The Carter Express. (Carter, Okla.), Vol. 12, No. 27, Ed. 1 Friday, September 23, 1921 Page: 2 of 8
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>' The
STEP
?OF THE
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^I^lNDAtLP^ISH
AUTHOR Or ,
THE JTRAN&i CATE / CAVENDISH
♦ ♦ ♦ Illustrations-
^-weil
COPYRIGHT, BY RANDALL PARRISH
CHAPTER IX—Continued.
—14—
"Say, where the h—I have you been?
What is this, a double-cross, Wal-
dron?"
“What vou mean?” ejaculated the
other. "By Gott! It Is rather you I
should injk why you not tell me the
truth ?"
“Tell you! What the devil have I
got to tell you? Don't get funny with
nie. You sent tue a note this morning,
didn’t you?"
"Sure I did.”
“Well, then, why didn't you meet
me? D—n It, I've been hunting you nil
day long. What's the Idea? Come,
blurt It out, before I wring your d—n
Jew neck."
Waldron spread his hands, nnd lifted
his shoulders in au expression more
eloquent than words.
“What a man I You cuss ms. but
not wait to hear why this all was so.
You sit down, and I tell you. Then
maybe you tell me something also.”
Harris stared at him, then sank Into
the vacant chnlr opposite, still scowl-
ing angrily across the table. A waiter
pnused at his elbow expectantly, and,
In response to something said, the
thief Jerked out a surly answer.
“No, I don't wnnt anything to eat.
Bring me some whisky—a half pint—
with a little water. Yes, thnt's all;
now get out of here."
At this moment Francois returned
with our final course, obliging us to
appear Indifferent to the quarrel rag-
ing beyond tne curtains. Both men
must have lowered their voices, for
our ears caught nothing of what was
said. It seemed to me the waiter was
unusually slow In rearranging the table.
“There, that will do, Francois,” I
broke out, at last. Impatiently. “We
will want nothing else nt present
When I need you again 1 will ring.
That Is the belt I presume."
“OnI, M’sfeur."
“All right; then leave us nlone for
a while.”
Neither one of ns touched a thing,
the coffee growing cold in the cups,
as we endeavored to distinguish what
was going on at that second table out
in the main dining room. I came
around beside her, to where I could
peer out also beneath the curtnln
fold, and thus gain glimpses of the
two men. They were talking earnest-
ly, but had lowered their voices, until
they were nearly inaudible amid the
din of the place. The anger and threat
had gone out of both voices; but only oc-
casionally could we weave together
words Into an understandable sen-
tence ; these came to us detached, un-
related, as the surrounding noise
ceased suddenly, or the music came
to a pause.
"You didn’t get It! Then who the
h—1 did? Me, J should say no; why
I never knew the old man had even
slipped him the dough. That d—n
girl rode down with him. Of course
1 do; I saw them go out together;
that’s why I thought' I was playing
safe to keep away. Somebody has
played us for suckers. If you had
kept your d—n mouth shut we’d a-had
It easy.”
Waldron broke In. stung by this last
taunt into elevating his voice.
“What you mean, I keep my mouth
shut? So help jne, Moses, I tell no-
body."
“The h—1 you didn't! You blabbed
the whole thing to Daly. He told me
,eo hlirfself. That’s what I was doing
last night, bluffing him out.”
“I tell Daly? Where you git that
stuff? I ain’t seen Daly for three
year. Was he In this deal? Why you
not tell me of Daly before?”
“Tell you 1 1 never knew It until
he told me.”
A waiter brushed pnst him, bearing
a tray, striking against one shoulder
as he passed. Harris glanced up with
a snarling oath, and, before I realized
the danger, his eyes must have caught
« glimpse of me beneath the draped
curtain. Instantly the fellow was on
his feet, ail etse forgotten In a swift
wave of passion.
••There's the guy now!” he burst
forth. “He’s hiding In that booth; I
saw him. Come on, and we’ll have
the stiff cough up yet!"
I drew back swiftly, pushing the
girl behind me. There wus ao place
In w filch to hide, no chance for
escape. Perhaps I could explain, but.
If not, then I must fight. The two
came plunging through the opening
nnd faced us, die heavy curtains drop-
ping behind them and shutting out all
view beyond. Harris, Inliamed by
drink, glared about as though doubt-
ing the evidence of his own eyes, but
his expression wus that of savage
hatred.
“H—I. If they ain’t both of’em here I
Say, this Is rich. So you two are In
cahoots, hey? Thought you’d ploy me
for a d—n fool, did you, Daly? Well,
I’ll show you what you're up against—
you nnd yer girl. Come now, where’s
that boodle?”
“I know nothing about It, Harris."
“You're a liar. TI4s dame went
away with Alva In his cur. I saw her
go out with him. You cough up, both
of you. and be d—n quick about It,
or you’ll never get out -T here with-
out a hole through you. You think
you can double-cross me; I’ll show
you a trick of my own 1”
He was reaching for his gun. It
must have caught In his pocket, though
I wasted no time. It was his life or
mine, and I gripped the empty wine
bottle on the tuble and smashed a
vicious blow at his head. He went
down like a tog, his body- half project-
ing through the curtains, while I
wheeled nbout bnrely In time to meet
the mnd bull rush of Waldron. The
Russian could not have been armed,
for he came at me with bare' hands,
his grip like thnt of a bear. For an
Instant he had me throttled, scarcely
nble to breathe, my hands plnDed help-
lessly In the grasp of his arms. But
brute strength was all he possessed,
brute strength nnd ferocity. The bot-
tle was crushed out of my fingers, yet
I wriggled partially free, and got one
hnnd twisted Into his whiskers, Jerk-
ing his head back, nnd le-wise. until
tj)e strained neck threatened to crack,
and he had to release his grip to
protect himself. It was all over In a
minute, but hot while It lasted; I
know we struck against the girl,
throwing her to her knees; I know the
fellow stumbled over Harris’ legs, giv-
ing me n chance to drive home one
fist square intp his face. I heard
him rip out a Hebrew oath, and saw
blood staining his Ups. I tried to
break away from him, but It was no
use; yet the effort opened his guard
for a swift uppercut, and I let him
have It straight to the chin. He
crashed back ncross the table, and
hung there dangling, arras outspread
and head In a broken dish. Before I
could strike again, or even recover
my breath, the curtains were thrust
violently aside, and the hen 1-waiter,
hacked by a half dozen subordinates,
came tumbling In over Harris’ Inert
body. Even ns they stared nbout, I
helped the girl to her feet, and faced
them.
"What happen here, M'sleur? What
hnppen?" shrieked the excited French-
man. “You keel ze men? What?”
“Not they're Just knocked but. A
little private affair, that’s all,” I said,
too exhausted to speak clearly. “See
here, M'sleur,” and I thrust the first
bill 1 could reach Into bis hand. "Hush
this up, will you, and let the lady
and me get out of here."
He dashed about frantically, wring-
ing Ills hands and gesticulating.
“Oui, oul I Eet shall be so. There
ees to be no trouble, no police. Ze
men attack you, M'sleur Daly—I see
eet all; you protect ze Madame. There
be no noise, no peestul—blen I Fran-
cois, Jules, you will help ze lady an’
ze gentleman to go—quick.”
The two waiter-guardians held back
the curtains for us to pass through.
The main dining room wus not as dis-
turbed ns 1 anticipated It might be.
As we came forth and made our way
down the ulsle under escort, we were
gazed nt curiously, but no demonstra-
tion followed.
A group of waiters stood before the
outer door, evidently collected there
to prevent any alarm from reaching
the outside. To the signal of Francois
these stepped aside, permitting us to
pass through into the , vestibule.
1 assisted my companion Into her
coat, and then tastily struggled into
my own. She was pale, but her eyes
met my own bravely, and her bund
touched my arm ns we went up the
steps. Above, all remained quiet and
dark.
"Wbnt next?" I asked.
"I believe there are taxis around the
j corner."
“Oood; 1 would prefer riding to
walking, myself. Where do you wish
to be taken?”
“Back to the hotel, please."
In the semi-darkness of the cab I
felt her hand touch mine gently, as
though half afraid.
"Oh, 1 was so frightened—so sorry
to have brought you there. It was all
my fault The Russian bad a knife.”
“Yes, I know; 1 caught a glimmer
of It, but he went down and out for
the count before It could be used.
There Is nothing to worry over now,”
"They did not get the money?" •
“No, that Is clear enough. Some-
body got the bulge on theiq, and they
are very properly sore. You* heard
Harris swenr you left with Alva."
"Harris knows nothing Hbout It: you
must believe me." ,
"1 Intend to—certainly as against
Harris."
She may not hnve been altogether
plensed with my answer, for she said
no more until we drew up at the hotel
entrance. She waited while I settled
with the chauffeur, and we crossed
the wide pavement together.
“It may be best for you not to come In;
one never knows.”
"This is not a finnl parting, I hope?"
“Perhaps so, perhaps uot. You do
not wholly trust me. Some day I mean
you shall. Good-night."
I felt her hand in mine, Just for a
moment; then the doors opened and
closed, leaving me alone.
CHAPTER X
The Proof of Murder—The Back Room
of Coatlgan’e
I watched her through the glass
doors until she vanished among the
crowd In the lobby. I could not per-
mit her to go away like this; to get
beyond my sight and knowledge—yet
I hesitated too long, until she had
merged Into the swirling crowd and
was lost.
It was Indeed a strange feeling of
loneliness which swept over me In
that moment. Never before had I felt
such depth of Interest In a woman, or
experienced such regret at parting.
“What Is This, a Double-Cross, Wal-
dron?"
With no apparent effort, seemingly ut-
terly Indifferent, she had nevertheless
become intwlned with my life, her
presence a necessity for my happiness.
The soft pressure of her body, the
touch of her hand, was intoxication;
the glance ,of her eyes sent the warm
blood pulsing through my veins. She
had become to me an Inspiration, a
memory to dreom over, a hope no
longer to be resisted.
This was strange, so strange as to
be beyond understanding. I argued
It with myself, but to no result. The
fact would not be denied. Here was
an unknown woman, original and
beautiful, to be sure, yet one whose
very Identity wns shrouded In mys-
tery. To all appearances she was ac-
tively engaged In conspiracy against
the government of Chile, In a crime
ngalnst human life. She was unques-
tionably the authorized agent of a
gang of revolutionary plotters—I had
witnessed their reception of her as
one of their own, and could not doubt
the evidence of my own eyes. She
had borne them Instructions, and stood
In their midst, In secret conclave,
speaking as one having authority.
More than thnt, even, she had refused
to deny this connection, to reveal her
came, or acknowledge any other pur-
pose. She had used me to further her
ends, whatever they might be, prey-
ing upon my personal Interest In her,
and yet refusing to lift a single fold
of this curtain of mystery.
What could It mean, but that she
was secretly ashamed to permit of my
full understanding? The thought of
the stolen money, the murder of Alva,
recurred to me; the Invitation I had
overheard for her to accompany him
on his fatal trip, and her accept-
ance; the positive assertion of Harris
that she bad done so; her confessed
knowledge that the money had actual-
ly been given Into the possession of
the Chilean captain; the nature of the
weapon with which he had been
killed; her remaining In New York In-
stead of returning to Washington. I
could not blot these things out, no
matter how hard I endeavored to
reconcile them with her denials. I
trusted her; I would continue to trust
her ngalnst the world, yet deep down
In my heart lingered a question un-
answered. If she wns honest, square,
actuated by some worthy purpose, why
did she still refuse to confide In me?
Surely I had been sufficiently tested—
and she knew who I was. If she was
the sister of a classmate whom 1 knew
and loved, whut necessity remained
for the concealment of her name?
What, Indeed, except shame at the
part she was playing In this sordid
drama of life? Some of my earlier
suspicion had been eradicated, for now
It wns clearly demonstrated that It
could not have been hr,- knife which
had pierced Alva’s heart. Whatever
else I might believe against her. this
evidence no longer existed, for she
still wore the dagger In her hat. Pecu-
liar as the design was, the weapon
locked In my valise, which I had
picked up blood-stained on the floor
of the car. wns not hers; It had been
wielded In Its deadly work by some
other hnnd. But whose? Did she
know? Did she even suspect the as-
sassin? Was she even now endeavor-
ing to conceal his Identity? These
questions were unanswerable; 1 could
only partlnlly drive them back by
memory of the girl herself; It was
Impossible to recall her vividly to
mind, and yet associate her with so
foul a crime.
1 was still Immersed' In such
thoughts, mentally struggling for her
honor, nnd my own Justification, when
I finally attained the quiet of my room.
I was squarely up against u stone
wall; there wns no light perceptible
anywhere. Neither Harris nor Wal-
dron was guilty of this crime; they
were obliterated from further con-
sideration. These two worthies hnd
undoubtedly done their best, but had
been outgeneraled by some one else;
nnd, whoever that other might be, he
had made a clear get-away, leaving
not even a lurking suspicion behind
him. It wns the Job of a master-thief,
an expert In ertmei—or else had been
accomplished through the blind luck
of some , one whose very identity
cloaked any possibility of suspicion.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
FEAR GHOST OF BIG WOODS
Reported Appearance of “Stick Si-
wash" Causes Indians to Abandon
Hunting Grounds Precipitately.
The "Stick Siwash” has returned to
haunt the trapping grounds north of
Fort St. James. Terror stalks the wil-
derness trails and panic grips the In-
dians. If a brave hears the crackle
of a twig In *he woods he looks about
him la fear that this ghost of the big
woods Is dogging his steps. A num-
ber of Indians, it is said, have been
frightened off their trap lines.
Fort St. James Is one of the oldest
posts in British Columbia owned by
the Hudson’s Bay company. It was
founded in 1806 by Simon Fraser, the
pioneer explorer for whom the Fraser
river was named. Several hundred
Indians live about the fort and market
their furs there.
“Me ketchum fox In trap,” said
Musk-a-no-wah, who has abandoned his
trap line on Munson creek. “Me hear
little Dolse. Look up. See Stick Si-
wash. He heap big Indian. Got war
paint on. He look mean. He say
nothing. Wave tomahawk like he say,
‘You get out.’ Me heap scared. Shuke
like leaf. Me run back to camp. Tell
squaw and papoose. Pock up and
get out heap quick, by golly, you bet.
Stick Siwash bad medicine.”
Other Indians have brought back
the same story from the Manson creek
region. The “Stick Siwash” has long
figured In the trudltlons of British
-Columbia tribes. The name means
ghost of the big woods. “Stick” Is
slang for forest and “Siwash" Is a
corruption of the French word "Sau-
vage,” and Is applied to all the Indians
of the Pacific coast. The superstitious
natives believe the appearance of the
apparition presages misfortune to the
tribes.
The “Ads” of Old.
Advertising Is not a new art by any
means. Advertisements of a kind ap-
proaching our modern Ideas were In
vogue In ancient Egypt, Greece and
Rome. These, however, were mostly
descriptions of runaway slaves, offers
of reward for lost property, and so on.
The people of Pompeii went much
further. On the excavated walls of the
burled city hnve been found an-
nouncements of gladiatorial shows,
with rough pictures of fuvorlte gladia-
tors, etc., that must be taken ns an-
ticipations of the modern picture pos-
ter.
It Is n poor policy to buy books for
the sake of the colored covers, or to
make friends for the Sake of their
clothes.
A soft answer may turn away wrath,
but It usually invites another question
it’s toasted, of
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in the flavor-
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WRITE FOB FREE LAM) LIST describing
19 small farms ideally located Southeast Ar-
cansas. Bennett Real Eat. Co.. Dennott, Ark.
Mentally Bankrupt
“Reggie is in a had way; his mind
Is unsettled.” “So? Well If It ever
settles it will not be for more than
20 per cent.”
“O Happy Day" sang the laundress
as she hung the snowy wash on the
line. It wns a "happy day” because
she used Red Cross Ball Blue.—Adver-
tisement
When n man knows but one thing he
feels capable of giving advice on all
subjects.
Sure
Relief
6 Bell-ans
Hot water
Sure Relief
re ll-ans
hWFOR INDIGESTION
Clear Baby’s Skin
With Cuticura
Soap and Talcum
Smp 25c, Oiabsent 25 ud 50c, Tiles* 2Sc.
')
HEMLBBSggBBSaag
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Cain, George W. The Carter Express. (Carter, Okla.), Vol. 12, No. 27, Ed. 1 Friday, September 23, 1921, newspaper, September 23, 1921; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc956727/m1/2/: accessed April 19, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.