The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-10-14

| lutely deserted at night except by
scrubwomen and a Waterman or two.
A tenant might slip in at such an
hour, yet he would be fortunate indeed
TO escape the observation of some one
along the halls. or ON the staircase.
| felt confident a careful questioning
| among the night employees would give
some line on the identity of the man,
even if there should prove no other
means of locating him.
One thing was settled; / must go
back TO the hotel If was to pay my
bill and depart | would lose ali CON
nection with Marie Gess,er; she would
then possess no means of finding me.
could not seek her, but she possessed
my address, and must surely endeavOr
10 communicate with me before night.
The only thing. then. was 10 remain
and wait for her to call. Yet this
surely exposed me to the danger of
arrest, if Waldron named NE TO the
police in connection with the death of
Harris.
Yet by this time / was firmly con-
WINGED that the Russian would either
lie outright in the misunderstanding that
Harris injuries had resulted wholly
from fan downstairs in the dark
or else would swear them upon some
unknown invader who had escaped
after knocking him senSeless. Certain
~ he would never reveal the truth
unless compelled TO do so. To do 50
would queer his whole game.
That is it would if his game was
anything as I had dOped it out If
Ire, 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 one 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
clear brain. Nothing had occurred
TO disturb me, and. as I looked at the
watch and realized the hour felt no
longer doubt but shat Waldron had
found some way ia which to protect
us both Eager to look over the noon
editions myself, / dressed rather
hurredly, and descended TO the lobby.
The paper secured was devoid of par
ticllars, Gentleman George" Harris.
we'll known to the police. had been
found dead IN the hallway of n room
ing house on lie Compile street, Oper-
ated by Mrs. Sarah Waldron. 1t
is believed to have been Il thieves
quarrel from the evidence of those in
the house, who heard the sounds of
escape through the front door There
were no arrests, although the police
were searching for certain parties who
might be implicated.
So far so good But now what about
the Russian? He had evidently escaped
suspicion, yet would be far from easy
in his own mind. The situation in
which he found himself would only
serve to increase his desire to secure the
money, and get safely away while the
going was good If he actually knew
where such money was to be had,
he would scarcely delay seeking il.
If he had personally hidden that bag
of currency taken from Alva, he
would be after the stuff within twenty
four hours while if another held it.
he would as surely seek the fellow
out, and demand his share. This gave
me two lines to follow; l might locate
Waldron, and shadow him; or l might
see what discoveries 1 could make in
the Colmar building. The better
chance seemed to me- lay in Broad
street. ate deliberate lunch
planning how best 10 proceed. and
hoping some beIlboy would eau me to
the telephone. / fnished-4 the meal
uninterruDied. .s -,
Both Wall and Broad streets We're
busy enough when / -elbowed my
passage through the shifting crowds
of men hurryiug in every direction
and, reached the edge of the curb,
gazad upward at the ornamental front
Of the CoImar building
I took an elevator TO the twelfth floor.
and walked slowly from end to end
of the marble corridor, reading the
names on the glass doors as l passed.
1 met bat few people and attracted
no attention, passing down the stair
way to the floor below Growing more
pessimistic as l proceeded, / had
reached the fifth floor, when, as /
turned at lne ITOLl Oh the IRON stairs,
my glance rested on the letters stem
ciled along the frosted glass OPP
poslte-"M Mutual Investment Company,
Casper Wine, Manager l stopped
still, my heart beating wildly, feel
ing that l had stumbled blindly on
the very thing 1 had been seeking.
Casper Wine was the name of the
man who. through accident, had opened
to me the door leading into the Alva
factory; the man who had left me
alone in the entry while he disappeared
to talk with Alva privately in the
little side-room. Casper Wine, For
the first time l really believed the
old hack driver was right-he had
actually picked up just such fare,
Juggling a bag with him. and driven !
the fellow to this place at midnight.
l had never connected the crime with |
Wine before-yet why not? He was
among those present; he had been
alone with Alva; he doubtless knew Of |
the transferring of the money: and |
he answered fully the description OF |
the man the cabby had picked up near |
the Jersey docks.
(TO BE CONTINUED)