The diamond drill., 1921-05-28

| his shoulders In an expression more
eloquent than words.
"Whnt a mani You cuss me. but
not wait TO hear why this all was so.
You sit down. and I tell you. Then
maybe you tell me something also"
Harris stared az him. then sank into
the vacant chair opposite. still scowi-
Ing angrily across the table. A waiter
paused at his elbow expectantly, and,
In response 10 something said. the
thief jerked out a surly answer
mo, I don't want anything 10 eat.
Bring me some whisky--a half pint
with little water. Yes, that's all;
now get out of here"
At this moment Francois returned
with our final course. oblIging us 10
appear Indifferent to the quarrel rag
Ing beyond the curtains. Both men
must have lowered their voices, for
our ears caught nothing OF what was
said. IL seemed 90 me the waiter was
unusually slow In rearranging the table.
There, that viii do, Francois"
broke out, ar last. impatiently. "We
will want nothing else at present.
When I need you again will ring.
That Is the bell. presume"
"Oui, Msieur."
"Ail right; then leave us alone for
a while"
Neither one OF us touched a thing.
the coffee growing cold In the cups,
as we endeavored 10 distinguish what
was going on at that second table out
In the main dining room. came
around beside her. to where / could
peer out also beneath the curtain
fold, and thus gain glimpses OF the
two men. They were talking earnest
ly. but had lowered their voices. until
they were nearly inaudible amid the
din Of the place. The anger and threat
had gone out OF both voices but only oc-
| casionally could we weave together
words into an understandable SEN
tence these came to US detached, un-
related, as the surrounding noise
ceased suddenly, or the music came
TO a pause.
You didn't get Il Then who the
HI dldI Me. I>should say no; why
4 Il
slipped him the dough. That d-n
girl rode dowti with him or course
I do; saw them go out together; (;
that's why thought was playing
safe TO keep away. Somebody has
played us for suckers. II you had
kept your d-n mouth shut we'd a-had
II easy"
Waldron broke In, stung by this last
taunt into elevating his voice.
"What you mean, / keep my mouth
shutl SO help me, Moses, tell no
body"
"The HI you didn't You blabbed
the whole thing TO DAILY. He told me
so himself. That's what I was doing
last night blufiing him out"
Il tell Daly7 Where you git that
stufr2 aln't seen DAILY for three
year. Was he In this dealf Why you
not tell me OF DAILY beforeT
"Tell you / never knew 1t until
he told me-"
A waiter brushed past him, bearing
tray. striking against one shoulder
as he passed Harris glanced up with
a snarling oath, and. before / realized
the danger. his eyes must have caught
a glimpse OF me beneath the ~draped
curtain. Instantly the fellow was on
his feet, all else forgotten in a swift
wave of passion.
There's the guy now~ he burst
forth. "He's hiding In that booth;
saw him. Come on, and Wen have
the stiff cough up yet !"
drew back swiftly, pushing tho
girl behind me. There was no place
In which TO hide, no chance for
escape. Perhaps l could explain, but.
II not, then l must fight The two
came plunglng through the opening
and faced US, the heavy curtains drop
ping behind them and shutting out all
view beyond. Harris, infiamed by
drink, glared about as though doubt
ing the evidence OF his own eyes, but
his expression was that Of savage
hatred.
HI. II they amt both Of 'em here
Say, this is rich. So you two are In
cahoots. hey7 Thought you'd play me
for d-n fool, did you, DAILY? Well,
I'll show you what you're up against
you and yer girl. Come now, where's
that boodleT
IL know nothing about Il, Harris"
you're a liar. This dame went
away with Alva in his car. saw her
20 out with him. You cough up, both
OF you, and be d--n quick about II,
or you'll never get out Of here with
out hole through you. You think
you can double-cross me; I'll show
you a trick OF my own I"
He was reaching for his gun. IL
must have caught In his pocket though
1 wasted no time. IL was his life or
/ mine and I grfnned tho amntv yylnp