The diamond drill., 1921-05-14
I sIgnltied my wIlIlngnesa.


AS we passed out together through
the narrow passage, extinguishing the
lights behind us, the one overpowering
desire In my mind was to be once
more alone. so as TO think over. and
piece together as best l might this
fabric OF viilainy with which I was
confronted. The situation was fairly
clear. yet there were strange lights
and shadows In II I found hard TO
reconcile. Moreover. what should l
dot How could serve best--by Inn
mediately telling my story to the Of
ficers Of the law, and thus washing my
hands cleanf or by continuing 10 en-
act the role Of Harry DAILY. and In this
way entrupping these fellows red
handedf I had had fully enough OF
Harris for the present. His boastful-
ness and pride Of crime disgusted me-
I had no desire TO be associated with
tho fellow. or pretend, even for a
worthy purpose, to be his companion.
Yet. all this had happened 30 sudden
~ and Unexpectedly could not de-
termine the best course 10 pursue.
remained dazed and confused, the
only clear decision being an eagerness
70 bring him, and these others also, to
justice.
We were the last to leave the place,
and emerged from the building into
the deserted yard. leaving all In ST.
lence and darkness behind us. The
door closed tightly. secured by night
latch, and we stood moionless In the
drizzle. BY that time I was ready
with suggestion. but by good fortune
he took the initiative.
I'VE better slip out OF here alone, I
reckon" he whispered. 'T'll go up
this way, and then you take sneak
through the lumber yard. Likely Wen
catch the same car going down. II we
don't. look me up at Costigan's place
you know where that isr'
"Sixth avenue, isn't itr'
"Sure. Ask for Parker. and II will
be all right If l amt In, leave a note
where I can hunt you up. got to
keep my eye on Alva tomorrow, so he
don't get away with the stun"
you expect him TO drawn
mot before night; but, just the
same. want to know for sure. You
walt here five minutes, for I've got the
longest trip to make. You'll show up
all rightr'
"You can't lose me; It looks too
good"
He chuckled and patted me on the
shoulder In an excess Of friendliness,
evidently feeling to some extent the
whisky he had been imblblng so freely.
That's the talk, DAILY. Well, so
long"
He slipped out through the gate into
the dark of the alley, leaving II slight
ly ajar for me to follow. l sheltered
myself behind the high board fence
and listened 10 the soft slush OF his
feet In the mud. The sound vanished,
and all about was silence and dark
ness. I waited only long enough to be
sure he was safely out OF the way, and
then followed, eager TO be Off. One
thing was certain, l would make no
effort to join him on the car; / would
use the remainder of the night 10 de-
eide the future, working out the prob
lem alone.
To make certain that i avoided any
possibility Of encounterlng the fellow
again, l passed directly through the
deserted lumber yard before emerging
upon Cans street. This thoroughfare
was at this hour desolate enough, not
a light showing In the houses, or a
moving figure visible as far as
could see In the dimness OF the street
lamps. The rain was steady. the pave
ment shimmering with moisture. the
only sound the patterIng Of the drops
" they fell. II any policemen were
abroad saw no signs, and. with col
lar turned up to my ears. / chose to
walk rather than seek the block TO the
east and the posslbilhy Of street car.
The factory district ended In n row
Of houses, dark and silent at this hour,
but the walking was good, and l
pushed forward brlskly, so buried In
thought as 10 become practically In
sensible to the unpleasant surround
ings. The night had been n full one,
far exceeding my expectations, yet
left me more puzzled than ever as to
my own duty. So far I knew OF no
act OF crime with which these men
could be connected; they were mere
" proposing a future attack on a neu-
tral government. II, however. / con-
sented to play my part with Harris, l
would not only be I'm ample time to
circumvent any danger Alva and his
gang might contemplate, but also gain
ample evidence for their conviction
and expulsion from this country. In
addition to this would be In position
to block the daring plans OF this Inter
national thief. Altogether II seemed
70 me that the wiser course for me to
pursue was TO wait, and watch, ready
to act at any moment but keeping my
own council until certain that the
specific moment had arrived.
Nor was I oblivious 10 the strange