Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-28
THE MYSTERY OF
TIL " DAGGER
BY PARRISH

All, see, Msleur-blen, tres hlen!"
heavy curtains held aside. A diyan
Of soft plush across the end, a table
covered with snowy linen. and already
Ellstening with silver and glasa, in tho
center. and three exceedingly comfort
able, chairs.
Ut is very fine, M'sieur,," I said.
Quite to my Satisfaction. You might
lower n of thoae curtains, ii you
VIM. Yes, that y much better. Is
Francois u waitere"
"oui, M'aieur; you would be
EeFVed9 Tho table de holt, Francois.
These dishes are ready-but, M'eieur,
we serve quickly whatever you wish"
He spread his hands expressively.
glanced swiftly about to assure him
self all wal we'll, and backed out. Still
politely bowling, leaving the attentive
Francois beside me pad in hand. At
my suggestion the Lady gave the or
der. using discretion. I thought, while
I supplemented with a bottle Of wine,
In spite of the energetic negative con-
veyed to me across the table. As the
waiter depaEted I surveyed my com
paaien, realizing as never before how
extremely attractive she was. She
must have read something Of this in
my eyes, for her own srniled wist-
fully:
What is it Q were thinking
Perhaps l had better not tell"
ond's7"
Actually I am unable to realize
where I am" answered honestly.
''Tbe contrast from these dark streets,
suggestive of crime. to this b%rilliancy
Is altogether too sudden. It has left
me daxed; my mind refuses to func-
tion."'
1T affected me that way the. first
visit. could not convince myself Of
the n nature of the place; It
seemed-well, altogether too respect
able, ! always associated the under
world with rouehness and poverty, Pc
lice surveillance. and all that. But
look out there; it is like a big hotel
dinine-reon after the play. These
women-seme of them. at ieas-are
really elegantly dressed, and in excel
lent tasta, and there is no more noise,
no more c%oarseness. than I have wit
messed at the Waldorf. The men are
not bad-looking. either, do YOU
Think" 80
Well there r. all grades here.
now that look about; yet, as you
say, the average is not bad. Prob
ably they will grow louder later in the
evening, when they take the lid or"
Il don't believe they eve do-that
is entirely. Mr.. AcLauEhiin, the de-
tective who came with US, said this
was really the most dangerous place
very surface quiet made 1t q special
menace Nothing was eyer permitted
to occur here which would give the
department any exeuaer for a raid. II
there was a fight. or YER q murder
it was hushed up instantly. and the
victim hidden away. before even the
patrolHan on the block could hear
about It. He mentioned several cases;
and said the walters were especially
selected te take care Of any rough
house,
Perhaps that is what makes it pop
ular. with the class they eater TO-"
Safe, yeu mean. Yes; he said they
could spot any criminal OF peputatien
IN the country at Perend's. ~ they
only waited leng enough: that half
the big jobs in New York were plotted
At these tables"
u begin to cenprehena." said
distinguished guest. The headwater
pal-my face 10 my fortune"
HE may have mistaken you for
DAly.r she admitted sobe.iy, 'bu,
more likely 1t was our tip which
made him ~ attentive. You are some
speRder, Mr.. Eevefn."
'erhAt depends on who l am with;
this - an UNUSUAL OCCASION"
she did net snaile, or lock at me,
but EsAnsd slightly forward, draWiHs
back aafeld ct the curtain with one
hand. 80 as to gain 4 wider glimpse
Of the large room without. A mo-
ment she remained nsotieniess; then
turned. her face stdeways tewerd pas.
"Waldron u already hersW she
whispered vsrninkly, HE Ii alone at
that second table, against the pillar.
@ep AFeAHd. thk Mde and you, san
zee; TIE man with gray, hgshys hair"
I could not easily hsve raistakenAthe
fellpH; bis epgeeerance VA toe en-
phatlfal1 sshsk'ef the EHsssH JSY Of
s.s sf Il: s,saShtst' eas ssas b.sg As.
xseF4 g. ysssk h 9<sesseasl!y III
Mspn4 AiH.5fyS hA4sE S4in}hfS 8
ptssddA. Nhish xiseipaH fHhJsrH H2tN;
p~etceptible color. HIS hSir tN6psG
WAS iron-sray. apparently uncut YOI