The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-08-13

was better OF with this conspirato,
oead; nor would ! denounce the one
VINO had taken his life. | hid the
knlre III pocket of my coat. and
hastened down the side street toward
the nearest car line, NY only desire
being TO escape that neighborhood as
swiftly as possible.
By a quarter OF three was safely
In my room at the hotel for the first
tline feeling a sense of real security.
YET 1t was not to sleep. | did not
even undress- except TO remove my
wei outer-garments before fiinging my
self on the bed. My brain wouldn't
rest. and lay there staring up at the
ceiiing, while my mind reviewed over
ana over again every incident of the
night. and planned for the morning
How would the murder of AIva affect
the plot | had started 10 overcome?
Would it continue under some other
leadership? Who? And the money?
what would become of that? What
REIMBURSEMENT of plans would Harris
consider necessary? Once | knew his
conception OF the situation. | could
better regulate my own action. Mean
WhlIe the only safe course was TO re-
main still. and profess ignorance.
linen had the engagement at 247 LIE
Compte street-that might reveal
something of Importance to help me
solve the problem. i
got up. removed the dagger from |
my pocket. and examined il in the |
electric light. 1t was toy weapon.
yet sufficiently dangerous, for all that.
and | looked at il with a sense of hor-
ror. How could woman have ever
thrust even that keen blade with one
oiow through TO the heart? Yet the
evidence was before me. Those dark
stains were blOOd-human blood
dried now. but unmistakable In their
proof of crime. | washed the steel.
leaving the blade bright and polished
then wrapped 1t carefully, and hid it
away at the very bottom of nv bag.
locking the latter against possible in
spection by curious maid. felt re-
leved once / had the weapon out of
sight.
Inc morning papers contained no
'eference to the tragedy-the body of
he dead man had not been found In c
line. There would be noise enough n
when 1t was, no doubt, for Alva must a
lave been widely known and ranked {
IS of some Importance. Even If his s
IDENTIFY was never established. II no n
usplcion was aroused as to his posi- n
ION. and secret work in this country II
Ell the very mystery of the case would v
reate a sensation. But perhaps he O
ad papers on his person OF value. I h
egretted not having searched his
ockets. Then the conviction came d
nat possibly here might be the true n,
button of the murder-a desire TO Sc III
IRE some documents the man carried. n
l went down 10 Costigan's place on IL
'ot, not being entirely certain of the ct
Iact location. 1t was an ordinary m
'rner saloon, with a stairway leading m
rooms above. in the morning hours Sc
e Darroom was nearly deserted. but he
e man at the bar, looking me over nh
utiously. said that "Mr. Parker" had sb
ready gone out, and had left no or
ord as to when he would return.
as rather glad. Yet l left a tele-
one number, with a request that -
called whenever he came back. III -
lited lmpatiently for the call in nv
Dm. but none came. 1t dawned upon
that in all probability Harris was
lntically endeavoring to find the
ereabouts of Alva, as yet having no
spiclon of his death. / telephoned
stigans. but "Mr. Parker" had not
urned.
sent out for noon edition. eager
scanning its columns. but finding
hing. Surely the deserted car.
h its grim burden, must have been
before this. The police
st have suppressed the news TO en-
e them to work in secret; they
'ht have found some evidence In
dead mans pockets, or In the dark
esses of the car. by which they still
ed to capture the assassin.
remember eating in a basement
aurant where / was totally un-
wn, and then departing for the
devious on lie Compile street.
reached the number given with
Gus misgivings. If the police were
tally on the trail. some knowledge
his place might be in their possess
, and | could not be too cautious.