The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-09-02

ready QuarrRled over that bunch O
easy money you spoke about"
but has that been paid over b,
Krantz? Who has it?'
'sThe fellow who put a knife int
Alva-whoever he may be-"
"And you don't know who the as
sassin wasr
mo. Only IL must have been one
OF certain men: perhaps two were IL
the affair. At first i figured IL out
60 be Waldron alone: now 1 am not
SO sure that Harris didn't have some
hand In il. They may have had the
affair all planned-the money was
passed over 20 Alva early In the eve
ming. / didn't know IL then; learned
this later. Krantz told me when we
were alone on the way back TO New
York. Let's move along: there is o
policeman coming yonder"
The officer passed us slowly. swing
ing his club. and eyed us curiously as
ne went by; did not turn my head.
yet felt certain he stopped and looked
back as though wondering what our
business could be in that neighbor-
hood We turned down a still darker
side street before exchanging further
speech.
81 believe / know what you are"
1 said at last in low tones close to her
ear. IAN agent OF the Secret Service"
"Oh, no; the honor you offer me is
far too great. / have not attained
TO any such official dignity"
Il rather expected you TO deny !:
but you offer me no other explana-
ton
And 50 you decide to believe thatf
Very well, Afr. Severn, / shall let you
have 1t your own way. You deserve
reward: only. pray. never suggest this
theory TO any one else. Let 1t remain
our secret. will your
"Your mockery does not change my
mind"
Il had no expectation that It would !;
neither does Il bring me a salary. But.
seriously, forget all this raillery to-
night, and remember only that you
are with Marie Gessler Whatever
her purpose may be, you are to be
loyal only to her.
~ am, absolutely" replied with a
conviction my voice was unable to
disguise. She turned her face quick
ly, and in the dim light our eyes met.
"You said that very earnestly. You
make me believe l judged you right,
Philip Severn. Herr is my hand"
cIasped 1t tightly, the firm pres
sure OF the warm fingers sending an
instant thrill through every nerve of
my body. 1t was not withdrawn. and
we walked so closely together could
feel the slight pressure OF her form,
almost resting against mine.
"Where are you taking me?''
ITO Perond's French cafe-have
you ever heard OF it2"
mo. think not"
Il have been there with Summing
man along, OF course, to show
Us the sights. 1t is not very respect
able, / believe, although really / new
er saw anything particularly dan
Eerous. Interesting and uncOnven-
tional, OF course, but I anticipate no
trouble, unless we care to make II
ourselves. You see the cluster of
lights at the next corner. That's
Perond's.''
As I gazed forward. she drew her
hand from my grasp, and her form
what am to do when we arrive?"
MERELY be the attentive escort
,ut not too attentive, please. Have
you dined?"
mo. 1 was going to ask you"
"You need not ask mel am fam
shed, and this place is really famous
or its meals"
Perond's was really underground at I
east you descended a broad pair of /
steps TO attain its entrance, and the I
,lass in windows and doors fronting
he street was heavily draped, pre-
renting any view of the interior from
Without. What was overhead could
lot be determined in the darkness,
ny eyes merely discerning the out
ines of a tall building, without
Jean of light showing anywhere
rom top to bottom. The front of the
however, was brilliantly
1t, and a colored man ; in uniform
promptly held open the door as we
egan descending the stairs.
Within the vestibule a maid re-
Ieved US of outside wraps, and thus
we advanced through
pen doors directly into the main
Dom. This was a surprisingly large
partment, filled with tables of va
fous sizes and shapes, the majority
by men and women, either
ating or drinking. Near the center
-as a cleared space for dancing. but
{ that moment unoccupied, while
gainst the farther wall, on a rather
Ugh stage. two cabaret singers were
oisily entertaining the crowd Alto
ether it was stirring and attractive
cene. bearing TO my mind no re- !
smblance of any preconeeived notion :
{ the underworld. / could have cas-
Y imagined that we had entered, I
lther. the restaurant of an ultra
lshionable hotel the other side OF |
roadway.
Nor did our entrance create the
ightest interest. beyond awakening {
lie attention of the head waiter, who I
ct US smilingly. I
"a table for two, M'sieur?"
"A booth. please: have you one I
.ar the center?r and slipped a bill S
to his hand, which closed it instant q
out OF sight