Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-08-03
CHAPTER VIII.
A Friend at the McAIpin-The Dag
ger Hatpin.


ger i1atpin.
His unexpected question startled
me- In way it was an odd echo of
the vague suspicion which had been
pursuing me ever since the early aft
ernoon. Somewhere there was a mys-
terious hand operating-but whose
hand?
"a Russian Jew" ! questioned.
''Why should you ask thatY'
: "Well, III tell you. Maybe it don't
amount to nothin' an then again it
might give us the right steer. A fell
low they call Sly Levy'-he's a cheap
thisss, dip mostly-blew in yere last
night with,a note for Harris He left
1t with one o. the night barkeeps, an
seemed ter be in hi of a hurry ter
have II delivered. The id thing was
sealed, but not stamped, an there
want no address on IL either. So l
didn't think II was TO penitentiary
sentence 10 pry il open usin' bit of
steam to loosen up the flap. But
didn't fini much, only two lines spelled
out In print letters. Where you met
X, eight tomorrow. Don't fail; i'm
portant l. W. That was every d-n
word. DO you make anything of
that?"
Eyes, do" said heartily. ITS part
Of this job. I'll explain after bit.
What did you do them"
Sealed it up, an give it back to
Joe. ] didn't see no harm in it. Do
you happen to know who this L. W.
stands forT'
II can make mighty good guess,
Costigan-a Russian Jew, all right;
Ivan Waldron."
The scowl on his face remained
fixed; evidently the name was I'M
known.
Don't know the fellow? Likely
your line, but he IS crook just the
same. ] never saw him myself, brC
have heard about him for long while
never anything good. He's an agita-
tor, an anarchist, revolutionary ora
tor; one OF those bugs who fight so
ciety and government, and hate every
body but themselves, loud-mouthed
nuisance
Costigan's mouth was open.
"Say." he interrupted, what's that
Kind Of guy got to do with George
Harris?'
Hes got this to do with him-he's
out after the coin. He saw some easy
money, and naturally reached out for
It. He was the first one to get onto
this particular game. They were
using him, this Chilean gang, to pull
their chestnuts out Of the fire, and
that's how he tumbled to this bunch
OF money floating about. begging some
body to pick it up. He had wormed
himself inside, and knew 1t was COM
ing. But he didn't have nerve enough
to tackle the game alone. He wanted
somebody else to run all the risk, and
then turn over his share. Do you get
II now?"
"Sure; he blew the thing to Har-
ris."
aTn a way-yes. He sent for him
TO come back from England, but with
eul tADtdtulHk JucA nidt AiAc at
was. On the way over Harris picked
up another end OF the same net, and
went after Ii himself. He wasn't I'M
der any obligation to Waldron, and
preferred to play his hand alone"
"And the Russian has found that
out, and now he butts In"
That's the way I'd read the cards,
Costigan.'
He sat silent a long while, and / lit
q cigar and watched him, his great
hands closing and enclosing, as he
slowly reviewed the situation.
"Say, this guy what was bumped
off--did, whoever did it, get anythingf'
His pockets were rified, the papers
say--all but little change"
"Are you sure this fellow Alva didn't
have that bunch Of money along with
himf'
"Noi I'm not sure, of course, but
Harris had been shadowing him for
q month. Still, come TO think, Alva
was with Krantz the same night. He
might have touched him."
with whof"
"Krantz-Adolph Krantz-the bank
er. KuIb, Krantz and Company, over
In Wall street." / explained.
SIS he the same guy that X stands
for In the letter."
sNo doubt He and Harris had an
interview at 247 lie Compile street"
lie Compile, heyi wonder who
lives thereT'
"well, can tell you-it's Ivan Wal
dron."
His fist came crashing down onto
the arm Of his chair.
"H-li That's all clear enough then.
He and George are up to some deal
together. Say. believe this Russian
guy is the buck who got AlYa."
.Do you think sol Well. am not
20 sure Of that. But, anyway, what
shall we dor
swat until George comes back.
There amt any cause for us to butt
In vet. This is his game. as see It.
II 1t was you, Mr. DAILY" he added
grimly, "you wouldn't thank nobody
70 shove In uninvited-would yer
nowT'
was unconyinced by his argument,
yet knew Of no way Of answering It.
He must have read my predicament
In the expression Of my face.
"Itu come out all right. DAY." he
volunteered Il know George. an he
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