Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-07-20
CHAPTER vI-continued


If so, who then was Miss Conrad?"
Not Marie Gesser, certainly, under
another name, for she would have re-
turned to Washington. There was no
doubt as TO that, for Alya had agreed
to take her direct to the depot in his
own car, and would scarcely leave IN
I'll she was safely on the train. Prob
ably the other woman was a Confed-
crate with whom she would commune
cate by telephone. My clearer judg-
ment told me all this, made me fully
conscious of the danger of keeping
this appointment, yet never sweryed
me from an Intention to do so. Marie
Gessler's eyes were frank and honest
they had looked directly into my own.
pleadjngly l imagined and | retained
a blind faith in her no ordinary err
cumstances would overcome. She was
involved In this criminal conspiracy
there could be no doubt as to that
but why? under what conditions?
What could ever have driven so WON
anly a woman to such an association?
Was her appeal 10 me an effort at as
sstance? Was she bllndly endeavor-
ing 10 learn In this way If l was
worthy Of trust, and confidence? This
hope would not down; 1t remained In
slstent, persistent | would keep my
word; / would so TO the place deslg-
mated. at the hour set: | would 20
armed, prepared for whatever might
occur of treachery-hut would go
Perhaps here was the key to the whole
mystery; and once / solved her con.
nection with the plot. particularly If
1t absolved her from blame. and the
necessity of exposure. ! could 90 for
ward with clear conscience, and land
these others where they justly be
longed.
! must have covered four or five
blocks immersed In such thought. al
most forgetful of my surroundings.
my head bent low before the rain. my
feet carelessly slushing through she
water in pools on the sidewalk. met
no one. heard no sound TO arouse me:
all about was dark, desoate forlorn.
Then suddenly / became conscious of
some unusual obstruction just ahead
AT FIRST | took Ii for wrecked wagon
lying against the curb. but another
step forward revealed the trIlth--a de-
serted touring car, its red taiIllght
plastered with mud and barely visible
! approached with feeling of relief;
II was not wrecked. no sign OF acct
dent was 20 be noticed Even In that
dim light could see the machine was
no common car. a sedan, its glass bril-.
liant in spite of the rain spatterS, and
its paint cleaning brightly.
| stared about wonderingly, but
could perceive nothing to account for
the presence of such a car, or its APP
parent desertion. Up and down both
streets not a figure moved not
sound reached me but the slough of
the wind. and the patter of rain.
shivered with the loneliness Of it MI.
Rs curiosity led me to cross the muddy
parkway to assure myself as to what
this strange desertiou meant
There was no one Ia the car. i
could look straight through the
dimmed windows. against the glare Of
street lamp block away. one Of
the rear doors stood half open. and
tempted by IT, l bent over and felt
within My nand touched some OBJ
ject on the floor. and | instantly
Strengthened up with the thing
grlpped In my fingers. Ii was long.
thin.bladed dagger-an ornament
rather than weapon--with an odd,
fanciftii hlt There were stains upon
the polished stc.'i and the moment |
saw it, l knew where ii had attracted
my attention before-as pin in Ma
RE GesslerS hat.