The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-07-09

! rendered me FOR me moment utter.
helpless. 1 was blinded, and 50 tightly
graSped at the throat as to ne nearly
Strangled | only dimly realized that
my assailant WAS man, his grip thar
of a giant. Then, to my surprise. The
fellow laughed oddly, swapping on; his
light, ana releasing his grip.
well, if thiS don't beat HI" he
said, in the tone ot cheerful disgust.
Come in here and let me look You
over"
His hand closed on the sleeve Of my
coat, and before | scarcely fonnd time
10 catch my breath again ! had been
dragged through narrow orcung and
became aware that door shut silent
ly behind me.
The fellow gave me little Opportuui.
~ To either act, or think. \ match
lared, and was held aloft 10 Il gas Jet
which instantly broke INFO Il dun fame.
sufficient to render visible the full cX-
tent of the small room in which We
stood In some Semi-cOnScioUs way /
was aware OF bare walls. of small
table opposite with some writing ma
terialS on it, and short bench covered
by ii blanket. ! suppose | saw these
things. yet all that | seemed TO per-
ceive was the man fronting me. who
stared in my face. a quiZZical smile on
his lips. as though sim half uncertain
of the reality of my presence. lie was
tall, triile angular. but exceedingly
Well-dresSed, with closely trimmed
iron-Gray beard and peculiar eyes
deeply set IN Il rather challly face. lie
broke the silence, evidently inclined TO
look upon this meeting rs joke.
Don't recognize me, reckon? Well,
that Iin't to be wondered at, for likely
enough you never saw me before.
Beats the devil though why You
should drift in here; now | suppose il
will have to be iifty-fifty."
His words and manner gave me
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.
Il do not quite get the drift of all
this ventured. You imply that you
know me-"
I'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.
took Il 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
knew you, all right. | never forget
face. Say. who put you onto this game
-WaldronY'
| nodded. taking a chance. I'D lave
bet my life he was the guy. / might
have known he would double-cross me
some way. Of course a tips a tip in
this game, and j dent blame you for
hOrning in. Naturally you never knew
this was my game-hOw could you?
Waldron never said a word about me,
did he?"
Not once"
That is how | had it sized up. so ! |
don't hold any grudge against you. |
Now listen" and he bent forward con-
iidentially, 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 rhe |
bag. What do you say, DalyT"
So my name was DAILY" Well, that |
was interesting at least, although it |
gave me no new light. However, moth
ing remained for me to do except agree
TO his blind proposition.
That's mighty handsome of you.
What's the figure?'
"A million!" enthusiastically. await
until l get a chance to explain the
plan; 1t 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 | 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 | come back. DAILY. and
then we'll plan this thing out. You
fhinl, I'm aiming IN ,,la,- Col. Al. |