The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-11-17
Continued from last Week)
CHAPTER XIII.
In the coImar BuiIdino

this clew so unconsciously furnished
ME by the loquacious driver The
chances were that this mysterious
passenger of two nights before had
no connection with fhe Alva case: yet
there remained possibility The hour,
the place, his evident fear OF pursuit.
his eager desire to get out of sight
the heavy bag he carried and his
being a foreigner OF some kind. all
combined to stimulate my suspicion.
Who the fellow could he was beyond
guess. The Colmar building! My
recollection Of the place was vague
huge pile on Broad near Wall de-
voted largely to brokers offices. abso-
iutely deserted at night. except by
scrubwOmen and watchman or two
tenant might slip in Mt such an
houf, yet he would be fortunate indeed
to escape the observation Of some one
along the halls. or on the staircase.
I felt confident a careful questioning
among the night employees would give
some line on the identity of the man.
even II there should prove no other
means Of locating him.
One thing was settled; must 60
back to the hotel. If was to pay my
bill and depart I~would lose all con.
nection with Marie Gcssler: she would
then possess no means OF finding me-
could not seek her, hut she possessed
- my address. and must surely endcavor
to communicate with me before night
The only thing, then. was to remain
and wait for her to call. Yet this
surely exposed me to the danger Of
arrest II Waldron named me to the
police In connection with the death of
Harris
Yet by this time was firmly con-
vinced that the Russian would either
lie outright In the affair-caiming that
Harris injuries had resulted wholly
from fall downstairs In the dark
or else would swear them upon some
unknown invader who had escaped
after knocking him senseless. Certain
ty he would never reveal the truth
unless compelled to do so. To do so
would queer his whole game
That Is, 1t would if his game was
anything as ! had doped it out. If
he, working alone, or with some
accomplice, as now appeared more
probable, had been concerned In the
Alva murder, his main object ut pres
ent would assuredly be to escape de
lection, and get a division OF the
spoils. His one desire would be to
remain out OF sight, and In order 70
do this he must shield me from arrest.
l awoke at eleven. rested and with
a clear brain. Nothing had occurred
ito disturb me. and, as | looked at the
tAh A.
longer a doubt but what Waldron had
fOund some way in which to protect
us both. Eager to look over the noon
editions myself, l dressed rather
hurriedly, and descended to the lobby.
The paper secured was devoid of par
ticulars. Gentleman George" Harris,
well known to the police. had been
found dead In the hallway OF a room
ing house on lie Compile street. oper-
ated by Mrs. Sarah WaidrOn. 1t
is believed to have been thieves
quarrel from the evidence of those in
the house. who heard the sounds of a
struggle, and saw strange nan
escape through the front door. Thare
were no arrests, although the police
were searching for certain parties who
might be implicated
SO far so good but now what about
the Russian? He had evidently escaped
suspicion, yet would be far from easy
In his own mind. The situation In
which he found himself would only
serve to increase his desire to secure the
money. and get safely away while the
going was good. II he actually knew
,,,l, l..
he would scarcely delay seeking It,
IF he had personally hidden that bag
Of currency taken from Alva. he
would he after the stuff within twenty
four hours; while IL another held Il,
he would as surely seek the fellow
out, and demand his share. This gave
me two Irles to follow; I might locate
Wai'T 81, and shadow him; or I might
see what discoveries ] could make in
the Colmar building. The better
chance seemed to mr. lay in Broad
street. ] ate deliberate lunch,
planning how best to proceed. and
Ihoping some bellboy would call me to
the telephone. ! finished the meal
uninterrupted.
Both Wall and Broad streets were
busy enough when ! elbowed my
passage through the shifting crowds
OF men hurryiDg in every direction,
and. reached the edge of the curb.
.gazed upward at the ornamental front
Of the Colmar building.
took an elevator 10 the twelfth floor,
and walked slowly from end to end
OF the marble corridor. reading he
names on the glass doors as passed.
I met but few people and attracted
no attention, passing down the stair.
way to the floor below. Growing more
pessimistic as / proceeded, had
reached the fifth floor, when, as l
turned at the front of the iron stairs
my glance rested on the letters sten,
ciled along the frosted glass cp-
pOsite-"Mutual Investment Company,
Casper Wine, Manager" 1 stopped
stili. my heart beating wildly. feel
ing that ! had stumbled blindly on
i. -