The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-23
HIS SACRIFICE.


There Is no one but myself in England now
who knows exactly how it happened. and
as was thinking over 1t tonight Some
thing IN the papers about clever detective
IN New York brought it all fresh to my
mind il seemed TO me such queer story
altogether that think it Will interest others
10 know it.
! must just alter one or two of the names,
that's all, because it is not so very long
since 1t happened. and it came out in one or
two papers at the time. but all more or less
VIDE Of the mark. None Of them had inst
the rights of it.
You see, no one could make out how
Allan got away so easily-n0 one except nv
friend and l, and one man over the seas
and not even the cutest Yankee could ever
guess the truth. Ii is stranger than fiction,
as you will find. But this is the story 1t
IS not my story at all; l mean, not about
my own lie. 1t Is about friend of mine.
George MarksOn. IL | told you his real
name, you would probably remember at
once: he was one of the best known detec-
tlyes of that time
Talk about five senses, George had tan at
least He could see around case and
through a man, and into your mind a tpost
and tel vCu what You were think 70 of
better than you knew urself. And ali so
4ulel; you would not think he saw much
and forgotten nothing. l have known him
look IN room lie had never seen before and
IN the evening, when we were sitting to-
getheT, be would describe that room, down
20 the makers name on the clock, as mi
nutely as II he were holding a picture Of it
DO his hard at the time
lie worked on his own account and he
had constant and well-paid employment
since he tracked the man who robbed the
t2' at W westminster. You NAV remem her
nh
traced BIN. after long search. to Paris and
spolied him there as garcou In cafe-a
good disguise, too.
George was In Spain after that for long
tine and then went to Cairo, so l did not see
him for more than a year. He came back
WItA a reputation more brilliant than ever,
and settled down into the same rooms he
had shared with me before he left
lie was middle-aged man when knew
him, and the severe mental strain of his en-
pIoyment. together with home troubles.
made him seem older than he was bis
wife, 10 whom he had been much attached.
had died many years before. His only son,
too, lad turned out badly, got into debt-the
old story Of weak will Influenced by bad
c0mpanions-and then had cmigrated TO the
gold diggings. and was believed TO have died
there, after few more years of riot and
dissipation. His father had built MANY
Eoies On his only son, and carried about
an unheGled wound caused by the bitter
disappointment Of all his expectations.
at the time L am writing about / saw
there was something more than usual on
Georges mind. He never talked much
about what he YES engaged in and I took
care never to bother him with questions. but
Il happened that a chum OF mine named
Miles told me that George bad missed a
good ciew, and that another man named
SmOIlett was beginning to make a name,
and as now bent on outdoing George. He
had once run to earth some one whom
George had failed to trace and his reputa-
ton was secure To outshine one of the
best men at work was high game to try
for. but Smollelt was trying. no less.
Not long after | met Miles again in Ok
ford street. He told me that Smollett had
scored again. ami that George had missed a
md he had made pretty sure Of.
| pooh poohed the whole thing.
Chance. all chance. Fine thing for
ment. no doubt" | said. feeling rather net
tied, l own. "Wait a bit and you will see
which is the best man OF the two"
I'm back SIN" began Miles. but he
remembered that George was my friend and
said 0 more
l came across Miles in very nearly the
same place next day. Heard the latest?'
he shouted. and then proceeded TO explain
that a forger, who had been wanted for
some time, was supposed TO be in London
and that large reward was offered for him.
Both on the war trail, this time," said
Miles. which will be the best man now,
eb? Getting exciting. isn't it?"
That evening George, who had been out
ali day, came quickly into the room after
/ knew by his look that he was employed
on some important mission. His brows
were drawn down into single straight
line, and his lips were firmly pressed
together.
he stood for some time on the hearth
rug, evidently deep In thought. He had not
removed his top-coat.
Are you of again. / remarked.
Ae looked up suddenly.
Going to drive to Holloway" he said.
"Will you come?'
knew by this that he would tell me
more Of his errand. l rose at once. He
looked at his watch.
1.-The cab viii be around here in a few
minutes" he said quickly. I'm tell you
what it is. Tom, If i miss this l shall give
up this work altogether. 1 have not been
very lucky lately, old man, though / have
not worried you about my affairs"
They meyer IVORY me-" l began; 81 only
wish you"
''you think your back is broad en- ough to
carry my cares as well as yours, but you
shall never have mine to bother you, Tom.
while you have got any or your own. This
is the thing you have heard Of" and then
he went Oh TO tell me the details of the case
that Miles had referred TO.
Il came across the track this afternoon"
he said land now ii is only question of
time" lie drew deep breath OF relief and
threw his shoulders back. IL did make a
mess Of that last thing, and that makes me
more keen about this. You see, there's a
mani knew he meant Smolett-"who
would give good bit TO get hold Of this job
before me, but there's not much fear OF my
losing il now"
He smiled as he spoke. and looked more
hOpefu than he had done for long time.
We said nothing more aud drove off.
1t was wet, cold night, and | was glad
when the cab stopped and we left it at the
corner Of shabby looking side street.
Third floor on the right" said George,
partly to himself, ''past the coslysrd over
the butchers. You wait here two minutes,
Tom; il l am not down then. follow me.
Back room on the top of staircase. l may
want you. Don't stand in the wet. Here's
a doorway to shelter in
At the end Of two minutes ] was climbing
softly up the narrow, dark staircase. No
sound Of voices anywhere.
Birds flown, bad luck TO him." l thought.
lawfully hard on George, poor fellow"
l was at the top when suddenly there
came the sound, so seldom beard, OF mans
voice, broken by sobs. striving to speak
quickly and coherently.
"Ahi found it's no gO-confessing his sins
] suppose" | smiled TO myself, and pushed
the door ajar.
An, how could / have known Georges
voice. always so quiet, 80 self-coDtrolIed
How could / recognize George himself.
kneeIiDg on the floor by the side Of miser-
able bed, holding in his arms the figure OF
man? a head was on his shoulder. His
hands were smoothing back the dark hair
from thn white face, on which his own
tears were fast falling.
Come, my boy, no time TO lose. You
know me2 Bob. dear. quick; say you
know me-your father. You must get out
of this. No one knows but me. Bob. no
one will know, no one will follow you
quick quickp'
He turned round and saw me. lie had
forgotten my existence, bat now seemed to
think that / knew everything.
No explanation that this was his lost son.