The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-07-08
CHAPTER ~.
4 Become a WelI-Known Thief.

oNNOtNC
The sudden, unanticipated attack. |
the burst of dazzling light In my eyes,
rendered me for the moment utterly
helpless. was blinded, and so tightly
grasped ut the throat as 70 be nearly
strangled. / only dimly realized that !
my assailant was a man. his grip that !
Of giant Then, to my surprise, the
fellow laughed oddly, swapping out his
light, and releasing his grip.
"Well, II this don't beat Ill.," he
said, in the tone of cheerful disgnst.
"Come In here and let me LOOK you
over"
His hand closed on the sleeve Of my
coat, and before | scarcely found tin,c
to catch my breath again / had been
dragged through narrow opening and
became aware that door shut silent
ly behind me.
The fellow gave me little opportuni-
ty to either act or think. A match
flared, and was held aloft to gas Jet
which instantly broke into dull flame,
sufficient to render visible the full ex-
tent of the small room in which we
stood In some semi-conscious way !
was aware of bare walls, Of small
table opposite with some writing ma
terials on 1t, and short bench covered
by blanket. l suppose saw these
| things, yet all that I seemed to per-
ceive was the man fronting me, who
stared in my face, a quizzical smile en-
his lips, as though still half uncertain
| Of the reality of my presence. He was
tall, trifle angular but exceedingly
welldressed, with closely trimmed
iron-gray beard and peculiar eyes
deeply set In a rather chalky face. He
| broke the silence, evidently inclined to
look upon this meeting as Joke.
Don't recognize me, reckon? Well,
that amt to be wondered at, for likely
enough you never saw me before.
Beats the devil though why you
should drift in here; now l suppose 1t
will have to be fifty-ffty."
His words and manner gave me
new lease on life. Whoever the follow
might be he was seemingly friendly. l
must meet the fellow in that same
| spirit and endeavor to extract from
him some knowledge Of whom he sup
posed me to be.
81 do not quite get the drift Of all
this" l ventured. "You imply that you
know me-
"H-ll, yes. Over in Bow Street, on
the other side. The Hartlebury rob-
berry case. I'd been hearing about you
for years, and when that came on,
took chance and drifted into court
one day just to see what you looked
like. You've shaved your mustache,
and look ten years younger, but l
knew you. all right. l never forget a
face. Say, who put you onto this game
--Waldron?"
nodded, taking chance. "I'd have
bet my life he was the guy. l might
have known he would double-cross me
some way. OF course tips o tip in
this game, and don't blame you for
horning in. Naturally you never knew
this was my game-how could you?
Waldron never said word about me,
did he?"
Not once"
THAT is how had It sized up, so
, don't hold any grudge against you
T Now listen," and he bent forward con
fidentially lowering his voice, so
=. could barely distinguish the words
We'll talk 1t all over later, when we're
alone. Tain't exactly safe here, FOL
these walls are thin. and there Is quite
a bunch around tonight. There's plenty
; for the two Of US, II we play the card,
! right. and wen let Waldron hold tn,
q bag. What do you say, Dalyf"
SO my name was "Daly." Well, tina
. was interesting at least, although 1
gave me no new light. However, moth
Ing remained for me to do except agre
= to his blind proposition.
a That's mighty handsome Of you
!. What's the figure?"
= "A million !" enthusiastically. "Wai
y until get 4 chance to explain tn
:. plan; 1t looks like Providence had Jus
y handed us out the money"
!. "Why not explain the scheme {
- me-"
- mot now; there amt time" II
:. glanced at his watch. "and besides, fc
= all l know. some guy nigh, he lister
- ing In to what we say. You see ther
- Is a bunch O. hell-cats in Il re waitin
: for me to give them SOM md dane
!. I'm the big end right now. Int I've q
"a to sing low until I'm sure what VOL
H. these guys have got from Washingto
!. After that I'll know how 20 trim sa
" You wait until come hack, DAILY, ar
then we'll plan this t'mg out. YC