The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-15
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THE JEWELED CASKET
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house. 1t was one Of the few occa-
slons when I have regretted the
lack of assistants. A few spies to
report the situation, to map out the
ground--but single link is more
powerful than chain. because it has
no joints. If I failed because l
lacked followers, could console my
self by thinking of the hundreds,
aye, thousands, of men who have gone
to Jail because their confederates be-
trayed them.
But | hated to fail. From the first
moment when in Paris dance hall
had seen Cochet, the memory of his
arrogant conceit had fingered with
me. l would rather rob him than
have access to the vaults of the
Treasury. And if one man could
outwit him. / would be that man. So
/ fingered that Wednesday night in
the basement areaway Of Il house OPP
posite the mansion of Anderson.
Yesterdays balmy atmosphere had
not fingered until tonight. 1t was
bitterly cold; yet excitement and the
fear of being discovered by a passing
policeman kept me warm. And when
/ saw the White Eagle and his Sec
rotary alight from an automobile and
enter that garish palace, l knew that
my reasoning had thus far been cor
rect s. ...
Now, l had made no definite plan.
Suddenly it occurred to me that even
if the White Eagle and his compan-
ion descended the Anderson steps
carrying the fruits of crime in their
hands, it would be no easy matter
for me to deprive them of those
fruits. After all. J. was no highway
man; ] relied on wit and surprise for
my success. Why, then, was l Turk
ing in this areaway?- Before l an
swered this question, tried to put
myself in the White Eagles place.
He had cultivated Anderson's ac-
quaintance for the purpose of rob-
bling the millionaire. That robbery
must occur tonight or be Indefinite
ly postponed. 1t would be a robbery
of finesse and subtlety; the White
Eagle would not resort to violence
save in the last extremity. Now, if
the robbery were one Of violence, the
White Eagles departure from Ander-
sons house would be pellmell at
fair. Into such an affair l would
not thrust myself.
On the other hand, if finesse and
subtlety wen the battle, the two
criminals would leave their host in
leisurely fashion. In that case, where
would they go?
could not believe that the White
Eagle had brought with him many
of his Partisan followers. To do so
would be to court suspicion. The
French police keep in fairly close
touch with the detective bureaus of
other countries. 1t might be pos
sible for the White Eagle and one or
two companions to slip quietly out of
France without attracting notice
But if he took many of his followers
with him, he would be running an
unnecessary risk.
1t was fair to assume, then, that
in this American venture of his, he
was working practically alone-in
which case he would not have mahy
different rendezvous where he and
his followers could meet. Also, the
White Eagle, like any great general
and he was that-prepared in ad-
vance for defeat. He would not wish
to flee. bliRdly in the event of vic
fnrVs and nf lnfnn{ - ,un,,lI
not perhaps be necessary to flee. In
other words, if the White Eagle did
not succeed in robbing Anderson, he
would return quietly to the house
which he had rented. And if he sue
ceeded in robbing the millionaire, he
would probably return to that house.
In his stay of several months in New
York he must have acquired certain
things of value and of bulk, which he
would wish to take with him in the
event of flight. And probably, un-
questionably, if l knew the man, he
would accomplish his purpose SO
subtly that he would have start OF
crime was discovered.
Having no followers here to guard
other rendezvous, it was almost in
evitable that he would return to his
house. ! was cooling my heels to no
purpose here.
So ( went to the side street on
which the White Eagle lived. Ar
rived in the neighborhood of his
house, and following the same train
of reasoning which had brought me
here, decided that he must have let
his servants go for the night, if he
had not, indeed, discharged them.
Nothing venture, nothing gain!
boldly rang the bell at the servants
entrance slightly below the street
level. / rang it half dozen times.
And then did something which l
rarely do, but at which am extreme
~ capable. l picked the lock and
entered the house.
CONTINUED in Our Next Issue)