Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-12-23


well-dressed, with closely trimmed
iron-gray beard and peculiar eyes
deeply set in a rather chalky face. He
broke the silence, evidently inclined to
look upon this meeting as joke.
Don't recognize me, reckon? Well,
that amt to be wondered at, for likely
enough you never saw me before.
Beats the devf1 though why you
should drift in here; now I suppose it
will have to be fifty-fifty."
His words and manner gave me a
new lease on life. Whoever the follow
might be he was seemingly friendly.
must meet the fellow in that same
spirit and endeavor to extract from
him some knowledge of whom he sup
posed me to be.
II do not quite get the drift Of all
this" ventured. "You imply that you
know me-"
"H-ll, yes Over in Bow Street, on
the other side. The Hartlebury rob-
berry case. I'd been hearing about you
for years, and when that came on, l
took chance and drifted into court
one day just to see what you looked
like. You've shaved your mustache,
and look ten years younger, but l
knew you, all right. I never forget
face. Say, who put you onto this game
-Waldron?'
l nodded, taking a chance. "Td have
bet my life he was the guy l might
have known he would double-cross me
some way. OF course a tips tip in
this game, and l don't blame you for
horning in. Naturally you never knew
this was my game-how could you?
WaldrOn never said word about me,
did he?"
Not once"
THAT is how I had it sized up, so
don't hold any grudge against you.
Now listen," and he bent forward con-
fidentially, lowering his voice, so
could barely distinguish the words
wen talk it all over later, when we're
alone. 'Tain't exactly safe here, for
these walls are thin, and there.is quite
a bunch around tonight. There's plenty
for the two of us, if we play the cards
right. and we'll let WaldrOn hold the
bag. Wsat do you say, DalyT'
SO my name was "Daly." Well, that
was interesting at least, although it
gave me no new light. However, moth
Ing remained for me to do except agree
70 his blind proposition.
That's mighty handsome Of you.
What's the figure?"
"a millionw enthusiastically. "Wait
until l get chance to explain the
plan; it looks like Providence had just
handed us out the money"
"Why not explain the scheme to
me-"
"Not now; there amt time" He
glanced at his watch, "and besides, for
all l know, some guy might be listen
ing in to what we say. You see there
Is bunch O. hell-cats in there waiting
for me to give them a song and dance.
I'm the big end right now, but I've got
to sing low until I'm sure what word
these guys have got from Washington.
After that I'll know how to trim sail.
You wait until 1 come back, DAILY, and
then We'll plan this thing out. You
think I'm aiming to play fair, don't
your"
looked at him doubtfully.
swell, of course, I've got to think
So" admitted, hoping to gain further
enlightenment, "but you leave me
pretty well in the dark. What do l
really know? Nothing. You talk
glibly about a million you propose 60
ing fifty-fifty with me on. That nat
urally sounds good, but it would sound
better If l even knew who I was deal
ing with. l never saw you before In
my life"
I'll, that's so," he grinned cheer
fully, II forgot I wasn't talking to an
old pal. Just to be sure you're Harry
DAILY was enough to make me cough
up, but that don't help you out, does
it? Ever hear Of Gentleman George
in your travels?
"George Harris !" the name leaped
to my lips In inspiration only the day
before l had chanced to read maya
zine account of a famous criminal ex-
ploit. His eyes cleaned in genial ap-
probation.
II thought maybe that would fetch
you," he said exultantly. "There amt
many Of the old boys but have my
number, and they all know / play
square. How Is it? VIII we shake
hands, and call it deal? I've got to
get back in with that bunch"
1 took the extended hand cordially,
feeling the iron grip Of his fingers. I
do not believe 1 was ever more fright
ened in my life, although Outwardly
cool enough, and my brain perfectly
clear. There was no retreat possible.
must go on, acting out the strange
character In this drama to which had
been assigned.
'But you are not known by that
name hereT I ventured.
II should say not. I'm Horner, P.
s. Horner of Detroit. See! That's
the guy who had the papers. He was
English all right but pretended to be
United States, and had a passport to
come through with this bunch. So
Two yOf ho hill hxy hn foil-fnr q cool