Part 24 (1/2)
With a smile Johnny handed her the two crumpled papers.
”You see,” he exclaimed, ”a Russian brigand got me in the left arm when I was guarding the Trans-Siberian Railroad. They sent me to the hospital, then gave me my discharge. Said I'd be no more good as a soldier. And after waiting for a boat that never seemed to come I hit out for the north. Nothing crooked about that at all, but I had to be a bit sly about it anyway, for Uncle Sam don't like to have you take chances even if you are discharged.”
”Oh! Johnny, that's grand!” murmured Mazie.
The rest of the journey was accomplished in silence. Now and again Mazie gave Johnny's arm a little squeeze, as if to make sure he was still there.
”Gee, kid,” Johnny exclaimed as Mazie reappeared, after a half hour in the matron's room. ”You sure do look swell.”
She was dressed in the plain cotton dress furnished by the city to dest.i.tute prisoners. But the dress was as spotlessly clean as was Mazie's faultless complexion.
”Gee, Mazie!” Johnny went on, ”I've seen you in a lot of glad rags but this tops them all. Looks like you'd just come from your own kitchenette.”
Mazie bit her lip to hide her confusion. Then blus.h.i.+ng, she said:
”Johnny, I'm hungry. When do we eat?”
”I know a nice place right round the corner. C'mon. Where's Cio-Cio-San?”
”Gone to the Emergency hospital.”
”Hanada,” Johnny exclaimed. ”I must find out about him.”
”Just came from there myself,” said the police sergeant, a kindly light in his eyes. ”I'm sorry to tell you, but your friend's checked in.”
”Dead?”
”Dead,” answered the officer, ”but he lived long enough to know that the band of world outlaws was captured. He died happy knowing that he had served his country well, and I guess that's about all any j.a.p asks.”
”Oh, yes, one more thing,” he went on; ”he cleared up that little matter of conspiracy before he died. Something that concerned him alone. You weren't in it. His part, well, you might call it treason, then again you mightn't. Considering what he's done for this country and his, we don't call it treason. It's been sponged off the slate.”
”I'm glad to hear that,” sighed Johnny, as he turned to rejoin Mazie.
CHAPTER XXI
THE OWNER OF THE DIAMONDS
Johnny did not return to his room that night. After reporting to the police station and letting them know where he might be found if needed, he secured a room in one of Chicago's finest hotels, and pulling down the blinds turned in to sleep until noon.
When he awoke he remembered at once that he had several little matters to attend to. Hanada's funeral would be cared for by his own people. But he must see Cio-Cio-San; he must get the hundred dollars promised to Jerry the Rat and he must put in a claim for the thousand dollars reward offered for the arrest of the Russian. He need bother his head no longer about the captured Radicals. There was plenty of evidence aboard the craft to condemn them to prison or deportation.
When he came down to the hotel desk he found a letter waiting for him.