Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-09-22
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and the three of us slugged him.
They patched him up, and then locked
him into back room over in my
place. The next morning they was
goin' to give him the third degree.
Then with him safe, Harris went after
this girl thinking she would be made
to talk. | didn't want to trouble with
Harris, ner Costigan either for the
matter of that-they're both of 'em
bad actors"
Well then, what happenedY'
That's mostly guess-work. They
had this guy Severn locked in upstairs.
He was unconscious when we dumped
him there, and later, when my wife
got this girl to come over-they was
raised in the same town-Harris he
turned the key on her. They was aim
ing to bring them together the next
morning, but somehow Severn must
have woke up, an got out o the
room, for the next thing l know'd he
was fightin' Harris out in the hall, an
after that found the girl had skipped
out durin' the fracas."
.'They both got away?"
Clean, leaving Harris behind with
his skull busted; deader than door
nail when l got to him."
"And you don't know who this
Severn is or what he is up to?
mo, / don't, Wine, but he's sure got
some game on, an he's got my goat,
He's in with the girl all right, and
knows too DIN much. That's what
makes me leery about her being here
pumpin' you.Y
''She didn't pump me-"
you mean to say the two of you
didn't talk about Alva?'
"We talked about him, of course
we couldn't help it, but she never
limited at nothing, and she didn't ask
no questions. Only it seems they've
found out one thing that hain't been
reported by the police-she knew
what he was killed with"
whats that! She told you what
stuck him" 'se
"You. bes of tdid; she had one OF
'em hersel Elks' took 1t out Of her
hat. and ~ right down here on
the desk. sat III ought for second
was going to Keel over, but she didn't
notice, just went on talkin'. How dc
yer suppose she ever found that out?
Severn told her. that's how. II
was dropped there in the dark. That
Teller got 1t some way, and hid it in
his yaIise. That was what made Har
ris so sure he was in on the job
because he raided the room at some
hotel and found the thing"
'.You don't imagine the girl is play
in us?'
81 don't imagine nuthin', but I'm
playin' safe. l don't know what the
hi either of them are up to- but
figure they know too d-n much, an
I amt goin' to take any chances
hangin' round till they nose out the
rest. That's my idea, to skip oui
while there's some chance to gel
away So pony up my share, Wine
an then you can do whatever yor
darn please wig what's comm t.
you What do you say?"
] could hear the other trampine
nervously back and forth across the
room. His failure to answer must
have angered the Russian, for, after
a minute, he burst out with an oath
''D-n it, why don't yet say some
a. No. - a. HI 10. Inn
amt it?"
Y-yes-of course"
"Well, then, cough 1t up! Where
did you plant the stuff?'
tits put away in safety vault
Wine explained. his voice almost fail
ing him. Honest, Waldron, | CAM
get it tonight, it's too late. The bank
is locked, and l haven't opened it,"
You're liarl You never dared to
lug the thing around! You wouldn't
be seen with it in your hand In day
light l know you. you sneaking cur
You brought the stuff straight to this
Office that night. and, by God, ! be
lieve it is here yet. I What do you
want me to do--kill you. and then
hunt? That is what's goin' to hap
pen. unless you come across. too. I'll
shake the gizzard out of you, you lit
tie sneak, If you try any trick on me-
He must have gripped the other
for there was a struggle, Wine whim.
pering as though half choked.
"Speak up, you cur This thing di-
vides fifty-fifty. Where is 1t nowi
What's that--behind those booksi
HI, wouldn't believe you under
oath Go get 1t out from there; let's
have look at the stuff"
He must have flung the other clear
across the room, for he came down
sprawling, his body striking against
the door of the closet, behind which
| crouched The catch broke under
the impact. and. before / could draw
back. | was IN full view of both men.
CHAPTER XIV.