The Delta independent., 1895-08-21

could he conceal the launch and yet
have her at hand when wanted? l
wondered what should do myself II
were in his shoes. ! could only think
of one way of doing it. l might hand
the launch over to some boatbuildcr
or rcpairer, with directions to make II
trifling change in her. She would then
be removed to his shed or yard, and so
be effectually concealed, while at the
same time I could have her ut Il few
hours notice."
THAT seems simple enough"
sit is Just these very simple things
which are extremely liable to bc over.
looked. However, / determined to act
on the idea. started at once in this
harmless seaman's rig and inquired at
all the yards down the river. l drew
blank ut fifteen, but at the sixteenth
Jacobson's-I learned that the Aurora
had been handed over to them two
days ago by n woodcn-legEcd man,
with some trivial directions as to her
rudder. There amt naught amiss
with her rudder,' said the foreman.
There she lies, with the red strcaks.
At that moment who should come down
but Mordecai Smith, the missing
owner? He was rather the worse
for liquor. should not, of course,
have known him, but he beloved
out his name and the name Of his
launch. 4 want her tonight at eight
o'clock said heat eight o'clock sharp,
mind, for have two gentlemen who
won't be kept waiting They had evil
IDENTIFY paid him well, for he was very
flush of money, chucking shillings
about to the men. followed him some
distance, but he subsidized in an ale
house; so went back to the yard, and,
happening to pick up one of my boys
on the way, stationed him as "A sentry
over the launch. lie is to stand ut the
waters edge and wave his handkerchief
to us when they start. We shall be
lying off in tho stream, and it will be
strange thing il we do not take men,
treasure and ALI" i
"You have planned it oil very neatly,
whether they are the right men or
not" said Jones; but il the affair
were in my hands should have had
body of police in Jacobson's yard.
and arrested them when they came
down" ;
(Which would have been never. This
man Small is pretty shrcwd fellow.
lie would send scout on ahead, and II
anything made him suspicious he
would lie snug for another week"
But you might have stuck to
Mordccai Smith, and SO been led TO
their hiding-place," said !.
I'm that case / should have wasted
my day. think that it is hundred
to one against Smith knowing where
they live. AS long as he has liquor
and good pay, why should he ask qucs-
tions? They send him messages what
to do No, thought over every pos
siblc course, and this is the best
While this conversation had been
proceeding. we had been shooting the
long series of bridges which span the
Thames. As we passed the city the last
rays of the sun were gliding the cross
upon the summit of st. Pauls. II was
twilight before we reached the tower.
That is Jacobson's yard" said
Holmes, pointing to n bristle of nasts
md rigging on the Surrey side.
Cruise gently up and down here under
cover of this string of lighters" lie
took pair of night glasses from his
pocket and gazed some time ut the
shore. 81 sec my sentry at his post"
he remarked, but no sign of q hand
kcrchief."
suppose we go down stream a short
way and lie in wait for them" said
Jones, eagerly. We were nll eager by
this time, even the policemen and stok-
crs, who had very vague idea Of what
was going forward.
1--WE have no right to take any
thing for granted Holmes answered
ut is certainly ten TO one that they go
down stream, but we cannot be certain.
From this point we can see the en-
trance to the yard, and they can hardly
see us. 1t will be n clear night and
plenty of light. We must stay where
we are. See how the folk swarm over
yonder in the gaslight."
"Thcy are coming from work in the
yard"
"Dirty-looking rascals. but up
pose every one has some little imu1, .al
spark concealed about him. lou
would not think IL, to look at them.
There is no priori probability about
it. strange enigma is man"
''Somc ono calls him soul concealed
in an animal" I suggested.
"Winwood Rcnde is good upon the
subject" said Holmes. "lIc remarks
that. while the individual man is nm
insoluble puzzle, in the aggregate he
becomes q mathematical certainty.
You can, for example. never forctcll
what any one man will do, but you can
say with precision what an average
number will be up to. individuals
vary, but percentages remain constant.
SO says the statisticinn. But do I see
handkerchief? Surely there is a white
Autter over yonder."
Yes, it is your boy" cried. "a can
see him plainly"
And there is the Aurora" exclaimed
Holmes, land going like the devil.
'ull speed ahead, engineer. Make
ftcr that launch with the yellow
rht. by heaven, ] shall never for
,.,..eoll u al, A.. /.