Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-04-18

be effectually concealed, while at the
same time / could have her at few
hours notice"
THAT seems simple enough"
ut is Just these very simple things
which are extremely liable to be over
looked. However, | determined to act
on the idea started at once in this
harmless seaman's rig and inquired at
all the wards down the river. | drew
blank at fifteen, but at the sixteenth
Jacobson's-I learned that the Aurora
had been handed over to them two
DAYS ago by a wooden-legged 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 streaks.
At that moment who should come down
but Mordecai Smith, the missing
owner9 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. Il want her tonight ut eight
o'clock said heat eight o'clock sharp,
mind, for have two gentlemen who
won't be kept waiting They had evi-
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 sentry
over the launch. He is to stand at the
waters edge and wave his handkerchief
TO US when they start. We shall be
lying off in the stream, and 1t will be
strange thing if we do not take men,
treasure and all"
"You have planned it all very neatly,
whether they are the right men or
not" said Jones; but IL the affair
were In my hands I should have had
a body of police in Jacobson's yard,
and arrested them when they came
down"
(Which would have been never. This
man Small is a pretty shrewd fellow.
He would send n scout on ahead, and II
ANYTHING made him suspicious he
would lie snug for another week"
But you might have stuck to
Mordecai Smith, and so been led TO
their hiding-place," said |.
III LildJ CdHt ] HilOulh hhNG "dbOth
my day think that it is a hundred
to one against Smith knowing where
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. PauPs. 1t was
twilight before we reached the tower.
THAT is Jacobson's yard" said
Holmes. pointing TO bristle Of nasts
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
nocliet An razcd some time at the
shore. II see my sentry at his post
he remarked, but no sign of hand
kerchief."
Suppose we 90 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 stok.
ers, who had very vague idea of what
was going forward.
1--WE have no right TO take any.
thing for granted" Holmes answered.
''It is certainly ten to one that they &c
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. II will be 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"
"Dirtylooldng 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 priori probability about
1t. A strange enigma is mani
"Some one calls him soul concealed
in an animal" suggested.
"Winwood Rcade is good upon the
subject" said Holmes. He remarks
that, while the individual man IL an
insoluble puzzle, in The aggregate he
becomes 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
flutter over yondcr."
"Ycs, it Is your boy" cried. ~ can
see him plainly"
"And there Is the Aurora" exclaimed
Holmes, and going like the devili
Full speed ahead, engineer. Make
after that launch with the yellow
light. BY heaven, ] shall never for
give myself II she proves to have the
heels of us!'
She Ind slipped unseen through the
yard entrance and passed behind two
or three small craft, 80 that she had
fairly got her speed up before we saw
her Now she was flying down the
stream, near in 10 the shore, going at
tremendous rate. Jones looked gravely
Mt her and shook his head.
"Shc Is very fast" he said. II doubt
II we shall catch her.
"Wc must catch herr cried Holmes,
between his teeth Heap IL on,
stokersl Make her do all she can II
we burn tho boat we must have thcml'
We were fairly after her now. The
furnaces roarcd, and the powerful en-
gines whizzcd and clanled, like u great
metallic heart. Her sharp steep prov
cut through the still river water and
sent two rolling waves 10 right and to
left Of US. With every throb OF the en-
Rincs we spranR and quivcred like
living thing. One great yellow Ian
tern In our bows threw n long, flicker
ing funEcl Of light in front Of us.
Right ahead n dark blur upon the wa
ter showed where the Aurora lay, and
the swirl Of white foam behind her
spoke Of the pace at which she was go
ing. We flashed past barges, steamers,
merchant-vcsscls, In and out, behind
this one and round the other. Voices
hailed us out OF the darkness, but still
the Aurora thundcred on, and still we
followed close upon her track
"Pile IL on, men, pile It onl'' cried
Holmes, looking down into the engine
room, while the fierce glow from be-
low beat upon his eager, aquiline
face. Get every pound OF steam you
can"
~ think we gain n little, said Jones,
with his eyes on the Aurora.
II am sure OF It," said l. we shall
be up with her in n very few min
utes"
At that moment, however, aa our