Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-07-14

ldhQ duouI Hiohlh ago, ne explained
briefly. "He didn't make the thing
very clear, only that he had big deal
on, and wanted me in on it. had
made enough TO get back on, and took
second-class passage on the Vulcan.
1t was not big boat, and, to escape
close inspection, l went aboard at
Queenstown. AT that time l had no
more notion what was up than blind
rat. l was just desperate enough to
take chance"
He paused and relit his stub, with
an oath at finding it again useless.
"Then things begun to happen. I
was roommate with bird named
Hornsr. who claimed to live In De-
troit. He must have cottoned to me,
for we got bit chummy, and In that
way | picked odds and ends out Of him
which set me thinking. He was quite
a foxy bird-one OF these tall, raw
boned, secretive cusses. who talk a
lot. but never say nothing, and he
came near getting my goat. went
through his baggage, Of course. but
that was just ordinary stuff--he only
had one grip. which he left unlocked /;
but did get onto pocket belt the
fellow wore around his waist. He
never let that get away from him
night or day. studied every d--n
way could think up to get peep at
It, but nothing gave me chance. l
came near going bugs over the thing"
He laughed, exhibiting a row OF
rather ugly teeth behind his thir lips.
'sThen the devil must have helped
me. One might've days out, for we
were slow boat---we ran into hi
OF storm. We both of us tumbled
out, and began hustling on our duds.
He was trying to get shoe on, and
went plunging head-cn into the side Of
the ship. | reckon 1t nearly Drained
.him, but, to make things sure, I 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 | found?"
shook my head, unwilling to inter-
rupt fascinated with his description.
''The fellow was revolutionary
agent. / didn't get onto all of it then
Il didn't have time, but / found let
ter of credit for a million dollars, and
a memoranda Of how 1t was to be de-
livered. The d-n thing wasn't any
good to met was to be paid to this
fellow by a banker in New York
named Krantz-but 1t sure made my
mouth water just to see tia million
dollars, good old U. S. currency. Can
you beat it?"
Looked easy-you had 1t, and you
lidn't have it."
"You said it, DAILY. I didn't dare
keep the thing, and it wouldn't have
done me any good If had; there was
no way of my cashing the PAPER. What
the HI could do? If l denounced
him, the game was all off; IL l 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 1t was written on !. !. Say,
i was In some boat; but, Believe me,
I had no notion Of giving up that mil
lion-it looked darned good"
II should say yes" and leaned for
ward to show my interest. "And from
what know Of you, Harris, that guy
had no show on earth. Did you croak
him"
He grinned. evidently pleased at the
note of admiration In my voice, and
tossed down another drink.
"Thst never amt been In my line.
OF course / was tempted to--a cool
million would tempt any guy. But
just showed everything back exactly
where 1t 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 to feel for that belt,
and he never got wise that 1t had
ever been touched. Anyhow, he never
let on to no suspicion"