Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-07-18
CHAPTER XII.

THE STRANGE STORY OF JONATHAN SMALL.
A very patient man was the inspector
in the cab, for it was a weary time be-
fore / rejoined him. His face clouded
over when 1 showed him the empty
box.
There goes the reward. said he,
gloomily. where there is no money
there is no pay. This nights work
would have been worth tenner each
to Sam Brown and me if the treasure
had been there"
''Mr. Thaddeus Sholto is a rich man,"
said. HE will see that you are re-
warded, treasure or no."
The inspector shook his head de-,
spondently, however. Its bad job"
he repeated, land so Mr.. Athelney
Jones will think"
His forecast proved to be correct,
for the detective looked blank enough
when got to Baker street and showed
him the empty box. They had only
just arrived, Holmes, the prisoner and
he, for they had changed their plans so
far as to report themselves at a station
upon the way. My companion lounged
in his armchair with his usual listless
expression, while Small sat stold1y OPP
posite to him with his wooden leg
cooked over his sound one. As ex-
hibited the empty box he leaned back
in his chair and laughed aloud.
This is your doing, Small" said
Athelney Jones, angri1y.
Eyes, have put it away where you
shall never lay hand upon it, !" he cried,
exultantly. 1T is my treasure; and if
can't have the loot I'll take darned
good care that no one else does. tell
hos icrhT
to it, unless it is three men who are in
the Andaman convict barracks and my
self. I know now that cannot have
the use of it, and l know that they
cannot. have acted all through for
them as much as for myself. It's been
the sign of four with us always. Well
I know that they would have had me
do Just what 1 have done, and throw
the treasure into the Thames rather
than let it go to kith or kin of Sholtc
or of Morstan. It was not to make
them rich that we did for Achmet
You'll find the treasure where the key
is, and where little Tonga is When
saw that your launch must catch US
put the loot in safe place. There are
no rupees for you this journey"
''You are deceiving US, Small" said
Athelney Jones, sternly. If you hao
wished to throw the treasure into the
Thames it would have been easier fol
you to have thrown box and all"
Easier for me to throw, and easier
for you to recover" he answered, with
a shrewd, sidelong look. The mar
that was clever enough to hunt me
down is clever enough to pick an iroI
box from the bottom of a river. Now
that they are scattered over five mile;
or so, 1t may be harder job. It wen
to my heart to do it, though. ! wa
half mad when you. came up with Us
However, there's no good grieving Ovel
1t. I've had ups in my life, and 1'v'
had downs, but I've learned not to or,
over split milk"
This is very serious matter, Small,
said the detective. IF you had helpes
Justice, instead of thwarting it in thi
way, you would have had 8 bette
chance at your trial"
'tJusticeI" snarled the ex-eonvict- 81
pretty justicei Whose loot is this,
it is not ours? Where is the justic
tina. I should give it up to those VIII
have never earned il? Look how hav
earned It'll Twenty long years in tina
fever-ridden swamp. all day at worl
under the mangrove tree, all nigh
chained up liz the filthy convict huts
bitten by mosquitoes, racked wit
ague. bullied by every cursed blacE
faced policeman who loved to take
out of white man. That was how
earned the Agra treasurer and you tai