The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-31

CHAPTER VI.
"A CONTINUATION OF THE "REMINISCENCES OF
- John N WATSON NJ d.


r JOHN IL WATSON, M D.
Our prisoners furious resistance did
not apparently indicate any ferocity
In his disposition toward ourselves, for
ON finding himself powerless he smiled
in an atfable manner, and expressed
his hopes that he had not hurt any OF
us in the scuiile. Il guess you're go
ing to take me to the police station"
he remarked to Sherlock Holmes, My
cabs at the door. Ifyoull loose my
legs I'll walk down to it. I'm not SO
light to lift as l used to be-
Gregson and Lestrade exchanged
glances as if they thought this propo-
sition rather bold one; but Holmes
at once took the prisoner at his word,
and loosened the towel which he had
bound round his ankles. He rose and
stretched his legs, as though to assure
himself that they We're free once more.
l remember that | thought to myself,
as l eyed him, that had seldom seen
d more powerfully built man; and his
dark, sunburned face bore an express
sion OF determination and energy
which was as formidable as his person
81 strength.
If there's vacant place for a chief
of the police, l reckon you are the man
for it." he said, gazing with uudis-
guised admiration a my fellow.lodger.
The way You kept on my trail was Il
caution
You had better come with me"
said Holmes to the two detectives.
u can drive you, said Lestrade.
Good! and Gregson can come inside
with me. You too, doctor; you have
taken an interest in the case, aud may
as well stick to us
l assented gladly, and we all de-
scended together. Our prisoner made
no attempt at escape, but stepped
calmly into the cab which had been
his. and we followed him. Lestrade
mounted the box, whipped up the
horse, and brought US in Il very short
time to our destination. We were
ushered into small chamber, where
q police Inspector noted down our
prisoners name and the names OF
the men with whose murder he had
been charged. The official was a
white-faced, Unconditional man, who
went through his duties in dull, me-
chanical way. THE prisoner will be
put before the magistrates in the
course of the week" he said: lin the
meantime, Mr.. jefferson Hope, have
you anything that you wish to say?
must warn you that your words will be
taken down and may be used against
you.
I've got good deal to say" our
prisoner said slowly. Il want to tel
you gentlemen all about il"
Hadn't you better reserve that for
your trial?' asked the inspector.
II may never be tried" he answered.
''You needn't look startled. 1t isn't
suicide | am thinking Of. Are you a
DOCTOR" He tu ned his fierce, dark eyes
upon me as he asked this last question,
Yes, am" | answered.
"Then put your hand here" he said
with a smile, motioning with his
manacled wrists toward his chest
did so, and became at once con
scious of an extraordinary throbbing
which was go."~ on inside The wall:
of his chest seen. to thrill and quiver
as a frail building would do inside
which some powerful engine was al
work la the silence of the room |
could hear a dull humming and buz
zing noise which proceeded from the
same source.
why" l cried, you have an aortiC
Rneurismw
That's what they call it," he said
placidly II went to a doctor last
week about it, and he told me that it
was bound to burst before many days
passed. II has been getting worse foI
years, got it from over-exposure
and under-feediug among the Salt lake
mountains I've done my work now
and don't care how soon l go, but
should like to leave some account o.
the business behind me. don't want
10 be remembered as a common cut
throat"
The inspector and the two detectives
had a hurried discussion as TO the adj
visibility Of allowing him to tell hii
story.
do you consider, doctor, that there
is immediate danger?' the formei
asked.
Most certainly there is" / an
swered.
''In that case it is clearly our duty
in the interests OF justice, to take hi
statement" said the Inspector "Yol
are at liberty, sir, to give your ac
count, which again warn you will b,
taken down.
I'm sit down, with your leave" tn,
prisoner said, suiting the action to tn,
word. This aneurism of mine make
me easily tired, and the tussle we ha,
half an hour ago has not mended mat
tiers. I'm on the brink Of the grave
and l am not likely to lie to you
Every word say is the absolute truth
and how YOU use it is matter of II
consequence to me"
With these words, jefferson Hop
leaned back in his chair and began tn
following remarkable statement. ii
spoke in a calm and methodical man
ner, as though the events which h
narrated were commonplace enough
i can youch for the accuracy of tn
subjoined account, for | have had uC
cess to Lestrade's notebook, in whic
the prisoners words were taken dow
exactly as they were uttered
1T don't much matter to you why
hated these men," he said; "it'senoug
that they were guilty of the death Q
two human beipgs-a father and
daughter-and that they had, there
fore, forfeited their own lives. Afte
the lapse of time that has passed sine
their crime, it was impossible for IN
to secure conviction against them i
any court. knew of their gull
thou1sh. and | Asterrninad that I shoul