Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-07-04
CHAPTER Ix.-CoNr1NUED


cried, stamping his stick. 81 come here
to see a gentleman, and you two, who
never saw in my life, seize me and
treat me in this fashion,
You will be none the worse said.
''We shall recompense you for the loss
of your time. Sit over here on the sofa,
and you will not have long to watt
He came across sullenly enough, and
seated himself with his face resting on
his hands. Jones and / resumed our
cigars and our talk. Suddenly, how
ever, Holmes voice broke in upon us.
II think that you might offer me
cigar, too," he said.
We both started-in our chairs. There
was Holmes sitting close to us with an
air of quiet amusement.
'.Holmes!' I exclaimed. ''You here!
But where is the old man?''
Here is the old man." said he, hold
ing out heap of white hair. ''Here
he is-wig, whiskers, eyebrows, and
all. thought my disguise was pretty
good, but 1 hardly expected that it
would stand that test"
''Ah, you rogue!' cried Jones, highly
delighted. you would have made an
actor, and a rare one. You had the
proper workhouse cough, and those
weak legs of yours are worth ten
pound week. thought 1 knew the
CLINT of your eye, though. You didn't
get away from US so easily, you see."
81 have been working in that get-up
all day." said he, lighting his cigar.
''You see, good many of the criminal
classes begin to know unexpectedly
since our friend here took to publish
ing some of my cases; so I can only go
+ p Si11o11Io
guise like this. You got my wire?"
Yes; that was what brought me
here"
How has YOUR case prospered?''
sit has al come to nothing. I have
had to release two of my prisoners, and
there is no evidence against the other
two"
Never mind. We shall give you two
others in the place of them. But you
must put yourself under my orders.
You are welcome to all the official
credit, but you must act on the lines
that point out. Is that agreed?"
Entirely, if you will help me to the
men"
well, then, in the first place 1 shall
want afast police-boat-a steam launch
to be at the Westminster Stairs at
seven o'clock"
THAT is easily managed. There is
always one about there; but I can step
across the road and telephone to make
sure
''Then 1 shall want two stanch men,
in case of resistance"
''There will be two or three in the
boat. What else?"
'sWhen we secure the men we shall
get the treasure. 1 think that it would
be pleasure to my friend here to take
the box round to the young lady tC
whom half of it rightfully belongs.
Let her be the first to open it. Eli,
Watson?"
1T would be great pleasure to me. ,
Rather an irregular proceeding, >
said Jones, shaking his head. How
ever, the whole thing is irregular, and
I suppose we must wink at it. The
treasure must afterwards be handed
over to the authorities until after the
official investigation"
Certainly. That is easily managed
One other point. I should like much
to have few details about this matter
from the lips of Jonathan Small him
self. You know / like to work the de
tail of my cases out. There is no OBJ
lection to my having an unofficial in
terview with him either here in my
rooms or elsewhere, as long as he is eff
fciently guarded?"
'sWell, you are master of the situa
ton. 1 have had no proofs yet o.
the existence of Jonathan Small. How
even, # you can catch him, don't see
how can refuse you an interview will
him
THAT is understood, thsn?"