New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-25


heap that looked If ii hadn't got perfect right
10 be there. and l brought it away. That's
my way. Mr. Pym-never to pass anything
can't explain.
The only way" Pym answered, still scrutin-
izng the little object in his palm The only
way" He laid the thing down and as If by ac-
cident left the monocle lying on It, | construed
this into tacit command to me not TO NEEDLE
with il.
you found nothing else that puzzled you
there he asked in voice of cheerful common
place.
Nothing else there" Prickett answered with a
half laugh. which was more rucful than mlr'hiu'
"but the whole jobs corker. OF course We
looked at it all round 1t isn't because suffering
relative Is very much cut up that take my eye
off him If he's the one 10 profit by ii. 1t ism De-
cause he offers large reward ana makes nm
self very busy that he hoodwinks me II I'll
got fifteen thousand year Of my own shouldn
want to put cousin out q the way Tor IN" SAKE
o. fifteen thousand more But then You see MI
Pym. I'm not everybody. s. many men 50 many
minds as the saving *. Now that injured mana.
and that burned building burn ant that an
ferent to look at from a scald. is IL? Bnt I've
reckOncd up for everything. ana m lalrN cor
nercd."
How was the hand njured?'' Ppm asked
"Steam-sudden escape of steam. It's patent
contrivance." said Prickett eve looked al II
myself. Housekeeper heard the governor yelling;
up and found the bathroom fun OF steam an ,i
him writing on the floor She shut the steam OH
and scalded her own fingers a bit
when was that?
'Wen. said Mr. Prickett. 'ft the very day
the house burned. and about the same hour
1t was seen TO be alieht \ hundred ara IlrlN
mile away. ! was that fixed AT first on MI
Cafery-not such an ass a II be DECIDED. You
know. sir but resolved to fix him through |
made particular inquiries. The housckeepe' Mrs
Meeking. settled the thing in minute Shed
note from Mr. Gallery. Home at tomorrow
1t was dated October 81 He got home the day
she got the note r,,,
you don't make it seem too hopeful. Prckett
said Pym laughing. 80
We'll. no. sir" said Prickett demurely !
ricrl,f ~ lr.sf -sssf RI
hopeful
Look here Prickett" Ppm got up suddenly
and proppcd himself against the mantelpiece win
his back 10 the fire and one slipperei foot crossed
over the other. How long have You passed as 4
moderate and retiring man?
i've always had modest sense of my own
value sir" said the Inspector. with quet
twinkle. Il shouldn't have been where D.. am Il
l hadn't had that. Mr.. Ppm. now should ]?
"Now do you really want me to believe that you
think I'm sharper than YOU are at the kind oil
work in which you have passed your lifetime?
We'll" returned Mr. Prickett with an infinite
demure dryness, Il should say you was sir
'You humbug" cried Pym. laughing again
II beat you once by accident You're good iel-
low Prickett and a clever fellow. ana you
haven't an atom Of spite in your nature. Hut you
like little harmless jocular revenge when you
beaten by an amateur even by accident f1cA-
ctr"
"WeH. no. sir"
and SO YOU bring me a case which has neither
head nor tail to it, jus; to let me break my brains
against it. and t. prevent me from being cock
hoop about the one success Inat 50; i,h IL D.
Come now. Prckett. Your" an honest Fellow.
"W.U Mr. Pym." said Pricke,t in 10 way
abashed Il wouldn't contradict You Tor IN"
world"
This is meant to show me- what a dufier
Don't put it that way. Nj Ppm" said
Prickett. " It's tough job. That's AL SIT.
"Wcu Won NAV saw that And don't quite
say IFS fair. ana don't say I've right g. *
pect you To- accept it. Mr.. Iym
IT'S a challcnge@' asked Pym h'lhnS 9n'
his right hand 20 the Inspector. lie Was a'iN.
from head to foot. Inspector prickett rose i' h.-
feet and accepted the preferred hand
Yes" said Pym. II take IT," He dropped Inc
detectives hand and walked t. his writing iib''.
Their. he sat down and wrote what seemed !"
single word He dried the ink boy waving ~"
sheet 10 and fro in the air and looked over h.s
shoulder at Prickett meanwhile. as IL h. would
read his very soul Next b. folded tho paper and
rut il in an envelope. which H. sealed cafciul4>-
/ "Now Nj Prickctt' he said. rising ana return
ing give M your word not 20 open ihai cnNeI'l,
until | ask for IT," pricketi gave his word am .
Pym handed the envelope 10 him Leave ~"
matter in my hands"
noticed then as | had noticed before. ami 49,
l did many time aftcrwari, curious infection
in Pyin's manner. Nobody think. would haN"
said that he was Boosting or staggering. ana yer
merely to say that h. spoke lk" one VINO Was
confident in himself would De 10 say co. E'tlr.
There was a touch 4 arrOganc" about MN. put
IL Was 50 slightly expressed that few people
/ found It offensive They who had the least In
/ tellectual right TO oppose IT We're found IN
| var!ably the men o. De most wounded by H.
! Pricke;t smiled but then Irickett himself was
tolerably well fixed in ms own self opinion.
I'm your hands. Mr. Ppm" H. answered
! genially. GOOD evening gentlemen
He went away. knowing, serene and suave. and
! Pym reseating himself drew the lamp nearer Il
him and went back to the study Of the snaii
metallic object the detective lad left behind
should you for run down into Derby
shire tomorrow" he asked. 1t was the thing
had been longing for and told him 50. An
/ he said, you have very demonstatiVe way OF
thinking.
What do you mean by that" l asked him
You are impetuous" he answered, land very
young You make IT easy for one 10 guess your
1 thoughts.
But hOW?'
MY young friend" said Ppm. nobody can tel!
YOU how" He sat with bent head. the mOno'e
in one hand and the bit Of metal in the other,
and began to question this new phase Of him IN
my own mind Was he not, with all his learning
and all his abilities, Just the least little BIT 81 "A
humbug? IT'S natural enough In YOU t. think
So" he said, looking up suddenly with mat
radiant smile of his. but give you my WORD 81
honor that | guilty Of no pretcnce. som"
people have "A habit Of radiatng their own moods
and some people have a Kack Of recepuviiy.
You are rather unusually strong In Inc on" ~
rcctiOn. and | am rather unusually receptive IN
tho other I'll tell you more about this another
time and find you a proof or two perhaps.
We parted shortly after this and on the fol-
lowing morning we met by appointment at the
railway station and took train for Buxton. gym
carried with him a small .atchcl filed with books
and papers and with ITS contents h" occupied
himself cOmplctc.y -rcading. comparing ana an
rotating all the way. As we dppi"frh'u ""'
destination he put away his books and his notes
I'm orderly fashion and when the train pulled ui
at the platform he stepped out briskiy ana looked
about him with an air OF inquiry. \ smart
+ looking groom stepped up to him. and saluting
inquired if he Nh Ppm. Ppm answering
/ Yes" the smart-lO0king groom caught up ms
dressing bag from the platform ana carried II
out of the station. There stood Closed car
riage with highly respectable old coachmaf
on the box. The groom opened the carriage
door and at a signal from Ppm took my seat
/ He followed The groom closed the door and
. mounted beside the cOachman and We were
/ driven away.
"Mysterious, En-" said Iym. and then mo-
1919. ,,hon n-..n mind bad cLeaLel he