The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-07-07

! time feeling a sense Of real security.
/ Yet it was not to Sleep I did not
even undress, except to remove my
| wet outer-garments before flinging my
, self on the bed. My brain wouldn't
rest, and lay there staring up at the
ceiling, while my mind reviewed over
and over again every incident OF the
night, and planned for the morning.
How would the murder Of Alva affect
the plot I had started to overcome?
Would it continue under some other
! leadership? Who? And the money?
what would become Of that? What
readjustment Of plans would Harris
consider necessary? Once knew his
conception Of the situation, 1 could
better regulate my own action. Mean
while the only safe course was to re-
main still, and profess ignorance.
Then had the engagement at 247 LIE
Compte street-that might reveal
something Of Importance to help me
solve the problem.
i
my pocket, and examined it in the
electric light. It was toy weapon,
yet sufficiently dangerous, for all that,
and I looked at it with sense of hor-
ror. How could a woman have ever
thrust even that keen blade with one
blow 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. I washed the steel,
leaving the blade bright and polished {;
then wrapped it carefully, and hid it
away at the very bottom Of my bag,
locking the latter against possible in
spection by curious maid. I felt re-
lieved once I had the weapon out OF
sight.
The morning papers contained no
reference to the ragedy-the body OF
the dead man had not been found in
] time. There would be noise enough
when it was, no doubt, for Alva must
have been widely known and ranked
as sof some Importance. Even if his
identity was never established, II no
suspicion was aroused as to his posi-
ton, and secret work In this country,
yet the very mystery Of the case would
create a sensation. But perhaps he
had papers on his person Of value. 1
regretted not having searched his
pockets. Then the conviction came
that possibly here might be the true
solution Of the murder-a desire to Sc
cure some documents the man carried.
went down to Costigan's place on
foot, not being entirely certain of the
exact location. It was an ordinary
corner saloon, with stairway leading
to rooms above. In the morning hours
the barroom was nearly deserted, but
the man at the bar, looking me over
cautiously, said that "Mr. Parker" had
already gone out, and had left no
word as to when he would return. l
was rather glad, yet left a tele-
phone number, with request that l
be called whenever he came back. I
waited impatiently for the call In my
room. but none came. It. dawned upon
me that in all probability Harris was
frantically endeavoring to find the
whereabouts Of Alva, as yet having no
suspicion Of his death. I telephoned
Costigan's, but "Mr. Parker had not
returned.
T sent out for a noon edition, eager
ly scanning it's columns, but finding
nothing. Surely the deserted car,
with it's grim burden, must have been
discovered before this. The police
must have suppressed the news to en-
able them to work in secret; they
might have found some evidence IN
the dead mans pockets, or in the dark
recesses Of the car, by which they still
hoped " capture the assassin.
remember eating in basement
restaurant, where I was totally un'
known, and then departing for the
rendezvous on LIE Compte street. l
approached the number given with
serious misgivings. If the police were
actually on the trail, some knowledge
Of this place might be in their possess
sion, and 1 could not be too cautious.
There was no outward sign of any
surveillance as 1 turned into the
block; indeed except for a grocery
truck before one of the houses, and
an organ-grinder at the farther cor
ner, entertaining group of children,
the street was entirely deserted Mus
tering my courage, and with a feeling
of deep excitement, I advanced up
the steps of the house numbered 247'
and, finding refuge in the outer vesti"
bule, rang the bell. heard no dis
tant tinkle, but within moment o.
two the, door opened crack, held L.