Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-22
+" Yes you may il you'll be quick

zeal moro tuan you guess Tlrst ~
us take the case for the Crown. TIL,
jeweler is travelling by coach at nigh
over the moors. He has one position
only, Roger Tails by name, and by
character shady. The jeweller has money
(he was niggardly fool to take only
one postilion), and carries diamond OF
great, or rather Of enormous and nota.
BILE value Che was q bigger fool to take
this). In the dark morning two
horses come gallopiDg back, fright
ened and streaming with sweat. A
search party goes out, finds the
coach upset by the Four Holed Cross,
the jeweller lying beside il with couple
OF pistol-bullets in him. and the money,
the diamond, and Roger TaIlis-no-
where. So much for the murdered man.
Two or three days after, you, Gabriel
Foot, by character also shady, and
known to be friend of Roger Tails,
are whispered to have suspicious
amount of money about you, also blood
stains on your coat. II further leaks
out that you we're travelling on the
moors afoot on the night in question,
and that your pistols are soiled with
powder. Case for the Crown closes
Have stated it Incorrectly ?"
nodded. He took sip or two at his
wine, laid down his pipe as if the to-
bacco spoiled the taste of it, took an
other sip, and continued
Cease for the defence. That Roger
Tails has decamped, that no diamond
has been found on you, Tor anywhere, }
and lastly that the bullets i'll the jewel
ler's body 90 not fit your pistols, but
came from larger pair. Not very much
of case, perhaps, but this last is
strong point.
"Well?" asked, as he paused.
"Now, then, for the facts of the case.
Would you oblige me by casting look
over there in the corner ?"
81 see nothing but pickaxe and
shovel"
"Ha, ha very good nothing but
pickaxe and shovel. Well, to resume
Facts Of the case. Roger Tails murders
the jeweller, and you murder Roger Tai
lis; after that, as you say, nothing but
pickaxe and shovel"
And with this, as 1 am q living sinner,
the rosy-fnced old boy took up his flute
and blew stave or two of "Come,
Lasses ana Lads !"
"Did you dig him up ?" / muttered
hoarsely ; and although deatbly cold |
could feel drop Of sweat trickling down
my forehead and into my eye.
"What, before the trial? My good,
sir, you have a fair. very fair, aptitude
for crime but believe me, you have
much to learn both of legal etiquette and
of lawyers conscience. And for the
first time since | came in / saw some
thing like indignation on that ruddy
face.
"Now," he continued. 81 either know
too much or not enough. Obviously
know enough for you to wish, and per-
haps wisely, to kill me. The question is
whether | know enough to make itworth
your while to spare me. | think l do ;
but that is for you to decide. If put
you tonight, and in half an hours time,
in possession of property worth 910, 200,
will that content you?
"Come, come" said, "you need not
try to fool me, nor think am going to
let you ont or my sight
"You misunderstood. Idesire neither;
l only wish bargain. Il am ready to
pledge you my word to make no attempt |
to escape before you are In possession Of |
that property, and to offer no resistance
to your shooting me in case you fail to
obtain it, provided, on the other hand,
you pledge your word to spare my life |
should you succeed within half an hour. |
And, my dear sir, considering the rela-
tive value of my word and yours, |
think it must be confessed you have the
better OF the bargain"
thought for moment. every
well, then," said |. $50 be it but if you
fail"
81 know what happens" replied he.
With that be blew a note or two on
his flute, took it to pieces, and care
July bestowed it in the tails of his coat.
| put away my pistol in mine.
"Do you mind shouldering that spade
md pickaxe and following me ?" he
asked. took them up in silence. He
trained his glass and put on his hat.
"Now think we are ready. Stop a
He reached across for the glass which
had emptied, took it up gingerly be.
ween thumb and forefnger, and tossed
t with crash on to the hearthstone.
lie then did the same to my pipe, after
irst swapping the stem into halves.
This done he blew out one candle, and
With great gravity led the way down the
taircase. / shouldered the tools and
while my heart hated him with
fiercer spite than ever.
We passed down the crazy stairs and
through the kitchen. The candles we're
till burning there. As my companion
danced at the supper table, "H'm," he
aid, "not bad beginning of new
eaf. My friend, | will allow you ex-
city twelve months in which to get
langed."
1 made no answer, and we stepped out
nto the night. The moon was now up,
nd the high road stretched like n white
ibbon into the gloom. The cold wind
'ore up few heavy clouds from the
but for the most part we
ould see easily enough. We trudged 6
ide by side along the road in silence, !
kept that / could hear my companion
very now and then whistllng softly to !
himself.
As we drew near to the Four Holed '
ross and the scene of the murder con- I
ess to an uneasy feeling and desire to !
ct past the place with all speed. But the I
lwyer stopped by the very spot where
nc coach was overturned, and held up a 9
niger as il to call attention. 1t was a
lvorite trick of his with the jury.
"This was where the jeweller lay. /.
ONE fifteen yards off there was another
DOL of blood. Now, the jeweller must ,
ave dropped instantly, for he was shot .
trough the heart. Yet no one doubted 3
ut that the other pool of blood was his. :
oos y
With this ne turned on the road at d
gbt angles, and began to strike rapidly h
ross the moor. At first thought he |,
as trying to escape me, but he allowed d
e to catch up readily enough, and then G
knew the point for which he was n
aklng. l followed doggedly. Clouds V
gan to gather over the moons
ce, and every now and then
umbled heavily on the uneven ground O
1t he moved along nimbly enough ii