The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-07-13


ruin every hope of escape. might bring
her to the electric chair--it was
damning evidence.
l dare not remain there In the
presence Of this grisly spectacle. 10
he found would fasten the hideous
crime upon me, while such story as
I must tell would never be believed.
did not know even who she really was
or where she might be. cared MOTH
ing for Alva's death; horrible as 1t
was. | was conscious OF no regret, but
Il must not be mixed up In the AFFAIR.
The only thing for me to do was to
disappear, and leave the police to
make their own discovery. And the
knife? the weapon which had done
the deed? What should l do with
that3
| did not hesitate long. would
protect her from discovery II I could
mt least until I was myself convinced
Of her guilt There was no longer
the slightest doubt In my mind but
what this was her act. Everything
pointed straight toward her. Yet
there might be reason, worthy
cause, and, in any case, she had done
service to the country. The world
was better Off with this cOnspirator
dead; nor would denounce the one
who had taken his life. / hid the
knife in pocket Of my coat, and
FASTENED down the side street toward
the nearest car line, my only desire
being to escape that neighborhood as
swiftly as possible.
BY a quarter Of three was safely
in my room at the hotel. for the first
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 I lay there staring up at the
ceiling, willie 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 overcome7
Would 1t continue under some other
leadership? Who? And the money?
what would become Of that? What
readjustment of plans would Harris
consider necessary? Once I knew his
conception Of the situation, 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 PAT LIE
Compile street-that might reveal
something Of Importance to help me
solve the problem.
got up, removed the dagger from
my pocket, and examined it in the
electric light. 1t was a toy weapon,
yet sufficiently dangerous, for all that,
and looked Mt 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. l washed the steel,
leaving the blade bright and polished !;
then wrapped 1t carefully, and hid it
away at the very bottom Of my bag,
locking the latter against possible in
spectiOn by a curious maid. felt re-
lieved once had the weapon out Of
sight.
The morning papers contained no
reference to the tragedy-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 of 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 sensation. But perhaps he
had papers on his person Of value. !
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.
I went down to COstigan's place on
foot, not being entirely certain of thu.
exact location. 1t was an ordinar,
corner saloon, with stairway leading
to rooms above. In the morning hourk
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. ]
was rather glad, yet I left a tele.
phone number, with q request that l
be called whenever he came back. ]
waited impatiently for the call In my
room. but none came. Il dawned upon
me that in all probability Harris wac
franticaily endeavOring TO find the
whereabouts Of Alva. as yet having no
suspicion Of his death. telephoned
Costigan's. but Mr.. Parker" had not
returned.
| ! sent out for . noon edition. eager
~ scanning its columns. but findins
nothing. Surely the deserted car.
with its grim burden, must have been
discovered before this. The pol:ce
must have suppressed the news to en-.
able them to work In secret; thS1
| lUht h0vo found ANNA o,,,,.,.> a.,