Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1921-09-15
CHAPTER Ix-continued.

]
easy money you spoke about
But has that been paid over 10y
Krantz? Who has it,"
'The fellow who put knife into
| Alva-whOever he may be-"
"And you don't know who the as
SRSsin was?"
NO. Only 1t must have been one
ST certain men; perhaps two were in
the affair. At first l figured il out
To be Waldron alone; now am not
SO sure that Harris didn't have some
hand In IT, They may have had the
! passed over 10 Alva early In the eve
ming. didn't know IL then; learned
this later. Krantz told me when we
were alone on the way back to New
York. Let's move along; there is a
! policeman coming yOnder"
The officer passed us slowly, swing
ing his club. and eyed us curiOusly as
he went by; l did not turn my head
yet felt certain he stopped and looked
back as though wondering what Our
business could be in that neighbor,
hood. We turned down a still darker
side street before exchanging further
speech.
Il believe ! know what you are,
/ said at last in low tones close TO heI
ear, ian agent of the Secret Service
"Oh, no; the honor you offer me is
far too great. l have not attained
TO any such official dignity"
Il rather expected you TO deny
but you offer me no other explana
ton"
"And so you decide to believe that
Very well, Mr.. Severn, l shall let you
have 1t your own way. You deserve
reward; only, pray, never suggest this
theory to any one else. Let 1t remain
| our secret, will your
"YOur mOckery does not change my
mind"
II had no expectation that it would
neither does it bring me a salary. But
seriously, forget all this raillery to
night, and remember only that you
are with Marie Gessler. Whatever
her purpose may be, you are to be
loyal only to her"
IL am, absolutely" 1 replied with g
conviction my voice was unable tC
disguise. She turned her face quick
ly, and in the dim light our eyes met
"YOu said that very earnestly. YOU
make me believe judged you right
Philip Severn. Here is my hand"
l clasped it tightly, the firm pres
sure of the warm fingers sending al
instant thrill through every nerve OF
my body. II was not withdrawn, and
we walked so closely together could
feel the slight pressure of her form
| almost resting against mine.
"Where are you taking me?"
ITO PerOnd's French cafe-have
you ever heard of it?"
'No, / think not"
81 have been there with Summing
parties once or twice, with a plain
clothes man along, Of course, to show
us the sights. 1t is not very respect
able, ! believe, although really | new,
er saw anything particularly dan
gerOus. Interesting and unconven
tional, OF course, but anticipate nc
trouble, unless We care to make II
ourselves. You see the cluster OF
lights at the next corner. That's
| PerOnd's."
As / gazed forward, she drew hel
hand from my grasp, and her form
Strengthened.
Merely be the attentive escort
but not too attentive, please. Hav,
you dined?"
mo. ! was going TO ask you"
"YOu need not ask mel am fam
ished, and this place is really famOu:
for its meals"
Perond's was really underground; Al
least you descended a broad pair Of
steps TO attain its entrance, and thG
glass in windows and doors fronting
the street was heavily draped, pre-
venting any view of the interior from
without. What was overhead cOulC
not be determined In the darkness
my eyes merely discerning the out
lines of a tall building, without q
CLEAN Of light showing anywhere
from top to bottom. The front of thu
restaurant. however. was Brilliant!
lit, and a colored man in uniform
promptly held open the door as w
began descending the stairs.
| a.
Iieved us of outside wraps, and thu,
unencumbered we advanced through
open doors directly into the mair
room. This was a surprisingly larg,
apartment, filed with tables of va
riOus sizes and shapes, the majOrit!
occupied by men and women, eithe
eating or drinking. Near the cente
was a cleared space for dancing, bu
at that moment unOccupied, Will,
against the farther wall, on a rathe
noisiIy entertaining the crowd. Alto
gether II was a stirring and attractive
scene, bearing to my mind no re
semblance Of any preconceived motion
Of the underworld. l could have cas-
fly imagined that we had entered
rather, the restaurant of an ultra
fashionable hotel the other side o
Broadway.
Nor did our entrance create tn,
slightest interest. beyond awakening
the attention of the head waiter, VIII,
met us smilingly.
"a table for two, Missouri"
"A booth, please; have you on
near the center?" and l slipped a bill
into his hand, which closed It instant
ly out of sight.
"Ah, certainly; the very thing
Msieur. l will show you. Francois
the central booth for the gentleman
All, ace, Msieur-bien, tres bieD!'
TIL