The diamond drill., 1921-05-07

land about month ago" he explained
briefly. "lIe didn't make the thing
very clear. only that he had big deal
on, and wanted me In on H. / had
made enough to get back on. and took
a second-class passage on the Vulcan.
II was not big boat, and. 10 escape
close inspection, went aboard at
Queenstown. At that time I had no
more notion what was up than blind
rat. was just desperate enough TO
take q chance"
He paused and rellt his stub, with
an oath at finding Il again useless.
"T'hen things begun to happen.
was roommate with a bird named
Horner. who claimed TO live In De
trolt. He must have cottoned 10 me.
for we got bit chummy. and in that
way picked odds and ends out OF hlns
which set me thinking. He was quite
foxy bird--one OF these tall, raw
boned. secretlve cusses. who talk a
lot but never say nothing, and he
came near getting my goat. l went
through his baggage, OF course. but
that was just ordinary stuff-he only
had one grip. which he left unlocked I;
but did get onto p pocket belt the
fellow wore around his waist. He
never let that get away from him
night or day. / studied every d--n
way i could think up 10 get peep at
n, hut nothing gave me a chance. I
came near going hugs over the thing"
He laughed. exhibiting a row Of
rather ugly teeth behind his thlr lips
Then the devil must have helped
me One n'gl'r-'ive days out. for we
were stow knlt.--we ran into a HI
or a storm. We both OF us tumbled
out, and began hustling on our duds.
He was trying TO get shoe on. and
went plunging head-on into the side OF
the ship. / reckon II nearly Drained
him, but, TO make things sure. hand
ed him one TO the jaw before ne got
his senses, and he went out for the
count. Then. believe me, didn't lose
no time in frisking the guy--and, say.
what do you think ! foundf"
shook my head. unwilling TO inter
rupt, fascinated with his description.
THE fellow was revolutionary
agent. l didn't get onto all OF II then
Il didn't have time, but found let
ter OF credit for a million dollars. and
memoranda OF how 1t was TO be de-
livered. The d--n thing wasn't any
good TO melt was TO be paid TO this
fellow by a banker I'm New York
named Krantz--but 1t sure made my
mouth water just to see lt--a million
dollars, good old U. S. currency. Can
you beat III"
Looked easy-you had 1t, and you
didn't have It."
"You said II, DAILY. didn't dare
keep the thing, and 1t wouldn't have
done me any good IL 1 had: there was
no way OF my cashing the paper What
the HI could | dor II denounced
him, the game was all OF; II / held
on to the stuff he'd report his loss
soon as he landed in New York, and
that letter OF credit wouldn't be worth
the paper II was written on f. Say.
] was in some boat; but. believe. me,
had no notion Of giving up that mill
lion-it looked darned good"
II should say yes" and | leaned for
ward 10 show my interest. "And from
what know OF you, Harris, that guy
had no show on earth. Did you croak
hlm7"
He grinned. evidently pleased at the
note OF admiration I'm my voice, and
tossed down another drink.
"That never amt been I'm my line.
or course ] was tempted to-a cool
million would tempt any guy. But
just showed everything back exactly
where IL come from. and fetched the
steward Between us we hoisted Hor-
ner back into the bunk and doused
him with water till he came TO. First
thing he did was 70 feel for that belt,
and he never got wise that II had
ever been touched. Anyhow, he never
let on to no suspicion"