The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-08-05

playing the game secretly on his own
account. Get that7 He expects II
may be a year. or perhaps two. before
he can cash In ON the deal. but when
IL does come his share Of profit will
be likely a hundred thousand. That
beats hank interest, and the old bird
lis willing to take the chance
Quite likely that's true; no bank
would finance such q project"
"Cf course not-the directors would
throw a at. Well, now, that kind of
guy, ian on q raw deal like this, II
going to play safe, isn't be? He isn't
going to leave any evidence lying
around to hang himself with-any
drafts. or checks to pass through the
clearing housed Not on your life; he
Is too willy q fox for that Krantz
knew this was coming, and he's been
cashing In for six months or more
to be ready for II. And now he's got
the currency stored away, nobody
knows where but himself. When Alva
comes for II, 1t will be handed out Sc
cretly, and that old bird will crumple
up the receipt in his pocket and wait
till he can cash In through those guys
In London. So now It's up to us to
locate the dough; we've got to sepa-
rate 1t from either Krantz. or Alva--
I'm for Alva."
"Whyr'
Because the job looks easier. He's
human and no money grubber. He's
just as liable as not to carry the
whole wad around with him; d-n 1t.
l think that's Just what he will do,
for he won't dare deposit such sum
anywhere. That's why I have laid
back 20 long, without attempting to
strike-rm banking on the army cap
tain to offer me soft thing. What
do you sayr'
had the whole story now in a nut
shell and 1t was one to think over.
That Harris had played his cards well
was sufficiently evident. Now l must
be fully as cautious in playing NINE
l felt the fellow had given me his full
confidence; actually believing me to
be DAILY, and on the same trail with
him; desiring to use me In what was
probably the biggest Job of his life,
he had been led into the indiscretion
of confiding to me the full truth Of
his scheme. If kept my head and
nerve, l had 1t in my power to block
everything and thus bring the whole
gang to swift justice. realized the
danger Of such an attempt, the imme-
date peril of endeavoring to accom-
plish this alone, yet at the moment
perceived no other way. l must re-
main DAILY and appear eager to obtain
my share of the spells.
"a slick piece Of work, Harris" ]
admitted admlringly, "and so far as
can judge you have figured out the
chances about right. They look good.
I'm with you, old man-shake!"
Our hands clasped. "That is what
thought you would say, Harry"
more Familiarity. "Come on now and
drink with me-"
] put the stuff down, rather feeling
the need Of 1t, and desiring to estab-
fish our Intimacy more closely.
"rhen that's settled, George-yes,
I'll have another cigar BY the way"
as l lit up, there was another thing
wanted to ask you about. You said
there was woman here from Wash
ington, What's the idea?"
oh II l know, but guess It's all
right. Still don't quite cotton to the
dame. This is how get II from Alva.
rncse 1unta felloWs-the big ones, you
khowz=thihk this New York bunch Is
pretty slow; they want some action
for their money. SO SeRSr Mendez.
who seems to be engineering the deal.
decides to send somebody over here to
stir up the criminals. But he's
watched every minute; secret service
men are as thick as flies, and II one Of
his underlings was to leave for New
York, he'd never get ten feet without
being spotted. Mendez Is wise to this.
so he gathers In privately q skirt he
believes Is all right, and sends her.
It's not decent job for woman, and
that's what makes 1t safe. He made
a good guess, too; that female is as
smart as a steel trap. She gave me
the cold shivers."
"You don't think she suspects your
"No, don't; there amt no reason
why she should; but she gave me the
ence over, all right. and am perfect
ly willing to know she Is on her way
back to Washington. never did play
in any tuck with woman In the game
--perhaps that's what makes me
afraid Of EN-"
"What's her namef"
"Gessler, so Alva said--Marie Cess
Ter; South American, ! suppose; any
how, she talked that language like q
native. steered clear of her most OF
the time. Somehow she got my goat
However, that's nothing to worry
over" He glanced at his watch. "Tht
danes safely Off by this time. What
do you say-let's go home"
| signified my willingness.
AS we passed out together through
the narrow passage, extingrishlng the
lights behind us, the one oyerpowerinl