American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-08-12
CHAPTER XIII.
In the colmar Building

s"
yet this afforded me time 10 think
over my own situation, as well as
this clew so unconsciously furnished
by the %loquaclous driver. The
chances were that this mysterious
passenger OF two nights before had
no connection with the Alva case; yet
there remained n possibility. The hour,
the place, his evident fear of pursuit,
his eager desire TO get out OF sight,
the heavy bag he carried, and his
being n foreigner of some kind, all
combined to stimulate my suspicion.
Who the fellow could be was beyond
guess. The Colmnr building My
recollection OF the place vas vague,
n huge pile on Broad nea Wall, de-
voted largely 10 brokers' offices, abso-
lutely deserted at night, except by
scrubwomen and a Waterman or two.
A tenant might slip In at such nm
hour, yet he would be fortunate indeed
to Escape the observation Of some n
along the halls, or on the staircase,
I felt confident n careful questioning
among the night employees would give
some line on the identity OF the man,
even II there should prove no other
means of locating him.
One thing was settled I must go
back to the hotel. If I was to pay my
bill and depart ! would lose all on
nection with Marie Gessler she would
then possess no means of finding me.
I could not seek her, but she possessed
my address, and must surely endeavor
to communicate with me before night.
The only thing, then, was to remain
and wait for her to call. Yet this
surely exposed me TO the danger of
arrest, II WaldrOn named me 10 the
police In connection with the death of
Harris.
Yet by this time ! was firmly CON
WINGED that the Russian would either
Harris injuries had resulted wholly
from a fall downstairs in the dark
or else would swear them upon some
unknown invader who had escaped
after knocking him senseless. Certain
ly he would never reveal the truth,
unless compelled to do so. To do so
would queer his whole game.
That is, It would II his game was
anything as | had doped II out. II
he. working alone, or with some
accomplish, as now appeared more
probable, had been concerned In the
Alva murder, his main object at pres
ent would assuredly be TO escape de-
lection, and get a division of the
spoils. His n desire would be TO
remain out Of sight, and In order TO
do this he must shield me from arrest.
/ awOke at eleven, rested and with
d clear brain. Nothing had occurred
to disturb me-. and, as / looked at the
watch and realized the hour. felt no
longer a doubt but what Waldron had
found some way In which to protect
us both. Eager to look over the noon
editions myself, / dressed rather
hurriedly. and descended 20 the lobby.
The paper secured was devoid OF par
ticulars, GENTLEMAN George" Harris,
well known TO the police, had been
found dead In the hallway Of a room.
ing house on lie Compile street, oper-
ated by Mrs. Sarah Waldron. II
is believed to have been d thieves
quarrel from the evidence Of those ln
the house, who heard the sounds Of a
struggle, and saw a strange man
escape through the front door. There
were no arrests, although the police
were searching for certain parties who
might be implicated.
SO far % good but now wbat about
the RusMhni He had evidently escaped
suspleion, yet would be far from easy
in his " mind The situation IN
which lie found himself w0uld 0nly
serve To inersaas hia desire to secnre the
money. and get mfely away while the
going was ssHd IL he actually knew
where -seh mauU wa 10 be- bad,
he wouIe sears<H delay ss~khx II.
II he had p~Sv1on11iy h1k1~n that bag
Of currency M10 finn Ava he
would be sfe~ a. stun within tve.u-
-four hssrs; ~ p another held II.
he wsuh ~ 80 sset rhs fellow
out, and dsuaN aAara This avs
me tive nA~s ~; ] might locate
waLdron, and &2w HIM or / might
see what d~hsoUyshs9 I could make in
the Colmar building. The better