, and he must have recalled me at once, for, without answering my questions he turned and called out to a heavily set, red-faced fellow at the lower end of the bar. "Dan, here is that guy who was asking for Parker. He ain't heard nuthin' from him." , The other came forward. eJ bow in a his way roughly through the crowd and loosed me searchingiy in the face. "I'm Costigan," he said shortly. "They tell me you're hunting Parker. Did you have an appointment with him?" "Yes; he was to meet me here this morning. Then I left a telephone number, but he hasn't called me." "He ain't been back; that's the reason. Co roe along with me; l want a private word with you." I followed him rather doubtfully, although his words and actions appeared friendly enough in a gruff way. He led the way to a closed door at the end of the bar, which, when opened, disclosed a small business office, containing merely a desk and two chairs. To his rather gruff invitation to sit down, I accepted one of these, chew ing at the cigar between my teeth, and endeavoring to appear quite at ease. Costigan, after securing the door, seated himself at the desk, turning his swivel chair about so as to face me, his freckled hands on his knees. "George told me about ^ou thia morning," he began. "At least I suppose you're the lad; your name Daly?" I nodded, greatly relieved, but unwilling to trust my voice. The man did not know me; had no suspicion. "Glad ter meet yer?" and Costigan filled a pipe, and touched a match to the tobacco without removing his steady gaze from my face. "We never had no dealings together, but if yer tied up with George, it's quite likely we will have. He an' I hav' been pardners fer a long while. He's a h?1 of a good guy." "We just ran into each other accidentally," I explained, feeling that he expected me to say something. "Got onto the trail of the same boodle. He told you, I suppose?" "No, he didn't. Just said he'd run onto you. and that you were liable to turn a trick together. George don't slop over; that ain't his style." "But he spoke about me?" "Well, yes, in a way. But it wa'n't no more than I told yer. He had to jo out afore rou got 'round, so he said you was coram', an' for me to be decent to yer whenever yer blowed in." "How long was he to be gone?" "That's what's got my goat," Cos- j tigan admitted grimly. "He said he'd be back in an hour, but he ain't showed up since, ner sent any word. I don't want to shove my nose into your affairs, but I'm gettin' a little nervous 'bout George, that's a fact." Somehow the fellow gave me the impression of being square?honest according to his lights?and intensely loyal to his friends. Of course, I ijj ^ x. x - couiu not mioriD iiixd aa to iue wuuic story* but it might be of benefit to giverhim some inkling of the situation. "There's no harm, so far as I can see, in telling you a part of the plan^ Mr. Costigan," I replied slowly, endeavoring to guard my words carefully. "I know Harris has every confidence in you, so Til take a chance. We're both on to a million-dollar pot ?easy money, it looks like?" "The h?1! that's some boodle r excitedly leaning forward. "It don't come every day. I'll not explain details, or how the two of us run together on the trail, and agreed to split the pot That's our business, you'll admit." "Sure; what was it? A bank job?* "Better than that?South American revolution fund; coin sent over here from London to pay for arms, and maybe a murder or so. It is all in one bundle, and what we need to do is get ?? am U \\rr\ IrrtAnr rrhfha our iiUiiUS Uli 1U ?f C ftuwn n "V? v uv stuff is, but we're still scouting around for a chance to grab it; it's locked up yet" "I see. Ain't been handed over to the gink who's got to pay it out That's what George is a-tracin' out now, I suppose ?' "No doubt that is what he started 1 after this morning?shadowing the; fellows' to whom it was to be paid, j What gets me is, why he doesn't re-1 turn?the guy is dead." "Judas Priest! How do you know : that? What's happened?" j "Why, it's in all the papers; he was murdered last night over in Jersey City?stabbed 'through the back in an automobile. You saw it, didn't you?' | "H?1! that guy? He was a Chilean captain, or sometning. ier ac^i t uuiik that maybe George bumped him off, i do yer?" ] "No; I know he didn't; Harris was with me all last evening." "And you haven't any notion who did?" > | I shook my head negatively. Oostigan sat for some moments, his chin cupped in hie huge fist, his pipe ex-; tinguished and his forehead creased in thoufht Then he looked up suddenly, a strange light in his eyes. j "Say, Daly^' he asked in a hearse whisper, "do you know if there was a Russian Jew mixed up in this affair anywhere?' i CHAPTER VIII. A Friend at the McAlpin?The Dagger Hatpin. j His unexpected question startled me. In a way it was an odd echo of the vague suspicion which had been pursuing me ever since the early aft- j ernoon. Somewhere there was a mysterious hand operating?but whose hand? "A Russian Jew?" I questioned.' "Why should you ask that?" "Well, Hi tell you. Maybe it don't amount to nothin' an' then again it i I might give us the right steer. A fel- [ low they call 'Sly Levy'?he's a cheap thief, a dip mostly?blew in yere last night with a note for Harris. He left it vfith one o' the night barkeeps, an' j seerped te? be in a h?1 of a hurry ter j havt i\ delivered. The d?d thine was j sealed, but not stamped, an' therej wa'n't no address on it either. So 1, didn't think it was no penitentiary j sentence to pry it open, usin' a bit of ( steam to loosen up the flap. But I , ddin't find much, only two lines spelled j out in print letters. 'Where you met K, eight tomorrow. Don't fail; im- ; portant. I. W.' That was every d?n word. Do you make anything of that?" "Yes, I do," I said heartily. "It's part of this job. I'll explain after a bit What did you do then?" "Sealed it up, an' give it back to Joe. I didn't see no harm in it Do you happen to know *ho this *1. W.' stands for?" "I can make a mighty good guess, Costigan?a Russian Jew, all right; Ivan Waldron." The scowl on his face remained fixed; evidently the name was unI known. "Unn't know the fellow? Likely enough not; he doesn't operate in your line, but he is a crook just the same. I never saw him' myself, but have heard about him for a long while ?never anything good. He's an agitator, an anarchist, a revolutionary orator; one of those bugs who fight society and government, and hate everybody but themselves, a loud-mouthed nuisance?" Costigan's mouth was open. "Say?" he interrupted, "what's that i kind of guy got to do with George Harris?" "He's got this to do with him?he's j out after the coin. He saw some easy j money, and naturally reached out for j it He was the first one to get onto I this particular game. They were | using him, this Chilean gang, to pull j their chestnuts out of the fire, and I that's how he tumbled to this bunch, of money floating about, begging somebody to pick it up. He had wormed himself inside, and knew it was coming. But he didn't have nerve enough to tackle the game alone. He wanted somebody else to run all the risk, and then turn over his share. Do you get It now?" ' "Sure; he blew the thing to Harris." "In a way?yes. He sent for him to come back from England, but without explaining just what his graft was. On the way over Harris picked up another end of the same net, and went after it himself. He wasn't under any obligation to Waldron, and preferred to play his hand alone." "And the Russian has found that out. and now he butts in." "That's the way I'd read the cards. Oostigan." He sat silent a long while, and I lit a cigar and watched him, his great hands closing and unclosing, as he slowly reviewed the situation. "Say. this guy what was bumped off?did, whoever did it, get anything?" "His pockets were rifled, the papers | say?all but a little change." "Are you sure this fellow Alva didn't have that bunch of money along with mm?" "No! I'm not sure, of course, but Harris had been shadowing him for a month. Still, come to think, Alva was with Krantz the same night. He might have touched him." "With who?" "Krantz?Adolph Krantz?the banker. Kulb, Krantz and Company, over in Wall street," I explained. "Is he the same guy that 'K' stands for in the letter?" "No doubt. He and Harris had an interview at 247 Le Compte street." "Le ' Compte, hey! I wonder who lives there?" "Well, I can tell you?it's Ivan Waldron." I ^ His fist came crashing down onto the arm of his chair. "H?1! That's all clear enough then. He and George are up to some deal together. Say, I believe tnis ?tussian guy is the buck who got Alva." "Do you think so? Well, I am not so sure of that. But, anyway, what shall we do?" "Wait until George comes back. There ain't any cause for us to birtt in yet. This is his game, as I see It. i If it was you, Mr. Daly," he added j grimly, "you wouldn't thank nobody ! to shove in uninvited?would yer j now ?" I was unconvinced by his argument, yet knew of no way of answering it. He must have read my predicament in the expression of my face. "It'll come out all right, Daly," he j volunteered. "I know George, an* he J ain't the kind to be outwitted by no Russian Jew. Let's have a drink an' we'll call it off for tonight. You leave me your telephone number an' if anything happens Fll let you know." I took a taxi back to the hotel, feeling restless and dissatisfied, yet unable to decide on any definite action. As I asked for my key? the clerk handed it over, together with a card in the box, which I read in bewilderment. "Mr. Philip Severn, C-145. Call Hotel McAlpin." Could this be Har- j ris, endeavoring to reach me privately with some message? Or was it merely an acquaintance who had learned of my presence in the city? I found j the McAlpin exchange number in the telephone book and gained connection, my pulses throbbing with excitement. A woman's voice answered. "The McAlpin." "This is Philip Severn. You left a call here at the hotel for me." "Oh. yes, Mr. Severn. Tm requested to ask you to come at once to the parlor of the McAlpin. on the mezzanine floor?a friend wishes to see yon." ; "But reaily, I do not recognize your Dice." "Which is not altogether strange, as I am only the clerk on this floor. I arr making this request in behalf of n guest" "A man or a woman, may T ask?" Si.c ttiighed good-humomlly. "Really, I am not at liberty -n You will corned "les, of course?" Before I had really finished my sen* tence the connection had been severed. However, there was no doubt now in my mind but that it was Harris. I took the subway and was at the entrance within twenty minutes, eager to learn what had actually transpired during the past twelve hours. Without using the elevator I passed up the marble stairs to the mezzanine floor, pausing in uncertainty at the top to look about in search of some familiar face. A number of people were congregated about the railed opening looking down into the lobby, while others were scattered around on convenient divans, or at small writing desks. From the recesses of the ladies' room at the left came the strains of piano music, and the sound of a soprano voice singing. The song ceased to a clapping of hands. The faces I was able to distinguish were all strange and I moved forward in search. I had attained the opposite side of the room before I came to a halt, suddenly arrested by a vision as startling as unexpected. Leaning over the rail, gazing intently down on the jostling crowd to the lobby below, apparently a# nil aIca w-o c Vnrip UIICUIIIMJIOUS V/l all cioc, "WO dossier Thprp could hp no donbt; I stood motionless, looking at her intently, satisfying myself that I could not be deceited. No. It was certainly the same girl I had talked with flie evening before, dressed more elaborately, changed somewhat in appearance by a more careful toilet, yet assuredly the same. She must have felt the intensity of my stare and thus sensed my presence, for she suddenly looked about with a little start, saw me instantly and arose to her feet. There was a second of hesitation, barely per ceptiDle, before sne ventured a siep forward, her lips smiling, her gloved hand held out. "You were very nice to come," she exclaimed quietly. "Especially In response to so ungracious a message of invitation." ' "It was you then who sent ^or me?" * jjl ^ I I Stood Motionless, Looking at Her In- ki i or ten 1.1 jr. w -Or course. Did you Imagine some one else?" ? "I came rather blindly," I admitted, unwilling to mention Harris. 'Tour i messenger refused to satisfy my cu-1 riosity even to the extent of telling the sex of the one calling." She Jaughed, quite at her ease now, and seemingly amused. "She was duly warned. I confess I feared you might hesitate to resikrad j if you once knew what awaited you." "No fear of that." "But 1 didn't Know," ner voice more earnest, her eyes on my face questicningly. "You have not thought very well of me, have you? Let us go over there in the corner, where we can talk j without being overheard?there are j two vacant chairs." We reached there and seated ourselves in silence. I felt the necessity of restraint, the desire to permit her to lead the conversation in whatever | direction she thought best. She ap-1 peared younger in the bright light, | I her face e^en more attractive than in j I my memory. | "You are tnorougmy puzzieu, arc you not?" she asked gayly. "Well, I so was I, last night. It is only right | I should pay you back in your own j j coin; that is perfectly fair, I am sure, i Now I know who you are, but I am j still an enigma. You accepted me on j blind faith before; I wonder if you, are willing to do it again?" "I can hardly refuse." "Answered like a gentleman. But suppose I tell you nothing and yet ask of you a dangerous service? Would you risk your life for me, not even asking who I am or why I make the request?" There was a grave earnestness to the voice, an entreaty in the eyes not to-be ignored. This was no idle question to be thrust aside with a smile. "I believe I can make the pledge?| x T /maVVA**!tt "Tf TTorrr 1 CO you, 1 ItpilCU 5UUC11J. 11 ig ivjj | unusual, but?" "But you are Philip Severn," she! interrupted, with an expressive gesture. "Had you not been I would j have never asked." "It is very nice of you to put it in J that way, I am sure, but-how do you I I 30x3JsT Sta mm s th( 30x3^-inch Cc 32x4 " Idvdk " ~ THOMAS SER1 OBHBHHHHBHnHHn lance to know ?vern V i "Suppose I insist that also is my cret? Yet surely you could not he-! ?ve I would be here with you, unless j knew? You must have faith in me. ! i spite rf all." *TTri<?c;ihted!y I do. I hard'y hold : a reasonable faith, however. >; ? certain amount of curio?jr- ehou'ii ; gTarineu, espenauy vtueu a ^uuu* dy asks unques- onlng devotion to 1 unknown cause. You admit that?" "Your position is unanswerable. I , ill tell you all I can, but that may >t be much." "You mean I am to question you?" "You may try? but I warp you; I am very difficult subject. I may answer id I may not. If I refuse, still you | ust pretend to be content. Are the rms too rigorous?" "It sounds like a test." "It is a test I must remain a mysrv not from anv real desire to con al my. identity from you, but be:use of a duty to others. Now I will ; 11 you all I can." "You greet me as Philip Severn to- j ght, yet last evening I told you my j ime was Harry Daly. How did you i low I lied? And how did you dis- j iver who I really was?" Her eyes sparkled with enjoyment. (To be continued next week.) There is no time in tl is more susceptible to tn during boyhood days. Many a successful bus his success in large meas a boy. Don't you think ycur starting of a bank accoui There is no excuse for RESOURCES OVE omo on s*vih6sagcoflmts ndard Nor A icity of 16,000 tires and 20,000 tul iction on a quantity basis. 11 materials used are the best obta is the best fabric tire ever offered t Firestone ( re repairmen, who judge values b irdiest carcass made. 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