The diamond drill., 1921-05-14

coincident that both she and Harris
had named the same number, and
street, II could not have occurred
merely through chance. Something
must have happened In the mean
while 10 overthrow all her plans, and
to cause this rabid housekeeper TO
even deny her very existence. And
held the key OF explanation-the muir
der OF Alva.
Beyond all doubt here was both
cause and effect. The girl had intend
ed TO either see me herself, or by
proxy In. the form OF this mysterious
Miss Conrad. But what had since
occurred had compelled sudden
change In plans. a necessity for con-
cealing her escape There was no
way in which she could notify me. but
she might very easily have telephoned
TO her landlady. And. lf the place
was what I suspicioned II to be. she
might have every confidence that her
secret would be guarded.
glanced up at the front OF the
house. searching the windows. but
without results. The curtains were
closely drawn TO keep out the sun,
and the place appeared forlorn and
deserted. At the delicatesscn shop on
the corner I gained a gleam OF light,
but merely enough to strengthen my
former judgment. The keeper. fax
en-halred Swede. was loQuacious
enough. but had only been In business
there q few weeks.
"247 lie Compte. you say. Yes, she
takes roomers; some are men, and
some are women. They come In here
and buy, but never ask the names II
was all cash, so why should l carer
Sometimes / hear them call names
sure; but never Conrad. The woman
what keeps the house7 Wait and I
tell you; II is on the books; ahi you
read as she wrote II for me-Mrs. Au-
gusta Waldron; maybe a widowl
What you thinkf Bah. she never like
anything l have to sell. care moth
Ing for trade with her--a cat this Mrs
Augusta Waldron."
left him with the familiar sound
OF the name ringing in my ears-the
whole thing was travelling In a circle.
and the circle was growing continual
ly more compact. Blindly, was
stumbling up against IL here aud
there most Unexpectedly. Augusta
Waldron, beyond doubt, was Ivan Wal
dron's wife No wonder her house
was designated the meeting place for
those people
l returned TO the hotel. Only as I
stood before the door did I realize
that the newsboys were calling out,
Extra All about the murderi" L
felt that my face was white, and that
by hand shook, yet I hastily bought
copies Of half dozen sheets. showing
them into my pockets.
The reports were mostly alike, ex-
ceedingly brief and unsatisfactory, ex-
cept that they conveyed the impress
sion that thus far the police possessed
no real clue as to the perpetrator OF
the crime. No one connected with
the meeting the night before was mem
toned In any article, nor was any sus-
picion OF such a meeting mentioned.
read the last line with a distinct feel
Ing OF relief. dropping the paper on
the floor.
They had discovered no clue. moth
ing whatever to work upon. The In
terror OF the car had yielded no evil
dence OF its former occupant, the only
reference being 10 mud on the floor.
Outside all footprints had been OBJ
liberated by the falling rain. No one
in the neighborhood had heard
sound, or witnessed any movement.
The whole affair was shrouded In mys-
terry.
What, under these conditions, was
my duty? What could / either do, or
say, TO clarity this tragedy. and bring
the guilty to justlce7 sat there for
an hour thinking and smoking, en-
deavoring to answer these queries.
could study out no clear way to any
confession, which would not directly
involve myself In the tolls OF the po-
lice. or else implicate Marie Gessler,
so as TO make any defense on her part
almost impossible. No doubt she was
guilty. yet / could not drive myself to
openly charge her with the crime.
There must be some extenuating cir
cumstances. some unknown cause, |
which had led to the act / could not
forget her face. her manner, the clear,
womanly look OF her eye-she was no
murderess. and II was not In my heart !
to denounce her as such. Besides, II |
/ took this responsibility IL would |
only serve TO shield other crimes OF |
more Importance than the violent |
death OF this Chilean revolutionary
the murder perhaps OF many innocent |
victims. and the destruction OF much
valuable property. For Alva's death
would hardly stop the plotting already
on foot. The money was still here In
New York ready 10 be used; the propa-
gandists at Washington would never
permit IL TO long lie idle. They would
find somewhere another leader, and /
alone seemed TO be In a position TO
balk their hellish purpose. Perhaps /
a 49,. ~