Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-05-25
The Mystery of
theSilverDagger
Copyright by Randall Parrish

Russian by birth, but spoke English
without an accent. and felt no doubt
but what a sufficient amount of money
would engage his interest in any des-
perate cause. The desire to "get him"
added zest to my interest in the affair
If he was actually at the head of these
fellows. these plotters against the neu-
trality of the United States, the catch
would be worth while.
AS soon as possible next morning
sought out Burke, the manager of the
hotel with whom had a speaking ac-
quaintance, and. without confiding the
extent of my discovery, questioned him
relative to the mysterious box, and the
guests who left 1t behind. Two men,
he said, both well dressed. but with
nothing particularly to distinguish
them, had registered together late in
the afternoon of Friday, September 81,
and on request had been assigned to
one room with twin beds and a bath.
The larger man, who had inscribed him
self as "P. S. Homer. Detroit" alone
had a bag; his companion, known TO
the hotel as "GuStave Alva, Toledo,
Ohio" being without baggage. The
bill was paid the next morning by
Horner. and the two departed together
It was an hour later when the csnm-
bermaid on that floor reported finding
the box ia the room vacated. After
holding it for a day or two in expec-
tation that it might be called for, no
such inquiries being made. the hotel
endeavored TO trace the men, but to
no avail. The fellows had either false
~ registered, or were entirely unknown
where they claimed residence. The
first was the most probable condition
After thirty days and having exhaust
ed all reasonable efforts to find the
rightful owner. the hotel> felt legally
justified in selling the trinket. That
was all Burke knew Of the matter, and
his interest in ii was not keen.
am inclined to think now that
went at the problem without much
system. and that any success achieved
was through pure accident. During
the forenoon | dropped in upon Glenn
ent breckenridge cashier of the Do
yer's National bank We had been
classmates at college. ana l generally
called on him when in the city. This
time ] led the conversation to Kulb,
krantz & CO., on the pretense that /
had received mail from them relative
to some recommended investment.
Clement knew Krantz well and favor
ably. and my probing elected the in
formation that the man was Austrian
by birth, but naturalized citizen.
rather deeply interested in political
matters. If his sympathies were at all
revolutionary he had carefully re-
Trained from any such open express
sion. The firm had made a speciality
Of handling South American business,
and had intimate financial connections
in both Rio and Buenos Aires. The
company ranked high in financial
circles.
THE present war must have cost
them a rather heavy loss" / hazarded.
However. this is nothing to me. BY
the way, Clement, do you chance to
know of Cans street in this town."
Cans? That is new one on me.
Try the city direetory-there on the
edge of the desk"
The name was not to be found, nor
any other approaching 1t in sound or
spelling, and finally drifted out onto
the street, really no wiser than when
l first entered. made one more effort,
however, telephoning to detective
sergeant whom knew well. as to the
present whereabouts Of Ivan Waldron
The last heard Of Waldron he was in
West Virginia, speaking to striking
miners; that was less than week
ago; he had not been seen in the city
since.