The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-06-23

IleSe NitlIS ore llllil, anu tiltit ~ Nuile
bunch around tonight There's plenty
for the TWO of US, if we play the cards
right. and Well let Waldron hold the
bag. WHIST do you say. Daly?"
So NV name was "Daly." Well. thar
was interesting at least, although ii
gave me no new light. However, moth.
iG@ remained for ne to do except 2@ree
10 his blind proposition.
"That's mighty handsome Of YOU.
What's tie tigure?"
a millionw enthusiastically. wait
until ! get a chance to explain the
plan; it looks like Providence had just
handed US out the money!"
"Why not explain the scheme to
me-
"Not now; there ain't time" He
glancet; at his watch, "and besides fer
all l know, some guy might be listen
ing in 60 what We say. You see there
is a bunch O hell-catS in 1here waiting
for me 20 give then- q song and dance.
I'm the big end right now. but I've got
these guys have got from Washington.
After that Iii know how to trim sail.
You wait until | come back, DAILY, and
then Wen plan tlis thing out. You
think Pm aiming to play fair, don't
you?
l looked at him doubtfully.
"WelI Of course, I've got to think
so," admitted, hoping to gain further
enlightenment, "but you leave me
pretty we'll in the dark. What do l
really know? Nothing. You talk
glibly about million you propose 60
ing fifty-tifty with me on. Thas nat
urally sounds good, but it would sound
better if even knew who was deal
ing with. I never saw you before in
my life"
"H-l, that's So" he grinned cheer
fully, Il forgot 1 wasn't talking to an
old pal. Just to be sure you're Harry
DAILY was enough to make me cough
up, but that don't help you out, does
it? Ever hear of Gentleman George
in your travels?'
George Harris !" the name leaped
to my lips in inspiration; only the day
before I had chanced to read maga-
zine account of famous criminal ex-
plot. His eyes cleaned in genial ap-
probation.
II thought maybe that would fetch
you," he said eXultantly. "There amt
many Of the old boys but have my
number. and they all know I play
square, How is it? Will we shake
hands, and call it a deal? I've got to
get back in with that bunch"
l took the extended hand cordially,
feeling the iron grip of his fingers. |
do not believe l was ever more fright
ened in my life, although outwardly
cool enough, and my brain perfectly
clear There was no retreat possible.
I must go on, acting out the strange !
character in this drama to which I had
been assigned
"But you are not known by that
name here?' I ventured.
Il should say not. I'm Horner, P.
S. Horner of Detroit. See! That's 1.
the guy who had the papers. He was
English all right but pretended to be
United States, and had a passport to
come through with this bunch. So
I've got the bull by the tail-for cool
million, old man, a million. All I'm
afraid of is this ID woman-they al
ways did get my goat"
"Keep still, and let her show her
cards." I suggested, feeling the neces-
sity of saying something.
':Nhat I'm aiming to do. Well, so
long, DAILY. I'll be back presently with
everything straight. Better turn out
the light, or some one might wander
in here"
was alone again, in the dark, but
under vastly different circumstances
than when wandering blindly about
between those imprsoning factory
walls. With no effort of my own
purely by blind chance, I had been
given a new name and identity, and as
instantly inducted into a revolutionary
criminal plot as fascinating as it un-
doubtedly was dangerous. Who Harry
DAILY might be had not the slightest
conception. yet there was no escape
from the conviction that Harris be-
lieved blindly in my identity. He was
not acting. for he would have no pos
sible object in such pretense. l was
to his mind Harry DAILY, Well-known
criminal, an international thief. man
after his own heart, to be warmly well
coined into partnership as a most valu--
able ally.
What should l do under these
peculiar circumstances? Seek to es-
cape during his absence, and thus
frighten the covy, or remain, and trust
fortune to show me way to both ex-
pose their villainy and save myself? l
was young, adventurous, and l chose
the latter, thinking less of the danger,
1 admit. than of the mystery Of the