The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-11-03

Ill.
That's what thought; you and the
girl are In cahoots. Well, what did
you do with it?"
L shook my head, but this only an
gered Costigan
"Ah. stow that" he broke in rough
~, I'VE know you never got It, but
she did. There amt no other way II
could have been done. The dame left
with Alva. George here saw her go
out with him. Then the next ,morn-
Ing the guy was found dead, his pock-
cts rifed, and the bag Of cash gone
How was he croaked-do you know
Punctured from behind with some
sorter sharp. instrument, no,4 bigger
than hat-p,n. 1t looked like a wom-
ans job, but she got away clean. And
what then? The next night she turns
up with you over at Perond's blowing
In the coin, and the two of yer havin'
hi Of time. That proves yer
were together, don't itF'
Were not going to blow this to
the police" broke In Harris, as Dan
paused for. breath. "That amt the
idea at NIL. But we want a share Of
that dteugh: You come across. and
there won't be no more trouble"
But suppose don't7 Suppose 1 tell
you / haven't the slightest idea where
that money is, or who got It? What
then?"
liarris' grin was more malicious and
hateful than never, but he waited and
deliberately lit his stump of a cigar
"What then?" he echoed finally
well, in the first place. we've got
Won, haven't we? You'll squeal, believe
me, before you ever get out of our
hands. See here, Severn, l nin't got
any direct proof that'H put you i'm the
chair at Sing-Sing; that's true enough,
hut unless the two of you cough nm
liberal, I'll turn something over to the
police of this town what will give YOU
term in the jug, as accessory, and
fix that lily dame of yours for all
time"
"Yon are bluffing: you have no such
proof
"Oh, haven't I? Look here, Won
fool: do you know where I got thar ?"
He whipped something from out the
conceaImcnt Of an inner coat pocket
and flung it fully revealed onto the
desk-an ornamental dagger, glitter
ing in the light, which as instantly
recognized
"Ever see that baby weapon be-
fOre?"
Yes" and I felt sudden relief at
the discovery "You slashed open nv
valise, and found it."
Exactly; that's what I did," evil
IDENTIFY proud nf himself. 'Tt was an
easy enough trick. Just as soon
as got eyes on this pretty plaything
I knew I'd got the sticker that put
Alva out Of business-an' 1 knew
where II come from"
'Where?"
"Oh, III do you think amt got
any -! That skirt wore 1t In her
hat when she and Alva went out to-
gether"
"On, did she? This same pin, was
il? Say, Harris, 1 wish l could be as
bright as you think you are. And did
you happen to observe also that the
'ad5's hat was held In place by ex-
actly the same pin tonight when she
was i'm Perond's? Well, 1t was; now
how could 1t be In your pocket and in
her hat at the same timer?
He stared at me, his mouth wide
open, and / was equally amused at the
expression upon the faces of the other
two. l realized fully the peril was
In, and that these men would hesitate
at nothing to obtain their end. Yet,
I'm spite of all this l was inexpressibly
happy. I spiked their big gun with
single blow; moreover, | had learned
the truth about her, and my faith In
her innocence came back in a flood.
Harris had done too much boasting;
he had ruined his own case. He had
placed the very weapon in my grasp
which l most desired to have-ab
solute assurance that the girl herself
was innocent. The fellow felt and
| realized, the change.
That's easy" he sneered. "She
bought herself another. That proves
nothing, except that she is smart
enough to play safe. Neither one of
you can get away on that sort of
dope"
perhaps not but It clears her of
the murder Charge
"Oh, does It? That remains to be
seen. We know who she is, and that
Is more than you do. Oh, HI, / got
onto that over the wire; the only
thing that interested you into coming
here was to learn who the dame real
ly was. That's part of her play, as 1
figure Ii, Severn. She won't give her.
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