The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-07-29

lle
mo, g whisper. supposed had a
ciear run for the money. eIeep; his
rakeo6."
The dirty dog. because didn't
show up on the dot. be was ready TO
ditch me- Now listen. and III tell you
the straight story. I'm going TO need
you. and vel divide fifty nifty. Ieav-
ing this guy TO suck bis thumbs. Is
that gof'
Hes sure nothing 10 me-shoof"
Harris poured out a stiff drink. and
put It down; then touched a match to
the e1tnguished cigar.
"Waldron sent me a cable in Eng
land about a month ago." he explained
briefly. HE didn't make the thing
very clear, only that he had big deal
on. and wanted me In on II. / had
made enough TO get back on. and took
secOnd-class passage on the Vulcan.
II was not a big boat, and, 10 escape
close inspection. | went aboard al
Queenstown. At that time | had no
more notion what was up than a blind
rat. i was just desperate enough TO
take chance"
He paused and relit his stub, with
al cath at finding II again useless.
"Then things begun to happen. ]
was roommate with a bird named
Homer. who claimed TO live In De
troit. he must have cottoned 10 me,
for we got a bit chummy. and in that
way picked odds and ends out of him
which set me thinking. He was quite
a foxy bird--one of these tall, raw
boned, secretlye eusses. who talk
lot, but never say nothing, and he
came near getting my goat. l went
through his baggage, of course. but
that was just ordinary stuff-he only
had one grip, which he left unlocked !;
but ! did get onto a pocket belt the
fellow wore around his waist. He
never let that get away from him
night or day. 1 studied every d-n
way / could think up to get a peep at
II, but nothing gave me q chance. j
came near going bugs over the thing"
He laughed. exhibiting q row OF
rather ugly teeth behind his thu lips.
Then the devil aust have helped
me. One might've days out. for we
were slow boat-we ran into a hi
Of storm. We both of US tumbled
out, and began hustling on our duds.
He was trying to get shoe On. and
went plunging head-on into the side of
the ship. / reckon 1t nearly Drained
him, but, to make things sure. hand
ed him one to the jaw before ne got
his senses, and he went out for the
count. Then, believe me, didn't lose
no time in frisking the guy--and, say,
what do you think | found?"
! shook my head, unwilling to inter-
rupt, fascinated with his description.
1.-THE fellow was a revolutionary
agent. | didn't get onto all of 1t then
Il didn't have tine, but found let
ter OF credit for million dollars, and
memoranda Of how 1t was to be de-
livered. The d-n thing wasn't arg
good to melt was to be paid to tlis
fellow by banker in New York
named Krantz-but 1t sure made my
mouth water just to see it--a million
dollars, good old U. s. currency. Can
you beat it?'
Looked easy-you had 1t, and you
didn't have It,"
You said 1t, Daily. didn't dare
keep the thing, and It wouldn't have
done me any good II had; there was
no way of my cashing the paper. What
the HI could do? II denounced
him, the game was all off; II held
on to the stuff he'd report his loss
soon MS he landed In New York, and
that letter Of credit wouldn't be worth
the paper 1t was written on Say,
l was In some boat; but. believe me,
had no notion Of giving up that mil.
lion-it looked darned good"
II should say yes" and leaned for
ward to show my interest. "And from
what l know Of you, Harris, that guy
had no show on earth. Did you croak
himl"
He grinned, evidently pleased at the
note Of admiration in my voice, and
tossed down another drink.
"That never amt been In my line
or course was tempted to--a COO
million would tempt any guy. But
just showed everything back exactly
where 1t come from, and fetched the
steward. Between us we hoisted Hor
ner back into the bunk and douset
him with water till he came to. First
thing he did was to feel for that belt
and he never got wise that It hat
ever been touched. Anyhow, he never
| Lot on m M cOeptf1op