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(Continued from page 6, column 4.) fights "at the next -corner. "That's Perond's." ; As I gazed forward, she drew her hand from my grasp, and her form ! straightened. "What am I to do when we arrive?" "Merely be the attentive escort? but not too attentive, please. Have you dined?" "No. I was goiig to ask you." "You need not ask me?I am famished, and this place is really famous for its meals." Perond's was really underground; at least you descended a broad pair of steDS to attain its entrance, and the glass in windows and doors fronting the street was heavily draped, preventing any view of the interior from without. What was overhead could not be determined in the darkness, my eyes merely discerning the outlines of a tall building, without a gleam of light showing anywhere from top to bottom. The front of the restaurant, however, was brilliantly lit, and a colored man in uniform promptly held open the door as we ! began descending the stairs. Within the vestibule a maid re-1 lieved us of outside wraps, and thus j unencumbered we advanced through open doors directly into the main ! room. This was a surprisingly large j apartment, filled with tables of various sizes and shapes, the majority ! I ~ ^ kn mAn TTrtmfln olthpP VOJUpiCU UJf lilCU (UiU nuuivu, eating or drinking. Near the center j was a cleared space for dancing, but at that moment unoccupied, while against the farther wall, on a rather high stage, two cabaret singers v^ere noisily entertaining the crowd. Alto gether it was a stirring and attractive j scene, bearing to my miLd no re- j semblance of any preconceived notion of the underworld. I could have easily imagined that we had entered, rather, the restaurant of an ultrafashionable hotel the other side of; Broadway. Nor did our entrance create the slightest interest, beyond awakening the attention of the head 'waiter, who met us smilingly. "A table for two, ATsleur?" % "A booth, please; have you one near the center?" and I slipped a bill into his hand, which closed It instantly out of sight "Ah, certainly; the very thing. ATsienr. I will show you. rTancois, the central booth for the gentleman. Ah, see, M'sleur?bien, tres bien!" It was indeed a cozy spot, with the heavy curtains held aside. A divan of soft plush across the end, a table covered with snowy linen, and already j glistening with silver and glass, in! the center, and three exceedingly com- j < fortable chairs. I "It is very fine, M'sieur," I said. "Quite to my satisfaction. You might lower one of those curtains, if you will. Yes, that is much better. Is Francois our waiter?" "Oui, M'sieur; you would be served? The table de holt, Francois. These dishes are ready?but,. M'sieur, we serve quickly whatever you wish." He spread his hands expressively, ? glanced swiftly about to assure himself all was well, and backed out, still politely bowing, leaving the attentive Francois beside me, pad in hand. At my suggestion the lady gave the order, using discretion, I thought, while I supplemented with a bottle of wine, in tpite of the energetic negative conveyed to me across the table. As the j waiter deDarted 1 surveyed my com- ! panion, realizing as never before how extremely attractive she was. She must have read something of this in my eyes, for her own smiled wistfully. ?What is it you were thinking about?" "Perhaps I had better not tell." "Another secret? Well, then, answer this?what do you think of ** Perond's?" "Actually I am unable to realize where I am," I answered honestly. "The contrast from those dark streets, suggestive of crime, to this brilliancy Is altogether -too sudden. It has left me dazed; my mind refuses to function." "It affected me that way the first visit. I could not convince myself of the true nature of the place; it seemed?well, altogether too respectable. I always associated the underworld with rouehness and Doverty, po lice surveillance, and all that. But look out there; -it is like a big hotel dining-room after the play. Those women?some of them, at least?are really elegantly dressed, and in excellent taste, and there is no more noise, no more coarseness, than I have witnessed at the Waldorf. The men are not bad-looking, either, do you think?" "Well, there are all grades here, now that I look about; yet, as you say, the average is not bad. Probably they will grow louder later in the evening, when they take the lid off." "I don't believe they ever do?that is, entirely. Mr. McLaughlin, the detective who came with us, said this was really the most dangerous place In town from the police viewpoint. Its very surface quiet made it a special menace. Nothing was ever permitted to occur here which would give the t r?ftr>?rtTnpnf anv evouse for a raid. If there was a fight, or even a murder, it was hushed up instantly, and the .victim hidden away, before even the patrolman on the block could hear about it.' He mentioned several cases; and said the waiters were especially selected to take care of any rough house." , "Perhaps that is what makes it popular with the class they cater to." "Safe, you mean. Yes; he said they could spot any criminal of reputation in the country at Perond's, if they only waited long enough; that half the big jobs in New York were plotted at these tables.**" "I begin to comprehend," I said jocularly, "why I was received as a distinguished guest. The headwaiter must have recognized me as an old pal?my face is my fortune." "He may have mistaken you for Daly," she admitted " soberly, "but more likely it was your tip which made him so attentive. You are some spender, Mr. Severn." "That depends on who I am with; this is*an unusual occasion." She did not smile, or look at me, but leaned slightly forward, drawing back a fold of the curtain with one hand, so as to gain a wider glimpse of the large room without. A moment she remained motionless; then i turned her face sideways toward me. "Waldron is already here," she whispered warningly. "He is alone at that second table, against the pillar. Step around this side and you can see; the man with gray, bushy hair." \ I could not easily have mistaken the fellow; his appearance was too emphatically that of the Russian Jew of a certain type to enable him to conceal his birthright His bacK was toward us, yet as he occasionally'cast his eyes about over the faces of those around him, I had a glimpse of 8 beaked nose, and a sallow, dull com- , plexion, which seemed to blend naturally into a scraggling beard of no perceptible color. His hair though was iron-gray, apparently uncut for | weeks, and thrust back from an unusually high forehead, so as to give i the man a ruffled, unkempt appearance far from pleasing. He was big all over, strangely burly for a Jew, with broad shoulders and large hands, thickly covered with hair. I moved back around the table *as Francois appeared, and resumed my seat, keeping silent until the waiter again vanished, and left us alone. "And now that you have located the fellow," I asked curiously, "what do you propose doing?go out and talk with him?" She shook her head. "I have reason to believe he expects to meet some one here," she explained. "I do not know who; that is one thing I desire to find out From I what you have told me tonight I ratf^r | think now it may be Harris." I "To diwie up?" "To talk it over, at least; they'd hardly bring the stuff in here. Probably by this time that Is safely planted." Francois came back, and we devoted ourselves to the meal, although I could observe her glancing constantly through the opening in the curtains to make sure of her man. Finally Francois disappeared with the remnants, while we awaited the serving of dessert From my seat I could see | nothing of the Russian, j "No one arrived yet?" I inquired "The Jew still there?" "He remains alone eating. Ah! my ! guess was right?isn't that Harris, who has just come in?" It was "Gentleman George" beyond the shadow of a doubt. He had evidently located Waldron the moment of entering the room, and with no Other thought in his mind headed straight toward where the letter sat The Jew glanced up, saw -him approaching, and drew partially back from th:. table, the knife he had been I using still gripped in his hand. ' His Dosture was that of defense. I one who anticipates possible attach j Nor did Harris' expression and manner render this improbable. The latter pushed his way forward with anI gry strides, until he reached the man he sought, leaning over the table to front him, his face black with passion, his first words plainly audible to us above the din of a jazz band. "Say, where the h?1 have you been? "What Is This, a Qouble-Cross, Waldronr* What is this, a double-croas, Waldron ?" "What you mean?" ejaculated the other. "By Gott! it is rather you I i ! should ask why you not tell me the i ! truth?" j "Tell you! What the devil have 11 i got to tell you? Don't get funny with j ! me. You sent me a note this morning, i didn't you?" "Sure I did." "Well, then, why didn't you meet j me? D?n it, I've been hunting you all day long. What's the idea ? Come, I blurt it out, before I wring your d?n j Jew neck." Waldron spread his hands, and lifted ; his shoulders in an expression more j eloquent than words. I "What a man!. You cuss, me? put1 * not wait to hear why this all was so. You sit down, and I tell you. Then n maybe you tell me something also." v Harris stared at him. then sank into ^ the vacant chair opposite, still scowl- ^ ing angrily across the table. A waiter ^ paused at his elbow expectantly, and, ^ in response to something said, the ^ thief jerked out a surly answer. "No, I don't want anything to eat. ^ Bring me some whisky?a half pint? n with a litfle water. Yes, that's all; M now gee out ui nere. At this moment Francois returned t( with our final course, obliging us to ^ appear indifferent to the quarrel rag- ^ ine beyond tne curtains. Both men ^ must have lowered their voices, for our ears caught nothing of what was said. It seemed to me the waiter wa: jj unusually slow in rearranging'the table. "There, that will do. Francois," I e broke out, at last, impatiently. "We n will want nothing else at present. e When I need you again I wttl ring. ^ That is the bell, I presume." c "Oui, M'sieur." 2( "All right; then leave us alone for a \\1iite." y Neither one of us touched a thing, ^ \he coffee" growing cold in the cups, ^ as we endeavored to distinguish what ^ was going on at that second table out ^ in the main dining room. I came 'around beside her, to where I could ^ peer out also beneath the curtain fold, and thus gain glimpses of the two men. They were talking earnest- ? ly, but had lowered their voices, until J they were nearly inaudible amid the din of the place. The anger and threat had gone out of both voices; but only oc- P * - ? i.i casionaliy coma we weave rogeiner words into an understandable sen- c tenoe; these came to us detached, un- n related, as the surrounding noise D ceased suddenly, or the music came to a pause. 8 "You didn't get it! .Then who the ^ h?1 did? Me, I should say no; why I never knew the old man had even slipped him the dough. That d?n c girl rode down with him. Of course I do; I saw them go out together; T that's why I thought I was playing t safe to keep away. Somebody has played us for suckers. If you had kept your d?n mouth shut we'd a-had it easy." * Waldron broke in, stung by this last taunt into elevating his voice. * "What you mean, I keep my mouth j E shut? So help me, Moses, I tell no* body." ' I c - ' *T Vl.kV?J I t "Tne n?i yon aian t! iou umuueu the whole thing to Daly. He told me ^ so himself. That's what I was doing last night, bluffing him ont" "I tell Daly? Where you git that * stuff? I ain't seen Daly for three a year. Was he in this deal? Why you 1 not tell me of Daly before?" "Tell you! I never knew it until 1 he told me." A waiter brushed past him, bearing I a tray, striking against one shoulder as he passed. Harris glanced up with I a snarling oath, and, before I realized i the danger, his eyes must have caught * a glimpse of me beneath the draped i curtain. Instantly the fellow was on t Ma -Poof- nil eiso forgotten in a swift 4UO AWWf ? ? 0 wave of passion. < "There's the gny now!" he burst forth. "He's hiding in that booth; 1 saw him. Come on, and well have i the sriff ^ough up yet!" 2 I drew back swiftly, pushing the girl behind me. There was no place n in which to hide, no chance for c escape. Perhaps I could explain, but, if not, then I must fight. The two came plunging through the opening and faced us, the heavy curtains dropping behind them and shutting out all view beyond. Harris, inflamed by drink, glared about as though doubting the evidence of his own eyes, but his expression was that of savage hatred. "H?1, if they ain't both of 'em here I Say, this is rich. So you two are in cahoots, hey? Thought you'd play me for a d?n fool, did you, Daly? Well, m show you what you're up against? you and yer girl. Come now, Where's that boodle?" "I know nothing about it, Harris." "You're a liar. This dame went away with Alva in his car. I saw her go out with him. You cough up, both of you, and be d?n quick about it, or you'll never get out of here without a hole through you. You think von can double-cross me: Til show yon a trick of ray own!" v He was reaching for his gun. It must have caught in his pocket, though I wasted no time. It was his life or mine; and I gripped the empty wine bottle on the table and smashed a vicious blow at his head. He went down like a log, his body half projecting through the curtains, while I wheeled about barely in time to meet the mad bull rush of Waldron. The Russian could not have been armed, for he came at me with bare hands, his grip like that of a bear. For an instant he had me throttled, scarcely able to breathe, my hands pinned helplessly in the grasp of his arms. But brute strength was all he possessed, brute strength and ferocity. The /bottle was crushed out of my fingers, yet I wriggled partially free, and got one hand twisted into his whiskers, jerking his head back, and side-wise, until the strained neck threatened to crack, and he had to release his grip to protect himself. It was all over in a minute, but hot while it lasted; I know we struck against the girl, throwing her to her knees; l know tne fellow stumbled over Harris' legs, giving me a chance to drive homefone fist square into his face. I heard him rip out a Hebrew oath, and saw blood staining his lips. I tried to break away from him, but it was no use; yet the effort opened his guard for a swift uppercut, and I let him have it straight to the chin. He crashed back across the table, and hung there dangling, arms outspread and head in a broken dish. Before I I - * .-'A' aula strike again, "or even "recover ly breath, the curtains tvere thrust iolently aside, and the head-waiter, acked by a half dozen subordinates, ame tumbling in over Harris' inert ody. Even as they stared about, I elped the girl to her feet, and faced aem. '"What happen here, M'sieur? What appen?" shrieked the excited Frenchlan. "You keel ze men? What?" "No; they're just knocked out. A *rl/\ nn'varo oflfnir fhnt'c nil" 1 Sflid. LUC j^44 ?MLV, U4A.V444) w V - , )o exhausted to speak clearly. "See ere, M'sieur," and I thrust the first ill I could reach into his hand. "Hush lis up, will you, and let the lady nd me get out of here." He dashed about frantically, wringlg his hands and gesticulating. "Oui, oui! Eet shall be so. There es to be no trouble, no police. Ze len attack you. M'sieur Daly?I see et all; you protect ze Madame. There e no noise, no peestal?bien"! Franois, Jules, you will help ze lady an' e gentleman to go?quick." The two waiter-guardians held back fie curtains for us to pass through. Tie main dining room was not as dis urbed as l anticipated it migiu ue. lS we came forth and made our way own the aisle under escort, we were azed at curiously, but no demonstraion followed. A group of waiters stood before the uter door, evidently collected there 3 prevent any alarm from reaching tie outside. To the signal of Francois hese stepped aside, permitting us to ass through into the vestibule. I assisted my companion into her oat, and then hastily struggled into ay own. She was pale, but her eyes let my own bravely, and her hand ouch^d my arm as we went up the teps. Above, all remained quiet and ark. "What next?" I asked. "I believe there are taxis around the oraer." "Good; I would prefer riding to ralking, myself. Where do you wish o be taken?" "Back to the hotel, please." In the semi-darkness of the cab I elt her hand touch mine gently, as hough half afraid. "Oh, I was so frightened?so sorry o have brought you there. It was all ay fault The Russian had a knife." "Yes, I know; I caught a glimmer rf it, but he went down and out for he count before it could be used, [here is nothing to worry over now." ?<T*V, r\ tt H Tirvt crof fbp monpv ?" JL iiCJ U1U UVV gvw v?v ? ? "No, that is clear enough. Some>ody got the bulge on them, and they ire very properly sore. You heard 3arris swear you left with Alva." "Harris knows nothing about It; you nusrt believe me." "I intend to?certainly as againit 3arris." She may not have been altogether >1 eased with my answer, for she said 10 more until we drew up at the hotel mtrance. She waited while I settled vifch the chauffeur, and we crossed :he wide pavement together. "It may be best for you not to come in; >ne never knows." "This is not a final parting. I hope?" "Perhaps so, perhaps not. You do lot wholly trust mo. S"me lay I mean urATi ch;-?!! f!oofl-n:rhr." f \fv? . - . 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