The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-11-03


your curiosity I'll tell you. We've cot
the girl spotted; we can lay our hands
on her in an hour; and, believe me,
we've got the goods on the young lady.
Here's The sticker that did the busi-
ness, and l found ii right where Won
had hidden it away. l can find three
men--they are keeping out of sight,
but / can stir them up-whoIl swear
that she went away alone with Alva
from that factory. over there; that he
had the bag with him, and that the
two got into the auto together. That
makes one HI of straight case.
don't it?"
"The way you put !t-yes. But
what good Will it do you fellows to
have her pinched? Where do you gain
anything?"
Time; it blocks the getaway with
the swag. That's all we want. See
here, Severn, we know where the stuff
Is planted; at least we've got an idea,
put we've got TO work slow and cuu-
ttous In order to lift 1t. If 1t wasn't
for that we wouldn't care If she
skipped. If you'll help us to get quick
action, Wen let the girl go, and give
you share. Take my word for It,
that's a d-n sight more than youm
ever get by staying with her"
'!But il sine finds out that have
turned her DOWN."
"She won't never find II out: we'll
keep mum. Besides, you're doin' her
good turn, keepin' her out of the
electric chair. Well, there's the prop
osition-you can leave 1t, or take, It,"
Serious as the situation was, could
not fail to see its absurdity. This was
no threat to frighten me; the fellows
meant what they said, although
doubted IL they really possessed the
knowledge claimed so glibly. But they
evidently meant to go on; they were
not blufir.g, for they really had an
ugly "a %, and could undoubtedly make
trouble. The evidence against the girl
was strong, almost convincing: 1t even
shook my own confidence in her in.
nocence. The absurdity Of the situa.
tion lay in my absolute ignorance
knew even less than they pretended to
know. What should ! do7 Pretend
manufacture some story2 had no
faith it would work. These fellows
were criminals, suspicious and unscru-
pulous; they would only believe what
l could prove. If they caught me in
a deliberate lie, as they probably
would, that would instantly end every
thing. l might, then, just as we'll fight
1t out with them now as later. / set
my teeth, ready for what l felt sure
was coming.
"You fellows have sized me up
wrong" l said quietly, but firmly 81
am not the kind to squeal because Of
threat. You'll find I'll protect the
lady, but I'll do it in my own way
not yours. The honest truth is,
haven't anything to tell You won't
believe that but II is so. l know less
than you claim to know. have no
knowledge Of where the money is, or
who got 1t. / do not know who killed
Alva; even now | haven't any suspi-
ciOns worth mentioning But will
say this plainly do not believe this
girl did 1t, or that she had any hand
I'm the robbery. ] am going TO stay
with her till hi freezes over, If that
Is what you want to know That's my
answer, Harris, and 1t is all I've got
to give you"
"You ID curt well show you
somethinig"
Perhaps you wiz; you are three to
one, and on your own dung-hill. But
the man who touches me is going to
get hurt: I'll promise you that. No,
you don't, COstigan; that trick won't
work 2"
tried to keep my eyes on the three
Of them, but his movement caused me
to step back closer against the wall.
| feared the Jew least; he had neither
spoken nor moved since our entrance,
and l felt he had no stomach for any
farther fighting. Yet I judged wrong.
With one quick dash forward he
gripped my wrist as l reached back
for revolver, and flung his burly
frame against me with such force as
to have thrown me headlOng but for
the support Of the wall. Before
could wrench myself free, the others
. closed In desperately, content to use
their hands, unwilling, perhaps, to
create any alarm with firearms. was