The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-09-17
CHAPTER discontinued.


What is this, a double-crOss, Wal
drOn?'
"What YOU mean?" calculated the
other. by Colt it is rather you 1
should ask why you not tell me the
trdth?"
Tell you! What the devil have 1
got to tell you? Don't get funny with
me. You sent me a note this morning,
didn't your
"Sure | did"
well, then, why didn't you meet
me? On it. I've been hunting you all
day long. What's the idea? Come,
blurt it out, before 1 wiring your d-n
Jew neck"
WaldrOn spread his hands, and lifted
his shoulders in an expression more
eloquent than words.
"What man! You cuss me, but
not wait to hear why this all was so.
You sit down, and 1 tell you. Then
maybe you tell me something also"
Harris stared at him. then sank into
the vacant chair opposite, still scowl-
ing angrily across the table. A waiter
paused at his elbow expectantly. and,
in response to something said, the
thief jerked out a surly answer.
''No, / don't want anything to eat.
Bring me some whisky-7-a half pint
with a little water. Yes, that's all;
now get out of here"
At this moment Francois returned
with our final course, Obliging us to
appear Indifferent to the quarrel rag
ing beyond the curtains. Both men
must have lowered their voices, for
our ears caught nothing of what was
said. 1t seemed to me the waiter was
unusually slow in rearranging the table.
There. that will do, Francois"
broke out, at last, impatiently. "We
will want nothing else at present
When / need you again l will ring.
That Is the bell, presume"
"Oui, Msieur."
"All right; then leave us alone for
a while"
Neither one of us touched thing,
the coffee growing cold in the cups,
as we endeavored to distinguish what
was going on at that second table out
in the main dining room. l came
around beside her, to where / could
peer out also beneath the Curtain
fold, and thus gain glimpses Of the
two men. They were talking earnest
ly, but had lowered their voices, until
they were nearly inaudible amid the
din of the place. The anger and threat
had gone out of both voices; but only oc-
casionally could we weave together
words into an understandable SEN
tence these came to us detached, I'M
related, as the surrounding noise
ceased suddenly, or the music came
to a pause.
"You didn't get it! Then who the
HI did? Me, i should say no; why
l never knew the old man had even
slipped him the dough. That d-n
girl rode down with him. OF course
/ do; / saw them go out together !;
that's why / thought 1 was playing
safe to keep away. Somebody has
played us for suckers. If you had
kept your d-n mouth shut we'd a-had
1t easy"
WaldrOn broke in, stung by this last
taunt into elevating his voice.
"What you mean, I keep my mouth
shut? So help me, Moses, l tell no
body"
"The HI you didn't You blabbed
the whole thing to Daily. He told me
so himself, That's what 1 was doing
last night. bluffing him out"
81 tell DAILY? Where you git that
stuff? / amt seen DAILY for three
year. Was he in this deal? Why you
not tell me of DAILY before?"
Tell you'll / never knew it until
he told me-"
A waiter brushed past him, bearing
tray, striking against one shoulder
as he passed. Harris glanced up with
a snarling oath, and, before / realized
the danger, his eyes must have caught
n glimpse of me beneath the draped
curtain. Instantly the fellow was on
his feet, all else forgotten in a swift
wave Of passion.
There's the guy now" he burst
forth. Hes hiding in that booth;
saw him. Come on, and We'll have
the stiff cough up yet"
I drew back swiftly, pushing the
Girl behind me. There was no place
in which to hide, no chance for
escape. Perhaps l could explain, but
If not, then / must fight. The two
came plunging through the opening
and faced us, the heavy curtains drop
ping behind them and shutting out all
| view beyond. Harris, inflamed by
drink. glared about as though doubt
ing the evidence of his own eyes, but
his expression was that of savage
hatred.
HI. if they amt both of 'em here
Saw this is rich. So you two are IL
cahoots, hey? Thought you'd play me
for a d-n fool, did you, DAILY? Well
I'll show you what you're up against
YOU and yer girl. Come now, where's
that bOodleT
~ know nothing about it, Harris
you're liar. This dame wen
AWAY with Alva In his car. l saw hel
go ont with him. You cough up, boil
of YOU. and be d-n quick about II
or you'll never get out of here with
out a hole through you. You thinl
Won can double-cross me; I'll SHOW
Il l. l,f. wv