The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-10-15

was the weapon of murder. He be-
lieves we were working together. and
this was why l had concealed the
knife"
And you? yoI believed that
81 believed in you" I said earnestly.
AT first | thought it must be YOU |;
then / saw that pin in your hat again,
when l knew l had one just like it
hidden at the hotel. This gave me
new hope. until | returned and dis
covered my valiSe slit open, and the
dagger gone. | knew of no one who
sOuld do such an actor had Occa-
sion tO-e%cept you, in an effort TO
destroy evidence
"Then later, when that vas cleared
up by Harris acknowledging that he
was the one who got the pin, | told him
about your having your own in your
hat at PerOnd'S. He only laughed. and
said YOU were smart enough Ia buy
another. AZ soon as the first was
found missing: that doubtless there
were plenty To he had"
Hes right; there are. At least
know of one shop on lower Broadway
where they are for sale" She stopped
s.ddenly, with peculiar gesture.
'Why, now | think of il. Sarah Wal
dron has one exactly like mine;
bought il for her.
Ivan Waldron's wife,"
"Of course; that's rather odd isn't
itY
1T opens up a line of thought. any
way. Could you find out, do you
suppose, if she has it still? What
does she know about her husband?"
The girl laughed softly.
know! Less even than l do, |
imagine. He doesn't show up here
Oftener than once in six months, and
Sarah gets nothing from him. She
wouldn't know-why?"
Because, after all, it might be the
Russian; If it was he would have to
lie TO Harris. and pretend TO know
nothing. You heard how those two
talked at Perond's. What did you
make of it,"
She drew her eyes together. leaving
the marks of a frown on her fore
head
THAT they had planned together to
rob Alva; that WaIdron was to be
hidden somewhere outside, and was
to wait for Harris to sigma; him that
the money had been paid over"
Exactly; Harris failed to learn
that the money changed hands, and
consequently did not signal. But
WaldIOn, nevertheless. was outside
waiting; had no doubt spotted Alva's
machine, and was ready to act. The
one thing we do not know is-did
Alva start home alone; or did one
of the men accompany him? If the
latter suppositiOn is true then that
fellow must have committed the
murder. with WaldrOn possible
accomplice after the crime. If not
true, then the only other solution o.
that Alva picked Waldron up for COM
paniOnship. Were they acquainted at
all?"
81 think so, but am not sure; you
said Waldron first reported this
chance to Harris"
$50 he did; then it is quite possible
the two knew each other. That would
make it easy for the Russian to ask a
ride. Whoever struck the blow was i'm
the rear seat. This theory fits in all
right with his actions toward Harris"
What do you mean to doT
Shadow Waldron; he is sure to
expose himself sooner or later. We
must get away from here, out Of the
hands of tho Sc fellows. Could you
find your way to the stairs in the
dark"
Yes. / have been here often"
"Then l am going TO turn out this
light before opening the door"
She led the way confidently enough,
moving silently along the wall, /
keeping close so as TO touch her. A
few steps brought us forth into the
hall at the head of a flight of stairs
leading downward. My fingers gripped
the banisters, while she stood aside
TO let me pass.
*YOu better go ahead now; the next
flight is directly beyond this. and
ends az the street door,"
"You will follow"
"Of course; shall keep right be-
hind you"
We went down step by step, not
stair creaking. or sound louder than
our own breathing. l reached the
last step. warned by the newell post.
and felt ahead with one cropping foot
to assure myself of the level beyond.
Her fingers grasped my sleeve, and
lips almost at my ear, whispered
barely audible warning.
ITO RE CONTfNIIEDl