Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1935-05-10
CHAPTER IV-Continued


out of his pocket and banged it on the
table before him. The Arab waiter
shuffled across from some hiding place.
"Brandy"
The Arab retired, but almost imme-
diately returned. And as he set more
cognac before the customer he dropped
green slip upon the table.
Instantly the big man grabbed it,
drank his brandy at a gulp, and crossed
to the stairs. He mounted, unsteadily,
drew the curtain aside, and disap-
peared. :.
"Hello!" said Dawson Hag. "Some
thing has happened. Did you notice."
"Yes." His companion nodded. But
it is, l think as / have said There
are other rooms here; no doubt some
company of fools is meeting in one of
them, to discuss the overthrow of the
present Russian misgovernment, or
something of that kind. Our brandy
swilling friend has been summoned to
join them"
Possibly" the other murmured. But
should have liked a glimpse of that
green Slip"
Even as he spoke the Portuguese
clapped his hands, ordering the waiter
to bring cigarettes And when this or
der was eXecuted-a green slip accom-
panied the little blue-wrapped packet!
The customer visibly started at sight
of it, stood up, small, 1.-the figure,
tai no nth
had done.
Him" said Dawson Haig. "a sec
ond chance missed. / would give a
years pay, M. Ballon, to be present at
this meeting you speak Of"
The meeting to which Dawson Haig
referred was taking place in large
room two floors above. A singular com
pany was assembled.
A case of champagne had been
opened in the center of the floor. Upon
a big, handicapped table were bot
ties of whiskey, brandy, gin, absinthe
and even arak. Boxes of excellent
cigars lay upon many of the smaller
tables placed before the settees. The
air was gray almost unbreathable, with
tobacco smoke.
Out of those thick glass mugs usu-
ally employed to serve lager, the guests
were engaged in demolishing the vari-
Gus beverages provided.
AS the big man entered pipe in
hand, and stood, swaying and looking
about him with bleared eyes, wild
yells of greeting went up. The new
conner seemed bemused by his riotous
reception. One could almost watch the
slow workings of that fuddled brain.
Then, evidently having discovered the
person he was seeking, he picked his
way to narrow settee between two
curtaned windows, on which one man
lounged in superciiOus isolation
This was Gprucely groomed Egyp-
tan, his sleek black hair growing very
low upon his cheek bones With his
-shaven, olive face and very white
teeth, he was a dangerously handsome
figure A scarlet tarbush lay beside
him where he reclined supported by
many silken cushions, and there was
an open attache case upon the floor
apparently full of papers.
Hello, Maclles," he said, greeting
the newcomer in English which he
spoke with facility but slight accent
You are late. You and one other are
last to report
Watching the heavy lip twitching
under a CRAVING mustache, he thought,
"Only desperation has made you re-
port at all"
Il had HIS work and a." was the
reply. Il hadna bean. I've had bite
"or sup since yesterday morning, and
walked here from Calais"
you had well-lined purse the last
time we met, Mac, and it's your own
fault If it's empty now. But" the
Egyptian smiled meaningly into the de-
bauched face-"it will soon be well
filled again. Show me your papers, and
l will see that you have supper
The Scotsman laid a number of pa
pers, including greasy passport, upon
little table.
There you are, Chief"
The man addressed as Chief glanced
through the documents and the pass.
port; then, from the attache case he
took long envelope. He removed the