Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-06

with Sing Wah, Drake had gone m
search Of lodgings nearby. He found
them in what had once been a noted
hotel, which had fallen into sad decay.
1t was in the faded rooms he engaged
here that the three met to consult on
the future.
"The first thing to do is to get hold
of those deeds and papers she has N
her grip" said Wilkerson. Il wonder
you didn't think to get them before,
Jean"
The woman's eyes lit with dull
hatred, but she made no answer. She
watched him fuss with the locks Of the
hand satchel which she had indicated
as the one in which Ruth carried her
valuables. When 1t opened and Will
kerson thrust his clutching fingers
downward into it Mrs. Darneu leaned
forward as If in protest. He paid no
attention to her, but continued his
search with ever increasing haste. At
last he Strengthened up with an oath
so venomous and deadly that even
Drake shrank back.
'"Thc deeds aren't here" Wilkerson
said thickly. "She's hidden them!'
"But where?'
This question seemed to break Will
kerson's almost steely intensity Of pur-
pose. The question put his whole prob
lem before him in two words-but
where? He shifted his eyes from the
emptied satchel to the curtained win
dow. Instantly there 1eaped before
him the picture Of the truck turning
slowly over in the gulch, of the huge
billow Of smoke, Of the little lances Of
fire that charged through the dry I'M
dergrowth ~as If to preserve to the
flames their prey. Was it for this that
he was a murderer? The curtain blew
inward before some vagrant wind from
the bay, and Wilkerson drew back in
terror.
"What is it, HarryY' demanded Mrs.
Darneu, instantly taking alarm.
Nothing" he said sullenly. II was
just thinking Of something" He turn
ed on Drake. you've got to do the
trick" he went on.
"How's that?' demanded the young.
er man.
Wikerson eagerly formulated his
his plan, ticking off the points on the
tips of his quivering fingers.
First you're Everett, turned up at
last. You find her,
"In Chinatown" sneered Drake.
"You can easily gain her confidence
aud get hold Of the papers, and may
be-
Drake laughed uglily. Il look like
the kind of joker who would dress up
as banker and then proceed to renew
my clients acquaintance in a Chinese
Joint. How am I supposed to know
she's there? l tell you, Wilkerson, that
you can't travel straight, even when it
pays you. Why in Code name you
ever took that girl to that place Of
Sing VANS is beyond my comprehen-
sion. ANY place would have been bet
ter. Now you have put the heads OF
all of us in moose. You know what
people will say when
They'll say nothing" said Wiiker-
son furiously, and he proceeded once
tloie W III uc ludL AIdhC easily
continue to impersonate Everett and
in that guise carry their scheme to its
profitable conclusion. In spite Of his
eagerness and sophistry he was unable
to move either Drake or Mrs. Darnell
from their attitude of frightened con-
tanpt At last Drake agreed to do his
set to make Ruth trust him.
"But I don't like this impersonation
business" he said firmly. II might 60
to hotel and hand in my brokers'
card and ask for an interview, but
haven't lost my senses"
"Well," growled Wilkerson, "just see
to it that you worm out Of her where
those papers are"
ITO be continued)