The Delta independent., 1895-09-18

rope l found him strutting about as
proud as a peacock. Very much sur
prised was he when made Mt him with
the ropes end and cursed him for a lit
tie bloodthirsty imp. took the treas
ure-box and let it down, and then slid
down myself, having first left the sign
of the four upon the table, to show
that the jewels had come back at last
to those who had most right to them.
Tonga then pulled up the rope, closed
the window, and made of the way
that he had come.
II don't know that l have anything
else to tell you. had heard q water
man speak of the speed of Smiths
launch, the Aurora, so l thought she
would be handy craft for our escape.
engaged with old Smith, and was to
give him big sum if he got us safe to
our ship. He knew, no doubt, that
there was some screw loose, but he was
not in our secrets. All this is the
truth, and if tell it to you, gentlemen,
it is not to amuse you-for you have
not done me very good turn-but it Is
because I believe the best defense
can make is just to hold back nothing,
but let all the world know how badly
/ have myself been served by Maj.
Sholto, and how innocent am of the
death of his son."
"a very remarkable account" said
Sherlock Holmes. "A fitting wind-up
to an extremely interesting case.
There is nothing at all new to me in
the latter part of your narrative, ex-
cept that you brought your own rope.
That did not know. BY the way, /
had hoped that Tonga had lost all his
darts; yet he managed to shoot one at
us in the boat"
"He had lost them all, sir, except the
one which was in his blow pipe ut the
time"
"Ah, of course" said Holmes. 81
had not thought Of that"
as there any other point which you
would like to ask about?" asked the
convict, affably.
al think not, thank you," my COM
panion answered.
swell, Holiness" said Athelney
Jones, "you are a man to be humored,
and we all know that you are a con-
noisseur Of crime, but duty is duty, and
have gone rather far in doing what
you and your friend asked me. l shall
feel more at ease when we have our
story-teller here under lock and key.
The cab still waits, and there are two
inspectors downstairs. / am much
obliged to you both for your assistance.
OF course, you will be wanted at the
trial. Goodnight to you"
Goodnight. gentlemen. both," said
Jonathan Small.
"You first, Small" remarked tho wary
Jones as they left the room. I'll take
particular care that you don't club me
with you wooden leg, whatever you
may have done to the gentleman at the
Andaman Isles"
"Well, and there is the end of our
DRAMA" remarked, after we had sat
some time smoking in silence. II fear
it shall be the last investigation in
which ! shall have the chance Of study
ing your methods. Miss Morstan has
done me the honor to accept me as
husband in prospective"
He gave a most dismal groan. II
feared as much" said he, II really can
not congratulate you"
j was little hurt. Have you any
reason to be dissatisfied with my
choice?" ! asked.
mot at all. think she is one of the
most charming young ladies ever met,
and might have been most useful in
such work as we have been doing. She
had n decided genius that way; wit
ness the way in which she preserved
that Agra plan from all the other pa
pers OF her father. But love is an emo
tionnl thing, and whatever is emo
tional is opposed to that true cold rea-
son which place above all things. I
should never marry myself, lest bias
my judgment" !,
81 trust" said I, laughing, "that my:
Judgment may survive the ordeal. But
you look weary" Il
Eyes, the reaction is already upon
me. shall be as limp as rag for a.
week" t--,
"Strange," said ], show terms of
what in another man should call
laziness alternate with fits OF splendid
energy and vigor." =
"Yes," he answered, there are in
me the mnkings of a very fine loafer
and also of n pretty spry sort of fellow.
l often think of those lines of old
Goethe:
"Schadc dnss die NGtur nur eihen Mensch aus
drschuf,
Denn zum wurdigen Mann war und gum schel-
men der Ston."
By the way, apropos OF this Norwood
business, you see that they had, as
surmised, confederate in the house,
who could be none other than Lal Rao,
the butler; SO Jones actually has the
undivided honor of having caught one
fish in his great haul"
"Thc division seems rather unfair"
remarked. You have done all the
work in this business. i get wife out
Of it, Jones gets the credit, pray what
remains for your
For me-" said Sherlock Holmes,
there still remains the cocaine bottle"
And he stretched his long white hand
up for it.
G 's.l's'asesss,ss IA
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n -.& ~.