The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-04-27
again and spoke:
81 scarcely expected you"

81 scarcely expected you"
/ grunted something in answer.
"But | might have known something
was up II I'd only paid attention to my
flute. 1t and | are not in harmony to.
night. 1t doesn't like the secrets I've
been blowing into it; it has heard
lot of queer things in its time, but its
an innocent minded flute for all that,
and I'm afraid what I've told it to-
night is a point beyond what it's pre-
pared to CO."
81 take IL IL knows id deal too
much," growled l.
He looked at me sharply for an in
slant, rose. whistled a bar or two of
Like Hermit Poor" reached down
couple of clay pipes from the shelf,
filed one for himself and gravely
handed the other with the tobacco to
me.
"Beyond what it is prepared to 60"
ne echoed quietly, sinking back in
his chair and putting at the pipe. "It's
a nice point that We have been discuss
ing together, my flute and l, and | won't
say but that I've got the worst of it.
BY the way, what do you mean to do
now that you have fresh START"
Now l had not tasted tobacco for
over four months and its effect now
upon my wits was surprising. 1t seem
cd to oil my thoughts until they work
ed without hitch. and | saw my plan
'"t acacn marked OUT uit5blainly be-
ore me-
DO You want to know the first step
= alp l asked. 4E.a
ITO be snre; the first step at any
rate determines the direction"
"Well, then," said l, very steadily,
and staring into his face, ''the first
step of all is that am going to kill
you
Him. said he, after bit, and de-
clare that not so much as an eyelash
of the man shook, 81 thought as much.
| gnessed that when you came into the
room. And what next"
thine enough to think of what
next" l answered; for though / wa4
-et upon blowing bis brains out, /
longea for bin to blaze out into a
pa,sion and warm up my blood for
he job. ....e. g.Frra n.
pardon me- he said as coolly as
might be, ''that would be the very
worst time to think of it. For Just
consider; In the first place you will al
ready be committed to your way of
life, and secondly, if l know anything
about you, you would be far too. fur
ried for any thought worth the name"
There was a twinkle of humor in
his eye as be said Of this, and in the
silence which followed l could hear
him chuckling to himself, and, tasting
the words over again as though they
we're good wine, I sat lingering my
pistol and waiting for him to speak
again. When he did so, 1t was with
another dry chuokle and long puff of
tobacco smoke. ~ II rr
"As you say, I know deal too
much. Shall tell you how much?"
eyes, you may if you'll be quick
about it," - EF .r-e
every well, then, will, Do you
mind passing the bottle? Thank you.
| probably know not only too much,
but deal more than you guess. First,
let us take the case for the crown.
The jeweler is travelling by coach at
night over the moors. He has one
position only, Roger Tails by name,
and by character shady. The jewrler
has money Che was Diggardly fool to
take only one ,postiliouD, and carries a
diamond of great or rather of enorm-
Gus aud notable value (he was bigger
fool to take this). In the dark morn
ing two horses came galloping back,
frightened and streaming with sweat.
A search party goes out, finds the
coach upset by the -Four Holed Cross,
The jeweler lying beside it with a
couple of pistol bullets in him, and the
nohey, the diamond and Roger Tails
nowhere. So much for the murder
ed man. Two or three days after. you,
g briel Foot. by character also shady,
y d known to be a friend of Roge'
rallls, are whispered to have suspic-
ious amount of money about you, also
'iood stains on your coat. 1t further
esks out that you were travelling on
the mnors afoot on the night in ques
tion, and that your pistols are soled
with powder. Case for the Crown
closes. Have stated it correctly ?"
l nodded he took sip or two at
his wine, laid down his pipe as if the
tobacco spoiled the taste OF it, took
another sip, and continued:
"Case for the defense. That Roger
Tails has decamped, that no diamond
has been found On you (or anywhere)
and lastly that the bullets in the jewel.
er's body do not fit your pistols, but
came from larger pair. Not very
much of a case, perhaps, but this last
is a strong point"
"Well o. | asked, as he paused.
"Now, then, for the facts of the case
Would you oblige me casting look
over there in the corner"
81 see nothing but pickaxe and
shovel
"Hs! Ha! very good nothing but a
pickaxe and shovel Well, TO resume
Facts of the case. Roger Tails mur
ders the jeweler and you murder
Roger Tails after that, as you say
nothing but pickaxo and shovel"
And with this as | am living sin
uer, the rosy,faced old boy took up hi'
| flute and blew stave or two of "Com,
Lassies and Lads"
"Did you dig him upi" l mutter, {
hoarsely and, although deathly cold
| could ieel drop of sweat tricklinl
down my forehead and into my eye.
"What, before the trial' My gooC
sir, You have fair, very fair aptitud,
for crime but, believe me, you hsv,
much TO learn both of legal etiquett,
and of lawyers conscience" AnC
for the first time since came in | saw
something like indignation on tina
ruddy face.
"Now,' he continued, ~ either know
too much or not enough. Obviously
know enough for you to wish, and per
hsps wisely, to kill me. The question
is, whether know enough to make i
| mouth ynnr x.,hiia 40 anara ,,,a III,