The diamond drill., 1921-04-23


this was Ivan Waldron. had good rea-
son TO know the fellow. and 10 con-
meet his activities with any scheme
destined to embarrass the government.
He was professional agitator OF the
most pronounced type. socialist radl-
cal, who In the past had openly advo-
Gated opposition 10 all law and order.
Moreover, the fellow had large and
desperate following, to whom he was a
high-prIest. He was reported to be
Russian by birth, but spoke English
without an accent, and felt no doubt
but what sufficient amount OF money
would engage his interest In any des-
perate cause. The desire to ''get him"
added zest 20 my interest In the affair.
II he was actually at the head OF these
fellows, these plotters against the neu-
trality OF the United States, the catch
would be worth while.
AS soon as possible next morning /
sought out Burke, the manager OF the
hotel, with whom had speaking ac-
quaintance, and, without confiding the
extent OF my discovery, questioned him
relative 10 the mysterious box. and the
guests who left IL behind. Two men,
he said, both W. dressed, but with
nothing particularly to distinguish
them, had registered together late In
the afternoon Of Friday, September %,
and on request had been assigned to
one room with twin beds and bath.
The larger man, who had inscribed him
self as "P. s. Horner, Detroit" alone
had bag; his companion, known to
the hotel as "Gustave Alva, Toledo,
Ohio" being without baggage The
bill was paid the next morning by
Horner, and the two departed together.
IL was an hour later when the cham
bermaid on that floor reported finding
the box In the room vacated. After
holding II for day or two In expec-
tauon that II might be called for, no
such inquiries being made, the hotel
endeavored TO trace the men, but TO
no avail. The fellows had either false
ly registered, or were entirely unknown
where they claimed residence. The
first was the most probable condition.
After thirty days. and having exhaust
ed all reasonable efforts TO find the
rightful owner. the hotel felt legally
justified in selling the trinket That
was all Burke knew OF the matter, and
his interest in 1t was not keen.
! am inclined 10 think now that
went at the problem without much
system. and that any success achieved
was through pure accident. During
the forenoon i dropped in upon Glenn
ent Breckenridge. cashier OF the Do
ver's National bank. We had been
classmates at college. and l generally
called on him when In the city. This
time l led the conversation TO Kulb,
Krantz x Co. on the pretense that
had received mail from them relative
TO some recommended investment.
Clement knew Krantz well and favor
ably, and my probing elicited the In
formation that the man was Austrian
by birth, but naturalized citizen,
rather deeply interested In political
matters. If his sympathles were at all
revolutionary he had carefully re-
Trained from any such open express
sion. The firm had made specially
OF handling South American business.
and had intimate financial connections
in both Rio and Buenos Aires. The
company ranked high in financial
circles.
"The present war must have cost
them a rather heavy loss" hazarded.
However, this is nothing to me. BY
/ the way, Clement. do you chance to
know OF Cans street In this town.
J "Gans7 That is new one on me.
Try the city dlrectory--there on the
edge Of the desk"
The name was not 10 be found. nor
any other approaching II In sound or
! spelling, and finally drifted out onto
the street. really no wiser than when
J first entered. | made one more effort,
however, telephoning TO a detective
sergeant whom knew well, as to the
| present whereabouts OF Ivan Waldron.
The last heard OF waldron, he was In
West Virginia. speaking TO striking
miners: that was less than a week
ago; he had not been seen in the city
since.
The whole AFFAIR looked hopeless.
About all ! could do would be to send
the torn note to the proper authorities
In Washington, with a statement OF
how II came into my possession. and
let them dispose OF the matter i'm any
way they deemed best. | wrote such
letter carefully on hotel stationery,
and went down TO mail II In the lobby.
Before dlsposing OF II in the mnllbox
] encountered the manager Burke, and
stopped for word. We were still
talking when a bellboy came up hur-
rbedly with a message. Burke turned.
what is Il, George7"
THAT Cans street party is on the
wire, sir"
"Oh, all right. Excuse me. Severn.
hut I've been trying to get connection
for an hour"
but walt n minute" my veins tim
Cling did he say Cans street? Where
i Ia thaf7 There fS M Snch mama A., a..