American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-07-22
The
Mystery Of the
Silver Dagger
By RANDALL PARRISH
Author q ~The Strange
Gaze of Cavsndish"

-
look out there II is like a big hotel
dining-room after the play. Those
women-some Of them, at least-are
really elegantly dressed, and In excel
lent tastel and there Is no more noise,
no more coarseness, than I nave wit
messed at the Waldorf. The men are
not ~bad-looking, either, do you think 7"
We'll, there are all grades here,
now that I leok about; yet, as you
say, the average is no bad. Prob
ably they will grow louder later in the
evening, when they take the lid on. /"
II don't believe they ever do-that
Il, entirely. Mr.. Mclaughlin, the de-
tective who came with us, said this
was really the most dangerous place
In town from the police viewpoint. It's
very surface quiet made IL a special
Nothing was ever permitted
70 occur here which would give the
department any excuse for a raid. II
there was n fight, or even a murder,
II was hushed up instantly, and the
victim hidden away, before even the
patrernan On the block could hear
about II. He mentioned several cases ;
n said the walters were especially
selected to take care OF any rough
house"
y Perhaps that IL what makes II pop
ular with the class they cater to-"
"Safe, you mean. Yes he said they
could spot any criminal Of reputation
In the country at Perond's, II they
only kyuitnd lnnn anntnh . that hale
the big Jobs In New York we're plotted
at these tables"
81 begin to comprehend" l snid
1ocqilarly, why 7 was received as ii
distinguished guest. The headwalter
must have recognized me as an old
pal--my face is my fortune"
HE may have mistaken you for
DAILY" she adrnltted soberly, but
more likely II was your tip which
made him so attentive. You are some
!spender, Mr.. Severn"
p THAT depends on who / am with
This ls an unusual occasion"
She did not smile, or look at me,
but leaned slightly forward, drawing
bAck a fold Of the curtain with one
hand. 10 as TO gain a wider glimpse
Cf the large room without. A mo-
lnrnt she remained m~otlonless then
turned her face sideways toward me.
q FWaldron Is already here" she whis-
pered warnlnRly. "He Is alone at that
second table, against the pillar. Step
around this side and you can soc
the man with gray, bushy hair"
I could not easily have mistaken tho
FELLOW; his appearance was too en-
phatlcally that OF the Russian Jew OF
a certain type to enable him TO con-
ceal his birthright. His bacg was to-
ward us, yet rs he occasionally cast
his eyes about over the faces OF those
around him, | had a glimpse OF a
beaked nose, and n sallow, dull COM
plexion, which seemed to blend natu,
rally into a s%craggllng beard OF no
perceptible color. His hair though
was lron-gray, apparently uncut for
weeks, and thrust back from an un'
usually high forehead, 81 as TO give
she man n rufrled, unkempt appear
ance far from pleasing. He was big
all over, strangely burly for a jew
with broad shoulders and large hands
shickly covered with hair.
| moved back around the table as
Francois appeared, and resumed my
seat, keeping silent until the waiter
again vanished, and left us alone,
-And now that you have located the
fellow" l asked curlously, "what dc
you propose doIng-go out and tall
with him7"
She shook her head.
~ hnve reason 70 believe he expects
to meet some n here" she ex
plaiued. ~ do not know who; thai
Is one thing | desire TO and u From
what you have told me tonight l rather
think now II may be Harris"
ITO diYyie upT"
ITO talk II over, at least; they'C
hardly bring the stun In here. Prob
ably by this time that is safely
planted"
Francois came bnck, and we devote,
ourselves 60 the meal, although coul,
Observe her glanclng constant!
tkxvugh the opening in the curtains q
lUnAt HhAN va - 20 a'aata
Francois disappeared with the rem
nants, while we awaited the serving
of dessert. From my seat l could SEE
nothing OF the Russian.
.No one arrived YETI" | inquired
ssThe Jew still theref"
"He remains alone eating, All m,
guess was right-isn't that Harris
who has Just come int"
II was "Gehtleman George beyon
rhe shadow OF a doubt. He had ev
IDENTITY located waldron the momen
OF entering the room. and with n
other thought in his mind heade
straight toward where the letter "a
srhe Jew glanced up, saw him al
preaching. and drew partially bac
srom the table, the knife he had bee
using still grippcd in his hand.
His posture was that OF defense. I