The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-07-05

they live. As long as he has liquor
and good pay, why should he ask ques-
tions? They send him messages what
to do. No, thought over every pos
sible 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. Paurs. II was
twilight before we reached the tower.
THAT is Jacobson's yard" said
Holmes, pointing to b-istle of masts
and rigging on the Surrey side.
Cruise gently up and down here under
cover of this string of lighters" He
took pair of night glasses from his
pocket and gazed some time at the
shore. Il see my sentry at his post, y
he remarked, but no sign of hand
kerchief."
Suppose we go down stream a short
way and lie in wait for them" said
Jones, eagerly. We were all eager by
this time, even the policemen and stolz-
ers, who had very vague idea of what
was going forward.
I'VE 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."
''They are coming from work in the
yard
"Dirty-loolling rascals, but / sup
pose every one has some little immortal
spark concealed about him. You
would not think it, to look at them.
There is no a priori probability about
it. A strange enigma is mani
''Some one calls him soul concealed
in an animal" suggested.
''Winwood Reade is good upon the
subject" said Holmes. He remarks
that, while the individual man is an
insoluble puzzle. in the aggregate he
becomes a mathematical certainty
You can, for example. never foretell
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 statistician. But DO see a
handkerchief? Surely there is white
futter over yonder.''
Yes, it is your boy" cried. II can
see him plainly"
And there is the Aurora" exclaimed
Holmes, land going like the devil!
Full speed ahead, engineer. Make
after that launch with the yellow
light BY heaven, shall never for
give myself if she proves to have the
heels of us!'
She had slipped unseen through the
yard entrance and passed behind two
or three small craft, SO that she had
fairly got her speed up before we saw
her. Now she was flying down the
stream, near in to the shore, going at
tremendous rate. Jones looked gravely
at her and shook his head.
she is very fast" he said. ~ doubt
if we shall catch her"
1--WE must catch herr" cried Holmes. |
between his teeth. Heap it ON,
stokers! Make her do all she can! III
we burn the boat we must have theml"
We were fairly after her now. The
furnaces roared, and the powerful en-
gines whizzed and clanked. like a great
metallic heart. Her sharp, steep PROV
cut through the still river water and
sent two rolling waves to right and to
left of US. With every throb of the en-
gines we sprang and quivered like a
living thing. One great yellow lam
tern in our bows threw long, flicker
ing funnel of light in front of us.
Right ahead a dark blur upon the wa
ter showed where the Aurora lay, and |
the swirl of white foam behind her