The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-07-16
CHAPTER IV-Continued
looked ut him doubtfully.

So ! admitted, hoping to gain further
enlightenment, but you leave me
| pretty well in the dark. What do |
really know? Nothing. You talk
Slibly about a million you propose go
ing fifty-fifty with me on. That nat
urally sounds good, but it would sound
better If | even knew who | was deal
ing with. | never saw you before in
my life"
H. that's So" he grinned cheer
fully, Il forgot | wasn't talking TO an
old pal. Just to be sure you're Harry
DAILY was enough to make me cough
up. but that don't help you out, does
it? Ever hear of Gentleman George
in your travels?"
George Harris" the name leaped
10 my lips in inspiration; only the day
before | had CHANGED to read a maya
zine account of famous criminal ex-
plot. His eyes cleaned in genial ap-
probation.
Il thought maybe that would fetch
you" he said exultantly. There amt
many of the old boys but have my
number, and they all know | play
square. How is it? Will we shake
hands, and call it deal? I've got to
get back in with that bunch"
| took the extended hand cordially,
feeling the iron grip of his fingers. !
do not believe was ever more fright
ened in my life. although Outwardly
cool enough, and my brain perfectly
clear. There was no retreat possible.
| must go on, acting out the strange
character i'm this drama TO which | had
been assigned.
But you are not known by that
name here?" ventured.
Il should say not. I'm Horner. p.
s. Horner of Detroit. See! That's
the guy who had the papers. He was
English all right but pretended to be
United States, and had a passport to
come through with this bunch. So
I've got the bull by the tail-for a cool
million, old man, million. All I'm
afraid Of is this id womaI-they al
ways did get my goat"
Keep still, and let her show her
cards." I suggested feeling the neces-
sity of saying something.
What I'm aiming TO do. Well, so
long, DAILY. I'll be back presently with
everything straight. Better turn out
the light, or some one might wander
in here"
l was alone again. in the dark, but
under vastly different circumstances
than when wandering blindly about
between those imprisoning factory
walls. With no effort of my own.
purely by blind chance, l had been
given a new name and identity, and as
instantly indicted into a revolutionary
criminal plot as fascinating as it un-
doubtediy was dangerous. Who Harry
DAILY might be had not the slightest
yet there was no escape
from the conviction that Harris be-
lieved blindly in my identity. He was
not acting. for he would have no DOS
sible object in such pretense. was
to his mind Harry DAILY, a wel-known
criminal. an international thief. man
after his own heart, to be warmly well
coined into partnership as a most valu-
able ally.
What should / do under these
peculiar circumstances? Seek TO es-
cape during his absence. and thus
brighten the covy. Or remain, and trust
fortune to show me a way to both ex-
pose their villainy and save myself? I
was young, adventurous. and l chose
The latter. thinking less Of the danger.
admit. than Of the mystery of the
,ase, and-yes, the girl.
Harris had spoken confidently of
gaining possession of a large sum-a
million dollars. surely stake worth |
laring much for-but how. by what
means. did he expect to get his hands |
N such a fortune?
My mind reverted to the fragment |
Il letter which had sent me on this
mad chase, to its mention of letter
II credit to be deposited with the
anker. Krantz, to the credit of the
ecipient. The writer had stated that
he sum would be found ample for all
leeds. But a million dollars! Could
be possible that so large an amount
Fould be thus advanced? If so, then
ne result hoped for must be proper
ionately important. To whom had
his letter been sent-Alva, Who ap-
arently was the active leader here In
few York, or the revolutionary repre-
In Washington, seemingly
nown as Mendez? Whichever 1t was,
nat man evidently had the disposition
I this vast sum entirely at his dis
osai; either it was already in his
ards or so deposited as to be quickly
valuable. In my judgment the fell
NV would be Alva. for sundry rea-
ons; first, he had been one of the men
egistered at the hotel when the lac
uered box was lost: and second, the
Expenditure Of this money was SEEM
lRIV lnfonAol ~ bo~ L. = 1