Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-08-17

fully.
~what is it you were thinking
aboutq"
Perhaps / had better not tell.n
Another secret? Well, then. an
swer this-what do you think of
Perond'sT'
Actually l am unable to realize
where ! am" / answered honestly
''The contrast from those dark streets,
suggestive of crime, TO this brilliancy
is altogether too sudden. II has left
me dazed; my mind refuses to func-
ton
III affected me that way the first
visit. could not convince myself of
the true nature Of the place; 1t
seemed-well, altogether too respect
able. always associated the under
world with roughness and poverty. po-
lice surveillance, and all that. But
look out there; it is like a big hotel
dining-room after the play Those
women-some of them, at least--are
really elegantly dressed, and in excel
no more coarseness, than l have wit
messed at the Waldorf. The men are
not bad-looking, either, do you Think"
swell, there are all grades here
now that look about; yet, as you
say, the average is not bad. Prob
ably they win grow louder later in the
evening, when they take the lid Off"
Il don't believe they ever do-that
is, entirely. Mr.. Mclaughlin, the de-
tective who came with us, said this
was really the most dangerous place
in town from the police viewpoint. It's
very surface quiet made it a special
menace. Nothing was ever permitted
to occur here which would give the
department any excuse for a raid II
there was fight, or even a murder,
ii was hushed up instantly, and the
victim hidden away, before even the
patrOlman on the block could hear
about ii. He mentioned several cases
and said the walters were especially
selected to take care Of any rough
house"
Perhaps that is what makes Il pop
ular with the class they cater to-"
Safe, you mean. Yes; he said they
could spot any criminal of reputation
in the country at Perond's, if they
only waited long enough; that half
the big jobs in New York were plotted
at these tables"
II begin to comprehend" l said
jocularly, why was received as
distinguished guest. The .headwaiter
must have recognized me as an old
pal-my face is my fortune"
He may have mistaken you for
DAILY" she admitted soberly, hut
more likely 1t was your tip which
made him so attentive. You are some
spender, Mr.. Severn
THAT depends ON who ! am with;
this is an unusual occasion"
She did not smile, or look at me,
bu leaned slightly forward, drawing
b" TX a fold Of the curtain with one
hand, so as to gain a wider glimpse
of the large room without A mo-
ment she remained motionless; then
turned her face sideways toward me.
"waldron is already here" she whis-
pered warningly. HE is alone at that
second table, against the pillar. Step
around this side and you can see;
the man with gray, bushy hair"
could not easily have mistaken the
fellow; his appearance was too EN-
phatically that of the Russian Jew Of
certain type to enable him to con-
ceal his birthright. His back was to-
ward us, yet as he occasionally cast
his eyes about over the faces Of those
around him, had glimpse Of a
beaked nose, and a sallow, duh COM
plexion, which seemed to blend natu-
rally into scraggling beard Of no
perceptible color. His hair though
was iron-gray, apparently uncut for
weeks, and thrust back from an I'M
usually high forehead, so as to give
the man ruffled, unkempt appear
ance far from pleasing. He was big
all over, strangely buriy for a Jew,
With broad shoulders and large hands,
thickfy covered With hafr.
l moved back around the table as
Francois appeared, and resumed my
seat, keeping silent until the waiter
again vanished, and left us alone.
And now that you have located the
fellow" ! asked curiously, what do
you propose doing-go out and talk
with himf''
She shook her head.
81 have reason to believe he expects
to meet some one here" she ex-
planned. Il do not know who; that
is one thing desire to find out. From
what you have told me tonight rather
think now It may be Harris"
ITO dlvvie upTv
"To talk II over, at least; they'd
hardly bring the stuff IN here. Prob
ably by this time that Is safely
planted"
Francois came back, and we devoted
ourselves TO the meal, although / could
observe her glancing constantly
through the opening in the curtains to
make sure Of her man. Finally
Francois disappeared with tie rem
nants, willis we awaited the serving
Of dessert. From my seat could see
nothing Of the Russian.
"No one arrived yetT / inquired.
THE Jew still therei'
SHE remains alone eating. Alb my
guess was rlght-isn't that Harris,
who has just come inf"