The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-09-16

L learned the purpose.
''Who is speaking?'
"The fellow YOU biffed with a bottle
tonight. No, l amt got no hard feel
ings. Besides, / got something else to
think about than a cracked dome. Say.
l got some dope on how that job was
did. an maybe could tell you some
thing else of interest | got to talk
with you privately-tnat's what. It's
matter for the girl as well as YER
self. I'm playing square as long as
you do the right thing, but / know
who the dame is, an am liable to
squeal if l get a raw deal; that's put
ting it straight. Harry"
you know who she is. you say?"
"Sure | do. Old Pierre, over at
Perond's, told me. He never forgets
face. or a name, that old duffer.
He knew you the minute you blew in.
and he knew her, too; she'd been there
before Summing"
"Who is she, then?"
That's all right know; but l
amt fool enough to blow it over the
wire. If you'll come over here and
have a talk, I'll spill few things in
your ear thatu make you wise"
where are you?"
"At COstigan's."
whats become of your partner?'
who's that-Waldron? He amt no
partner of mine Say, you must have
handed that guy some jolt. The last
| saw of him, he was laid out on
bench in Peronds back room breath
ing like stuck pig, dead TO the world.
Will you come over here?"
"What have you got TO tell me?"
"Well, there's the DANES name for
one thing. I'll bet you don't even
know who she is, or how she's string
in you. Then I'm on to where a part
of that boobies planted-anyhOw I've
got a bunch If we turn it up. I'm
still strong on the fifty-fifty PROPOSE
ton"
l turned il over swiftly in'my mind,
the receiver still at my ear. | felt no
particular fear of Harris; to be sure,
in all probability, he was only feeling
about in the dark, hoping in this way
to learn something of value, yet it
might be that he had accidentally I'M
alone was inducement enough to urge
me to take the risk. If he actually
knew who she was, he was the kind
that might become ugly, and, however
much / suspicioned her in my own
mind l had no desire TO leave her IN
defended at his mercy. Guilty or not
guilty, my inclination was to protect
her to the last Besides / was eager
to obtain the information he claimed
to possess; indeed. all progress on the
case was blocked until did obtain IT.
AS to his boast that he knew where
the stolen money was concealed, /
took little stock in that. Doubtless he
merely threw that In for good meas
ure But the other looked reasonable
enough; she had confessed being at
Perond'S before; Pierre was fully as
likely to recall her to memory as he
was to remember DAILY. and Harris
could never have made so shrewd a
guess. unless he had really been told
the facts. Another thing gave me cour-
age to go to Costigan's. l was still
accepted by these people as Harry
DAILY, crook. l would undoubtedly he
so received. so treated. Under these
circumstances there could be no per-
sOnal danger; | held the whip-hand,
the advantage-Harris was only en-
deavoring TO see what he could get
out of me: he had abandoned force
to resort to diplomacy.
"All right" / said. "I'll run over
there; if you want to play fair, I'll
meet YOU half way"
'Oh. I'm on the square, old man,
and I've got some good DOPE" he in
sisted. TN blow it when you show
up"
1 returned the receiver to the hook.
uncertain whether or not l had de-
cided rightly, yet determined to carry
out the experiment. Above all else /
wanted to learn who Marie Gessler
was. Nothing else mattered so much,
for on this discovery all else hinged
II violence, or treachery. was intended.
would be found prepared. and well
able to defend myself.
The neighborhood into which / was
venturing induced me to take a taxi,
and, within ten minutes, l was de-
posted at the door OF the saloon. /
pressed open the swinging door. and
stepped into the brilliantly lighted bar
room.
Costigan was behind the bar, but,
at sight OF me. rounded the end, and
shook hands cordially. removing his
apron, and slipping into a coat, In
token that he had changed his occupa-
ton.
Better call Charlie" he said TO a
man beside him, for I'll be Off for an
hour or so. You came to see George?"
'Yes; he telephoned me-"
"Said he was goin' to. He's waitin'
In the office there. I'll go along with
you"
He pushed a passage through the
crowd, his breadth # body according
me ample room in which to follow
without being INSTRUCTED, and opened
the closed door with a pass-key. To
q wave OF his big hand / passed con-
fidently past him, and entered. The
next instant he had pressed me for
ward. came in also, and closed the
door; the sharp click of the lock
sounded like the report Of a pistol
One startled glance at the interior
told me was trapped. and the swift