The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-09-16
Mystery Of the
Silver Dagger
By RANDALL PARRISH
Author Of "Ths Strange
Case Of Csvendish"
illustrations By A. Wei
ospyrish,. By Randall Parrish
CHAPTER Ix-Continued.

ID
.Say. where the HI have you beenf
What Is thiA q double-cross. Wal
dronf"
what you meanr CALCULATED the
other. by Gotti II Is rather you
should ask why you not tell me the
truth?"
Tell you, What the devil have !
get to tell your Don't get funny with
me. You sent me q note this morning.
didn't youf"
"Sure ] did"
"WeIl, tnen, why didn't You meet
me? On It, I've been hunting you all
day long. What's the ideaf Come.
blurt It out. before wiring your d--n
Jew neck"
waldron spread his hands, and lifted
his shoulders in an expression more
eloquent than words.
"What q mani You cuss me. bat
not walt to hear why this all was 30.
You sit down. and tell you. Then
maybe you tell me something also"
Harris stared at him, then sank into
the vacant chair opposite, still scowl-
ing angrily across the table. A waiter
paused at his elbow expectantly. and,
In response to something said, the
thief jerked out surly answer.
mo, l don't want anything to eat.
Bring me some whisky--a half pint
with a little water. Yes, that's all;
NOW get out of here"
AT this moment Francois returned
with our final course, obliging us to
appear Indifferent TO the quarrel rag
ing beyond tine curtains. Both men
must have lowered their voices. for
our ears caught nothing of what was
said. 1t seemed to me the waiter was
unusually slow In rearranging the table.
''There, that will do, Francois" I
broke out, at last. impatiently. "We
will want nothing else at present.
When l need you again I will ring.
That is the bell, presume."
"Oui, M'sieur."
"All right: then leave us alone for
. while"
Neither one Of us touched thing,
the coffee growing cold In the cups,
a. we endeavored to distinguish what
was going on at TINT second tnbie 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
~, 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 togethe
words into an understandable sen
tence these came to Us detached, un
related, as the surrounding nois
ceased suddenly, or the music cam
to pause.
'You didn't get I'll Then who tn
HI didf Me. l should say no; VIII
never knew the old man had eve
slipped him the dough. That d.
girl rode down with him. OF couri
] do; I saw them 90 out together
that's why l thought was playiI
safe to keep away. Somebody h
played MS for suckers. II you h,
kept your d--n mouth shut we'd an,
1t easy"
Waldrcn broke in. stung by this Ia
taunt into elevating his voice.
"What you mean. keep my mou
shuti So help me, Moses, tell I
body"
.The HI you didn't! You blabb
the whole thing to DAILY. He told
90 himself. That's what ! was dol
last night. bluffing him out"
II tell Dalyi Where you git Il
stuff amt seen DAILY for thl
year. Was he In this deall Why J
not tell me Of DAILY before7"
"Tell you! l never knew II vi
he told me-"
A waiter brushed past him, bear
hay, striking against one shout
as he passed. Harris glanced up "
snarling oath, and, before ] reali
the danger. his eyes must have eau
a glimpse Of me beneath the dral
curtain. Instantly the fellow was
his feet. all else forgotten in a sy
wave of passion.
"There'S the guy nOwT ne III
forth "He's hiding In that booth
saw him. Come on, and Wen
the stiff cough up yeti"
drew back swiftly, pushing
girl behind me. There was no pl
In which to hide, no chance
escape. Perhaps could explain
II not. then | must fight The
came plunging through the opei
and faced us, the heavy curtains d
ping behind them and shutting out
view beyond. Harris, inilamed
drink. glared about as though do
ing the evidence of his own eyes,
his expression was that Of sa'
hatred.
III, II they amt both of 'em h
Say, this 10 rich. So you two ar
rahoots. heyi Thought you'd play
fes Z d--n fool. did you. Dalyf
ri show you what you're up agar
you and yer girl. Come now, VIII
nat boodIer
II know nothing about IT, Has
~Yeu'rs . lias. This dame