Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-08-10

did the Russian say anything about
meE'
mot n whisper. I supposed / had a
clear run for the money, except his
rake0fT."
"The dirty dog. Because / didn't
show up on the dot. he was ready 10
ditch me. Now listen. and Til tell you
the straight story. I'm going TO need
you, and Wen divide ffty-ffty. leav-
Ing this guy 10 suck his thumbs. Is
that a goG"
"He's. sure nothing 10 me-ShO0t."
Harris poured out a stiff drink. and
put IL down; then touched a match to
the eNtlnguished cigar.
"Waldron sent me cable In Eng
land about a month ago." he explained
briefly. "Ile didn't make the thing
very clear, only that he had big deal
ON. and wanted me IN on Il. / had
made enough 10 get back on, and tool;
"a second-class passage on the Vulcan.
il was not a big boat. and. TO escape
close inspection, went aboard at
Queenstown. At that time I had no
more notion what WAS up than a blind
rat. I was Just desperate enough to
take a chance"
lie paused and relit his stub. with
an oath az finding Il again useless.
Then things begun 90 happ"n. ]
was roommate with a bird named
Homer. who claimed 10 live in De
trOit. lie 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, secretive cusses. who talk a
Tot. but never say nothing. and he
came near getting my goat. | went
through his baggage, OF course. but
that was Just ordinary stuff-he only
had one grip. which he left unlocked:
but I did get onto a pocket belt the
fellow wore around his waist. He
never let that get away from him
night or day. ] studied every d-n
way I could think up 10 get n peep at
q. but nothing gave me a chance. /
came near going bugs over the thing"
He laughed. exhibiting a row OF
rather ugly teeth behind his thir lips
Then the devil must have helped
me. One might've days out. for we
were a slow boat-we ran into HI
~ a storm. We both OF US tumbled
out, and began hustling on our buds.
lie was trying 20 get n shoe on, and
went plunginc hcad-on into the side OF
- nFrns..
him. but. 20 make things sure, hand.
"a him one 20 the jaw before ne got
his senses. and be went out for the
count. Then. believe me. didn't lose
no time In frisking the guy-and, say,
what do you think I foundT"
7 shook my head. unwilling 70 inter
rupt. fascinated with his description.
The fellow was a revolutionary
agent I didn't get onto all OF II then
II didn't have time. but found let
ter Of credit for a million dollars, and
a memoranda Of how II was 20 be de-
IIvered. The d-n thing wasn't any
good 70 met was 70 be paid to this
fellow by n banker in New York
named Krantz-but Il sure made my
mouth water just 10 see tia million
dollars. good old U. 5. currency. Can
you beat ~"
Looked easy-you had Il, and you
didn't have e."
"You said Il. Daily. I didn't dare
keep the thing. and II wouldn't have
done me any good If had; there was
no way OF my cashing the paper. What
the HI could I do? II I denounced
him. the game was al OF; II ! held
on 10 the STUFF he'd report his loss
soon rs he landed In New York, and
that letter OF credit wouldn't be worth
the paper Il was written on Say.
I was IN some boat: but. believe me.
I had no notion Of giving up that mil
Ifon-it looked darned good"
II should say yes" and leaned for
ward 70 show my interest. "And from
what I know o. you. Harris. that guy
had no show on earth. Did you eroak
himg'
He grlnned. evidently pleased az the
note 81 admiration I'm my voice, and
tossed down another drink.
THAT never amt been In my line.
or course I was tempted to-a cool
million would tempt any guy. But !
iust showed everything back exactly
where II come from. and fetched the
steward. Between us we hoisted Hor-
npr back into the bunk and doused
him with water TIL he came 20. First
thing he did was to feel FOR that belt,
and be never GOT wise that Il had
ever been touched. Anyhow, he never
let on TO no suspicion"