The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-10-07

THE
was the weapon or murder. -. .
EIieves we were working together. an,
| this vas why / had concealed the
/ Knife"
And you? you believed thatT
81 believed In you" said earnestly.
AT first / thought it must be you :
then / saw that pin In your hat again.
when / knew / had one just like IL
hidden at the hotel. This gave me
new hope. until l returned and dis
covered my valise slit open, and the
dagger gone. l knew of no one who
would do such an actor had occa-
sion to-except you, in an effort to
destroy evidence.
Then later, when that vas cleared
up by Harris acknowledging that he
was the one who got the pin, l told him
about your having your own in your
hat at PerOnd's. He only laughed and
said you were smart enough 10 buy
another as soon as the first was
found missing; rIlat doubtless there
were plenty 70 he had"
~He's right; there are. AT least
know OF one shop on lower Broadway
where they are for sale" She stopped
suddenly, with peculiar gesture
''Why, now l think of it, Sarah Wal
dron has one exactly like mine;
bought il for her"
Ivan Waldron's wife?"
"Of course; that's rather odd. isn't
it,"
at opens up a line of thought. any
way. Could you find out. do you
suppose. if she has 1t still? What
does she know about her husband?"
The girl laughed softly.
know! Less even than I do. /
Imagine. He doesn't show up here
Sarah gets nothing from, him. She
wouldn't know-why?'
because, after all, it might be the
Russian; If it was ne would have to
lie to Harris, and pretend to know
nothing. You heard how those two
talked at Peronds. What did you
make of it?''
She drew her eyes together. leaving
the marks of a frOwn on her fore
head
THAT they had planned together to
rob Alva that Waldron was TO be
hidden somewhere outside. and was
TO wait for Harris to signal him that
the money had been paid over"
Exactly; Harris failed to learn
that the money changed hands. and
consequently did not signal But
Waldron, nevertheless, was outside
waiting; had no doubt spotted Alva's
machine, and was ready TO act. The
one thing we do not know is-did
Alva start home alone; or did one
of the men accompany him? II the
latter supposition is true then that
fellow must have committed the
murder, with Waldron possible
accomplce after the crime If not
true, then the only other solution is
that Alva picked Waldron up for com
Were they acquainted at
all?"
Il think so. but am not sure; you
said WaldrOn first reported this
chance to Harris"
so he did then it is quite possible
the two knew each other. That would
make it easy for the Russian to ask a
ride. Whoever struck the blow was in I
the rear seat. This theory fits in all !
right with his actions toward Harris"
What do you mean to dO?'
shadow WaldrOn; he is sure 10
expose himself sooner or later. We
must get away from here, out of the |
hands of these fellows. Could you
find your way TO the stairs In the |
dark"
yes. I have been here often"
''Then l am going to turn out this
light before opening the door"
She led the way confidently enough |
moving silently along the wall. |
keeping close so as to touch her. |
few steps brought us forth into the |
hall at the head of flight of stairs |
leading downward. My fingers gripped |
the banisters, while she stood aside
TO let me pass.
You better go ahead now: tie next |
flight Is directly beyond this. and
ends ar the street door"
"You will follow?'
"Of course; I shall keep right be-
hind you
We went down step by step, not q
stair creaking, or a sound louder than
our own breathing. I reached the
asst step. warned by the newell post.
md felt ahead with one cropping foot
o assure myself Of the level beyond.
Ter fingers grasped my sleeve. and
fps almost at my ear. whispered
rarely audible warning.