The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-06-05


JONES, HOLMES AND I SAT on THE DECK.
cast off. Jones, Holmes and I sat in
the stern. There was one man at the
rudder, one to tend the engines, and
two burly police inspectors forward.
Where to?7 asked Jones.
"To the tower. Tell them to stop
opposite to Jacobson's yard"
Our craft was evidently a very fast
one. We shot past the long lines of
loaded barges as though they were sta
tionary. Holmes smiled with satisfac-
ton as we overhauled river steam
er and left her behind Us.
1--WE ought to be able to catch any
thing on the river" he said.
"Wel, hardly that. But there are
not many launches to beat u.s."
I'VE shall have to catch the Aurora,
and she has name for being clipper.
I will tell you how the land lies, Wat
son. You recollect how annoyed I was
at being baked by SO small thing:"
"Yes.''
"well, gave my mind thorough
rest =; plunging into G chemical
analysis. One of our greatest states
men has said that change of work Is
the best rest. SO it is. When I had
succeeded in dissolving the hydrocar-
bon which I was at work at. came
back to our problem of the Sholtos. and
thought :he whole matter out again.
My boys had been up the
river and down the river without
result. The launch was not at
any landing stage or wharf, nor had it
returned. Yet it could hardly have
been scuttled to hide their traces
though that always remained as pos
sible hypothesis if all else failed. I
knew that this man Small had GER
tain degree of low cunning, but I did
not think him capable of anything in
the nature of delicate 6nesse. That is
usually product of higher education.
I then reflected that since he had GER
tainly been in London some time-as
we had evidence that he maintained a
continual watch over Pondicherry
lodge-he could hardly leave at a mo-
ment's notice. but would need some
little time. if it were only a day, to
arrange his affairs. That was the bal
ance of probability, at any rate
1T seems to me to be little weak, .
said l. 1t is more probable that he
had arranged his affairs before ever he
L. I
NO. hardly think SO. This lair of
his would be too valuable retreat in
case of need for him to give it up until
he was sure that he could do without
it. But a second consideration struck
me: Jonathan Small must have felt
that the peculiar appearance OF his
companion. however much he may
have top-coated him. would give rise
to gossip. and possibly be associated
with lis Norwood tragedy. He was
quite sharp enough to see that They
had started from their headquarters
under cover Of darkness. and he
would wish to get back before it was
broad light. Now, it was past three
o'clock. according to Mrs. Smith, when
they got the boat. 1t would be quite
bright, and people would be about in
an hour or SO. Therefore, l argued,
they did not go very far. Thev paid
Smith well to hold his tongue. reserved
his launch for the final escape. and
hurried to their lodgings with the
treasure-box. In couple of nights,
when they had time to see what view
the papers took. and whether there
was any suspicion, they would make
their way under cover Of darkness to
some ship at Gravesend or in the
Downs, where no doubt they had al
ready arranged for passages to America
or the colonies
But the launch? They could not
have taken that to their lodgings.
Quite so. l argued that the launch
must be no great way off. in spite OF
its invisibilitv l then put myself in
the place of Small, and looked at it as
a man of his capacity would. He would
probably consider that to send back
the launch " 10 llcepit at {. ,*harf would
make pursuit easy if the police did
happen to get on his track. How. then,
could he conceal the launch and yet
have her 1T hand when wanted?
wondered what should DO myself if
were in his shoes ! could only think
of one w. Of doing it. might hand
the launch OYER 70 some boathuilder
or rcpaircr. With directions to make
triling change IL her. She would then
be removed to his she'd o., yard. and 50
bc ct?cctuallv concealed. whllc at the
s@1nc time could have her a q few
hours notice.
That seems simple enough.
1T is lust these very simple things
which are extremely liable TO be over
looked. However, determined to act