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

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, / argued, |
they did not go very far They 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"
.sBut the launch? They could not
have taken that to their lodgings
ssOuite so. l argued that the launch
must be no great way off, in spite of
its invisibility. 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 or to keep it at a wharf 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 at hand when wanted?
wondered what should do myself if 1
We're in his shoes ! could only think
of one way of doing it. l might hand
the launch over to some boatbui1der
or repairer, with directions to make
trif1ing change in her. She would then
be removed to his shed or yard, and so
be effectually concealed, while at the
same time I could have her at few
hours notice"
THAT seems simple enough"
sit is just these very simple things
which are extremely liable to be over
| looked. However, determined to act
on the idea. l started at once in this
| harmless seaman's rig and inquired at
| all the yards 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 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
owner? He was rather the worse
for liquor. I should not, of course,
| have known him, but he beloved
out his name and the name of his
! launch. I want her tonight at eight
| O'clock said heat eight o'clock sharp,
mind, for have two gentlemen who
won't be kept waiting They had evil
IDENTIFY paid him well, for he was very
flush of money, chucking shillings
about to the men. I followed him some
| distance, but he subsidized in an ale
house; SO 1 went back to the yard, and,
| happening to pick up one of my boys
on the way, stationed him as a sentry
over the launch. He is 20 stand at the
waters edge and wave his handkerchief
to US when they start. We shall be
lying off in the stream, and it viii be a
strange thing If we. do not take men,
treasure and ALL
You have planned it a1lvery neatly,
whether they are the right men or
not said Jones; ''but if the affair
were in my hands 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 slrewd fellow.
He would send scout on ahead, and if
l 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 I.
In that case 1 should have wasted
my day. I 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've ask ques-
tions? They send him messages what
to do. No, 1 thought over every pos
sible course, and this is the best"
While this conversation had been
proceeding, we lad 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. Pauls.
It was twilight before we reached the
tower.
THAT is Jacobson's yard" said
Holmes, pointing to bristle of masts
and rigging on the Surrey side.
Cruise gently up and down here under
cover of this string of lighters" He
took a pair of night glasses from his
pocket and gazed some time at the
shore. I see my sentry at his post"
he remarked, but no sign of a hand
kerchief.''
suppose we go 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 a very vague idea of what
was going forward.
1--WE have no RIGHT to take any,