Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-08-24

rum every hope or escape, might bring
her 10 the electric chair-lt was
damning evidence.
i dare not remain there In the
presence OF this grisly spectacle. To
be found would fasten the hldeous
crime upon me. while such a story az
| must tell would never be believed. !
did not know even who she really was,
or where she might be. I cared moth
ing for Alva's death; horrible as II
was. / was conscious OF no regret, but
l must not be mixed up In the affair.
The only thing for me to do vas to
disappear. and leave the police 10
make their own discovery. And the
knlfel the weapon which had done
the deedf What should 1 do with
that1
i did not hesitate long. I would
protect her from discovery II I could;
at least until l was myself convinced
or her guilt. There was no longer
the slightest doubt In my mind but
what this was her act. Everything
pointed straight toward her. Yet
there might be a reason, a worthy
cause, and. In any case. she had done
service 10 the country. The world
was better OF with this consplrator
dead; nor would / denounce the one
who had taken his life. l hid the
knife in a pocket OF my coat, and
FASTENED down the side street toward
the nearest car line, my only desire
being to escape that neighborhood as
swiftly as possible.
BY a quarter OF three I was safely
In my room az the hotel. for the first
time feeling a sense OF real security.
Yet II was not TO sleep. l did not
even undress. except TO remove my
wet outer-garments before fiinging my
self on the bed. My brain wouldn't
rest. and lay there staring up at the
ceiling. while my mind reviewed over
and over again every incident OF the
night, and planned for the morning.
How would the murder OF Alva affect
the plot / had started TO overcomef
Would II continue under some other
leadership who7 And the money!
what would become OF that7 What
readiustment OF plans would Harris
consider necessary Once l knew his
conception OF the situation. could
better regulate my own action. Mean
while the only safe course was 10 re-
main stIll, and profess ignorance.
Then I had the engagement at DAT lie
Compile street-that might reveal
something OF Importance 10 help me
solve the problem.
got up. removed the dagger from
my pocket. and examined IL in the
electric light. II was a toy weapon.
yet sufficiently dangerous, for oil that,
and I looked at II with a sense OF hor>
ror. How could n woman have ever
thrust even that keen blade with one
blow through 10 the hearth Yet the
evidence was before me. Those dark
stains were bloOd-human blood
dried now. but unmistakahle in their
proof OF crime. I washed the steel,
leaving the blade bright and polished;
then wrapped II carefully, and hid II
away at the very bottom OF my bag,
locking che latter against possible in
spection by a curious maid. / felt re-
lieved once I had the weapon out Of
sight.
The morning papers contained no
reference to the tragedy-the body OF
the dead man had not been found In
time. There would be noise enough
when II was, no doubt, for Alva must
have been widely known and ranked
as OF some importance. Even II his
Identity was never established, II no
suspicion was aroused as TO his posi-
ton. and secret work I'm this country,
yet the very mystery of the case would
create a sensation. But perhaps he
had papers on his person OF value. L
regretted not having searched his
rockets. Then the conviction came
that possibly here might be the true
solution OF the murder-a desire to Sc
cure some documents the man carried.
I went down 10 Costlgan's place on
foot. not being entirely certain OF the
exact location. IL was an ordinary
corner saloon, with stairway leading
10 rooms above. In the morning hours
the barroom was nearly deserted, but
the man at the bar. looking me over
cautiously. said that "Mr. Parker had
already gone out, and had left no
word as 10 when he would return. l
was rather glad. yet left tele-
phone number. with request that l
be called whenever he came back. i
waited lmpatiently for the call In my
room. but none came. II dawned upon
me that in all probability Harris was
frantically endeavoring to find the
whereabouts OF Alva. as yet having no
suspicion OF his death. l telephoned
Costigan's. but "Mr. Parker" had not
returned.
I sent out for noon edition, eager
" scanning its columns, but nndins
nothing. Surely the deserted car.
with its grim burden, must have been
discovered before this. The police
~. 40,