The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-10-22

a huge pile Oh Broad near Wall, de- |
voted largely TO brokers Offices, abso- |
lutely deserted at night, except by !
scrubwomen and a Waterman or two.
A tenant might slip in ut such an
hour, yet he would be fortunate indeed
10 escape the observation of some one
along the halls, OF ON the staircase.
| felt confident careful questioning
among the night employees would give
some line Oh the identity of the man.
even if there should prove no other
means of locating him.
one thing was settled; l must &c
back to the hotel. If l was to pay my
bill and depart | would lose all con
nectiOn with Marie Gessler; she would
then possess no means of finding me
! could not seek her, but she possessed
my address, and must surely endeavol
TO communicate with me before night.
| The only thing, then, was to remain
and wait for her to call. Yet this
surely exposed me to the danger OF
arrest, if WaldrOn named me To the
police in connection with the death OF
| Harris.
Yet by this time | was firmly con-
WINGED that the Russian would either
lie outright in the misunderstanding that
Harris injuries had resulted wholly
from a fall downstairs in the dark
or else would swear them upon some
unknown invader who had escaped
after knocking him senSeless. Certain
ly he would never reveal the truth,
unless compelled TO do so. To do so
would queer his whole game.
That is, it would if his game was
anything as l had dOped ii out. II
he, working alone, or with some
accomplish, as now appeared more
probable. had been concerned in the
Alva murder, his main object at pres
ent would assuredly be to escape de-
lection, and get a division OF the
spOils. His one desire would be to
remain out of sight. and in order TO
do this he must shield me from arrest.
awOke at eleven, rested and with
clear brain. Nothing had occurred
to disturb me, and. as / looked at the
watch and realized the hour, felt no
longer a doubt but what WaldrOn had
found some way in which to protect
us both Eager to look over the noon
editions myself, | dressed rather
hurriedly, and descended TO the lobby.
The paper secured was devoid of par
ticuars, "Gcntleman George" Harris,
well known to the police, had been
found dead in the hallway of a room
ing house on lie Compile street, Oper-
ated by Mrs. Sarah WaldrOD. 1t
is believed to have been a thieves
: quarrel from the evidence of those in
the house, who heard the sounds of a
struggle, and saw strange man
. escape through the front door. There
were no arrests, although the police
were searching for certain parties who
: might he implicated.
So far SO good but now what about
(; the Russian? He had evidently escaped
suspicion, yet would be far from easy
2 in his own mind. The situation in
which he found himself would only
serve to increase his desire to secure the
money. and get safely away while the
going was good. If he actually knew
where such money was to be had
he would scarcely delay seeking it
If he had personally hidden that bag
of currency taken from AlSa, he
would be after the stuff within twenty
y four hours; while If another held ii
he would as surely seek the fellow
"A out, and demand his share. This gave
II me two lines to follow; l might locate
Waldron, and shadow him; or / nigh
see what discoveries / could make II
q the Colmar building. The bettel
: chance seemed to me lay in Broa,
\. street. l ate a deliberate lunch
Y planning how best to proceed, ant
| hoping some bellboy would call me t.
| the telephone. l finished the mea
n uninterrupted.
j Both Wall and Broad streets wer'
| busy enough when / elbOwed m.
., passage through the shifting crowd
of men hurrying in every direction
\ and, reached the edge of the curb
nj gazed upward at the ornamental from
VI of the Colmar building.
y took an elevator to the twelfth fiooi
! and walked slowly from end to en-
\ of the marble corridor, reading tn
names OH the glass doors as j passed
Z" | met but few people and attracte
no attention, passing down the stall
10 way to the floor below. Growing NOR
a pessimistic as l proceeded, l ha
~ reached the fifth floor, when, as
turned at the front of the iron stair:
nv glance rested on the letters ster
q 'ciled along the frosted glass OF
. posite-"Mutual Investment Compan,
a. Casper Wine, Manager" l stoppe
70 stRl. my heart beating wildly, fee
n, ing that / had stumbled blindly o
a the very thing l had been seeking
~ Casper Wine was the name of tn
IN man who, through accident, had opene
q, TO me the door leading into the Alv
go factory; the man who had left N
~ alone in the entry while he disappeare
- TO talk with Alva privately in ii
little side-room. Casper Wine! FL
the first time l really believed I'll
:. old hack driver was right-he ha
80 actually picked up just such far
~ Juggling a bag with him, and drive
- the fellow to this place at midnigh
=. I had never connected the crime vii
- Wine before-yet why not? He W;
among those present; he had BET