The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-10-27

V1ll1fH11FifnmA.% .%
'what 10 This. . Double. .cross, Wal.
paused at his elbow expectantly, and,
In response to something said, the
thief jerked out q surly answer.
mo. / 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 the curtains. Both men
must have lowered their voices, for
our ears caught nothing Of what vas
said. 1t seemed to me the waiter was
unusually slow in rearranging the table.
There, that will do, Francois"
broke out, at last, impatiently. 1--WE
Will want nothing else at present.
When 1 need you again I will ring.
That Is the bell, presume"
"Oui, M'sieur."
All riShti then IeHVe us alone Tor
q while"
Neither one Of us touched a thing,
the coffee growing cold In the cups,
as we endeavored to distinguish what
was going on at that second table out
In the main dining room. came
around beside her, to where I could
peer out also beneath the curtain
fold, and thus gain glimpses Of the
fwo 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 pause.
"You didn't get i'll Then who the
HI did? Me, / should say no; why
/ never knew the old man had even
slipped him the dough. That d-n
girl rode down with him. OF course
l do; 1 saw them go out together;
that's why thought I was playing
safe to keep away. Somebody has
played us for suckers. If you had
kept your d-n mouth shut we'd a-had
It easy"
WaldrOn broke in, stung by this last
taunt into elevating his voice.
What you mean, I keep my mouth
shut? SO help me, Moses,-I 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, bluffing him out"
81 tell Daly7 Where you git that
stun? amt seen DAILY for three
year. Was he in this deai7 Why you
not tell me Of DAILY before?"
'Tell you! I never knew 1t until
he told me-"
A waiter brushed past him, bearing
a tray. striking against one shoulder
as he passed. Harris glanced up with
a snarling oath, and, before / realized
the danger, his eyes must have canght
! glimpse of me beneath the dreTed
curtain. Instantly the fellow was on
his feet. all else forgotten I'm a swift
wave of passion.
There's the guy now" lie burst
forth. Hes hiding In that booth:
saw him Come on, and we'll have
the sti:. cough up yet"
I drew back swiftly, pushing the
girl behind me. There was no rlace
: in which to hide, no chance for
escape. Perhaps 1 could explain, but,
II not, then 1 must fight. The two
came IllungiDg 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, hey? 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 boodle?"
II know nothing about 1t, Harris"
you're a liar. This dame went
away with Alva I'm his car. saw her
go out with him. You cough up, both
of you, and be d-n quick about 1t,
or you'll never get out of here with
out hole through you. You think
you can double-cross me; I'll show
you trick of my own!"
He was reaching for his gun. It
must have caught In his pocket, though
I wasted no time. 1t was his life or
mine, and | gripped the empty wine
bottle on the table and smashed a
vicious blow at his head. He went
down like log, his body half project
Ing through the curtains, while
, wheeled about barely in time to meet
the mad bull rush Of Waldron. The
Russian could not have been armed,
for he came at me with bare hands,
his grip like that Of bear. For an
instant he had me throttled, scarcely