Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-07-13


latch, and we stood motionleSs in the
drizzle. BY that time l was ready
with suggestion, but by good fortune
he took the initiative.
I'VE better slip oct ef here alone, l
reckon" he whispered. "FlI go up
this way. and then you take sneak
through the lumber yard Likely Wen
catch the same car going down. II we
don't, look me up at Costigan's place
you know where that isl"
Sixth avenue. isn't IT."
Sure. Ask for Parker. and it Will
be all right. If amt in, leave a note
where l can hunt you up. 1 got TO
keep my eye on Alva tomorrow, so he
don't get away with the stuff"
You expect him to draw"
Not before night; but. just the
same | want to know for sure. You
wait here five minutes, for I've got the
longest trip to make. You'll show up
all right?"
"You can't lose me; it looks too
good"
He chuckled and patted me on the
shoulder in an excess of friendliness.
evidently feeling to some extent the
whisky he had been imbibing so freely.
That's the talk. Daily. Well so
long"
He slipped out through the gate into
the dark of the alley, leaving 1t slight
ly ajar for me to follow. | sheltered
myself behind the high board fence
and listened to the soft slush of his
feet in the mud The sound vanished.
and all about was silence and dark
ness. I waited only long enough to be
sure he was safely out of the way, and
then followed. eager to be off One
thing was certain, l would make no
use the remainder of the night to de-
eide the future, working out the prob
lem alone.
To make certain that | avoided any
possibility of encountering the fellow
again. l passed directly through the
deserted lumber yard before emerging
upon Cans street This thoroughfare
was at this hour desolate enough. not
light showing in the houses, or n
moving figure visible as far as
could see in the dimness of the street
lamps. The rain was steady, the pave
ment shimmering with moisture. the
only sound the pattering of the drops
as they fell. If any policemen were
abroad l saw no signs and, with col
lar turned up to my ears. / chose to
walk rather than seek the block to the
east and the possibility of a street car.
The factory district ended in row
of houses, dark and silent at this hour,
but the walking was good, and
pushed forward briskly, SO buried in
thought as to become practically in
sensible to the unpleasant surround
ings. The night had been a full one
far exceeding my expectations, yet
left me more puzzled than osel as 10
my own duty. So far / knew Of no
act of crime with which these men
could be connected; they were mere
ly proposing a future attack on a neu-
trail government, If, however. / con
scented to play my part with Harris.
would not only he in ample time TO
circumvent any danger Alva and his
gang might contemplate, but also gain
emple evidence for their conviction
and expulsion from this country. In
addition TO this would be in position
to block the daring plans of this inter-
national thief. Altogether it seemed
to me that the wiser course for me to
pursue was to wait, and watch, ready
to act at any moment. but keeping my
own council until certain that the
specific moment had arrived
Nor was / oblivious to the strange
impression left upon me by my en-
counter with Marie Gessler she had
interested me oddly, and / could not
drive her memory from my thoughts.
Our moment of conversation had been
peculiar. and her words and actions
remained as a constraint. Why had
she stood there, her hand on the door,
and talked TO me in that hooking
way? Had she a purpose, an aim?
Did she believe my explanation? or
was her suspicion aroused into a de-
termination to verify it in some way?
Although could not decide, yet doubt
less the latter theory was the most
probable. That was why had been
pledged to call at ''247 lie Compile
street." and ask for Miss Conrad"
This was the same place where Harris
had secretly met Krantz. Evidently
il was another headquarters for these
precious yillains. once there, and
safely in their power the truth Of my
identity could easily be established.
Was that her idea?