The St. Johns herald., 1921-10-20

It's not decent job for a woman, and
 that's what makes 1t safe. He made a good guess, too; that female Is as smart as a steel trap. She gave me the cold shivers."
 "You don't think she suspects you"
 "No, I don't; there ain't no reason why she should; but she gave me the once over, all right, and 1 am perfect ly willing to know she is on her way back to Washington. never did play in any luck with a woman in the game perhaps that's what makes me afraid Of 'em."
 "What's her name?"
 "Gessler, so Ava said-Marie Cess Ter; South American, suppose; any how, she talked that language like native. I steered clear of her most of the time. Somehow she got my goat. However, that's nothing to worry over." He glanced at his watch. ''The dame's safely off by this time. What do you say-let's go home"
 I Signified my willingness.
 AS we passed out together through the narrow passage, extinguishing the lights behind us, the one OverpOwering desire in my mind was to be once more alone, so as to think over, and piece together as best l might this fabric of villainy with which was confronted. The situation was fairly clear, yet there were strange lights and shadows in 1t found hard to reconcile. Moreover, what should l do? How could I serve best-by im- mediately telling my story to the of. flcers of the law, and thus washing my hands clean? or by continuing to en- act the role of Harry Daly, and in this way entrapping these fellows red handed7 had had fully enough of Harris for the present. His boastful- ness and pride of crime dlsgusted me. I had no desire to be associated with the fellow, or pretend, even for a worthy purpose, to be his companion. Yet. all this had happened so sudden ly and unexpectedly could not de- termine the best course to pursue. I remained daZed and confused, the only clear decision being an eagerness to bring him, and these others also, to justice.
 We were the last to leave the place, and emerged from the building into the deserted yard, leaving all in si- lence and darkness behind us. The door closed tightly, secured by night latch, and we stood motionless in the drizzle. By that time I was ready with suggestion, but by good fortune he took the initiative.
 "We better slip out of here alone, I reckon" he whispered. "I'Il go up this way, and then you take sneak through the lumber yard. Likely we'll catch the same car going down. If we don't, look me up at Costigan's place you know where that is?"
 Sixth avenue, isn't it?"
 "Sure. Ask for, Parker, and 1t will be all right. If ain't in, leave a note where I can hunt you up. I got to keep my eye on Ava tomorrow, so he don't get away with the Stuff."
 "You expect him to draw7"
 "Not before night; but, just the same, I 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; 1t 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, Daly. 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. l waited only long enough to be sure he was safely out of the way, and then followed, eager to be of. One thing was certain, I would make no effort to join him on the car; would use the remainder of the night to de eide the future, working out the prob em alone.
 To make certain that I avoided any possibility of encountering the fellow again, I passed directly through the , deserted lumber yard before emerging lpon Cans street. This thOroughfare vas at this hour desolate enough, not l light showing in the houses, or a moving figure visible as far as .ouId Soo in fIo diunpaSc of fho Stroot | amps. The rain was steady, the pave nent shimmering with moisture, the ,nly sound the pattering of the drops IS they fell. If any policemen were Lhroad SAW m signs and with cnl-