Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-08-04
CHAPTER WIN.

ger Hatpin.
His unexpected question startled
me- In a way it was an odd echo OF
the vague suspicion which had been
pursuing me ever since the early aft.
ernOOn. Somewhere there was a mys
terious hand operating-but whose
hand?
"a Russian Jew" I questioned
"Why should you ask that?"
swell, I'll tell you. Maybe it DOM
amount to nothin' an then again II
might give us the right steer. A fell
low they call SLY Levy'-he's a cheaI
thief. a dip mostly-blew, in yere last
night with note for Harris. He left
it with one O. the night barkeeps, an
seemed ter be in hi of hurry tel
have it delivered. The id thing was
sealed, but not stamped, an there
want no address ON 1t either, So
didn't think It was no panitentiary
sentence to pry it open, uSin bit of
steam to loosen up the flap. But
didn't find much. only two lines spelled
out in print letters. Where you met
X, eight tomorrow. Don't fail; i'm
portant l. W. That was every d-n
word. Do you make anything of
that?"
"Yes, do" said heartily. "Its part
of this job. I'll explain after a bit.
What did you do then?"
"Sealed it up, an give it back to
Joe. didn't see no harm in it. Do
you happen to know who this 1. W.
stands for?''
II can make a mighty good guess,
Costigan-a Russian Jew. all right ;
Ivan Waldron."
The scowl on his face remained
fixed; evidently the name was I'M
known
''Don't know the fellow? Likely
enough not; he doesn't operate in
your line. but he is crook just the
same. | never saw him myself but
have heard about him for a long while
never anything good. He's an agita-
tor. an anarchist, revolutionary ora
tor; one of those bugs who fight So
ciety and government. and hate every
body but themselves, loud-mouthed
nuisance"
Costigan's mouth was open.
"Say" he interrupted. whats that
kind of guy got to do with George
Harris?"
He's got this to do with him-hes
out after the coin. lie saw some easy
money, and naturally reached out for
it. He was the first one to get onto
this particular game. They were
using him. this Chilean gang, TO pull
their chestnuts out of the fire, and
that's how he tumbled to this bunch
of money floating about, begging some
body to pick it up. He had wormed
himself inside, and knew it was com
ing. But he didn't have nerve enough
to tackle the game alone. He wanted
somebody else to run all the risk and
then turn over his share. Do you get
1t now?"
"Sure; he blew the thing to Har
ris."
SIN way-yes. He sent for him
to come hack from England. but with
out explaining just what his graft
was. On the way over Harris picked
up another end of the same net. and
went after it himself. He wasn't I'M
der any obligation to Waldron, and
preferred to play his hand alone"
"And the Russian has found that
out. and now he butts in"
"That's the way I'd read the cards
Costigan."
He sat silent a long while, and lit
cigar and watched him, his great
hands closing and enclosing. as he
slowly reviewed the situation.
"Say. this guy what was bumped
of-did whoever did it, get anythng"
Ellis pockets were rifled. the papers
say--all but little change"
"Are you sure this fellow Alva didn't
have that bunch of money along with
him?'
'No! I'm not sure, Of course, but
Harris had been shadowing him for
a month Still, come to think, Alva
was with Krantz the same night. He
might have touched him."
"With who?"
"Krantz-Adolph Krantz-the bank
er. Kulb, Krantz and Company, over
in Wall street" explained.
as he the same guy that * stands
for in the letter.
"No doubt. He and Harris had an
interview at PAT lie Compile street"
"Le Compile. heyl wonder who
lives there?"
"well. 1 can ten you-ifs Ivan Wal
dron."
His fist came crashing down onto
the arm Of his chair.
ILL That's all clear enough then.
He and George are up to some deal
together. Say. believe this Russian
guy is the buck who got Alya."
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