Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-23
THE MYSTERY OF
THE SILVER DAGGER
BY RANDALL PARRISH

in the drizzle. By hat time I was
ready with a suggestion, but by good
fortune he took the initiative. 2
I'VE better slip out of here alone, I
this way, and then you take a sneak
through the lumber yard. Likely We'll
catch the same a going down. If we
don't, look me up at Costigan's place
You know where that is?"
sixth avenue, isn't it,"
Sure. Ask Tor Parker, and it will
be all rights If I amt in, leave a note
where I a hunt you up. l got to
keep my eye on Alva tomorrow, so he
don't get away with tha stuff"
"You expect him to draw" .
mot before night; but, just the
same, I want to know for sure. You
wait here five minutes, for rye got the
longest trip to make. You'll show UP
all right 2" H.
You can't lose me: it looks too
good" ~,
! He chuckled and patted me on the
! shoulder in an excess Of friendliness,
whisky he had beer imbibing so free
long" :. 1 V,
He slipped out through the gate
into the dark Of the alley, leaving it
slightly ajar for me to follow. I shell
tered myself. behind. the high board
fence and listened to the soft slush OF
his feet in the mud. The sound van
ished, Jand all about was silence: and
darkness. I waited only long enough
to be sure he was safely out Of the
way, and then followed, eager to be
off. One thing was certain. I would
! make no effort to join him on the car;
I would use the remainder Of the
night to decide the future, working
out the. problem alone. %
To make certain thai T avoided, any
possibility of e~ncountering the fellow
again, I passed directly through the
deserted lumber yard before emerging
was at this hour desolate enough, not
a light showing in the houses, or a
moving figure visible as far as !
could see in the dimness of the street
lamps. The rain was steady, the pave
ment shimmering with moisture, the
only sound the pattering of the drops
as they fell. If any policemen were
abroad I saw no signs, and, with. col
lar turned up to my ears 1 CHOSE to
east and the possibility Of a street car.
The factory district ended in a row
Of houses, dark and silent at this hour,
but the walking was good, and j
pushed forward briskly, SO buried in
thought as to become practically in
sensible to the unpleasant surround
ings. The night had been q full one,
far exceeding my expectations, YET
left me more puzzled than ever as tc
act Of crime with which these men
could be connected; they were mere
ly proposing a future attack on a neu-
trail government. If, however, I con.
sented to play my part with Harris, ]
would not only be in ample time to
circumvent any danger Alva and his
gang might contemplate, but also gain
ample evidence for their conviction
and expulsion from this country. In
to block the daring plans OF this inter-
national thief. Altogether it seemed
to me that the wiser course for me tc
Ipursue was to wait, and watch, ready
to act at any moment: but keeping my
own council until certain that the
specific moment had arrived.
Nor was l ObliviOuS to the strange
impression left upon me by my en-
counter with Marie Gessler. She had
drive her memorySfrom my Thoughts
Our moment of conversation had beer
peculiar, and her words and action.
remained as q constraint. Why had
she stood there, her hand on the door,
and talked to me in that knocking
way? Had she. a. purpose, an aim I;
Did she believe mya explanation? OF
was her suspicion aroused into. q de
termination to verify It In some way!
Although, I could not decide. We;
doubtless the latter theory was tn
most probable. That was why had
been pledged to call .at "3N X
Compte street" and ask for miss
ConradX This was the same place
where Harris had secretly met Krantz
Evidently 1t was another headquarter,
for these precious Villains. Once there
and safely in their power. the truth
OF my identity could easily be estab-
lished. Was that her 5idea?
II 70, who then vas Miss Conrad?'
Not Marie Gessler. certainly under
another name. for she would have re-
turned TO Wash.ngton. There was nc
doubt ~ to that, for 9Alva had agreed
to take her directfto the depot In his
Town car. and would scarcely leave un-
til she was, safely on the train Prob
ably the other woman Was q confed-
crate with whom she would communi-
cate by telephone. Ny clearer judg-
n1ent told me all thu, made me fully
conscious OF. the danger Of keeping
Ithla lnkunoiutMe14~ vt neNer~aweexAd