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

DldIlh dC u1lCCli. Ds>C l44C S1-ACSSl1OAA
Jacobson 's-I learned that the Aurora
had been handed over to them two
days ego By a woodcn-legged man,
with so1nc 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
ownero He was rather the worse
for liquor. 1 should not, of course,
have known him, but he beloved
out his name and the name of his
launch. 81 want her tonight at eight
o'clock said heat eight o'clock sharp.
mind. for I have two gentlemen who
won't be kept waiting They had evil
dcntly paid him well, for he was very
flush of money, chucking shillings
about to the men. followed him some
distance. but he subsidized in an ale
house; SO went back to the yard, and,
happening to pick up one of my boys
on the way, stationed him as sentry
over the launch. He is to stand at the
waters edge and wave his handkerchief
to US when they start. We shall be
lying off in the stream, and it will be a
strange thing if we do not take men,
treasure and ALL
..You have planned it all very neatly,
whether they are the right men or
not" said Jones: "but if the affair
were in my hands I ,aould 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 pretty shrewd fellow.
BE would send scout on ahead, and II
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 I should have wasted
nv day. think that it is a hundred
to one against Smith knowing where
thew live. AS long as he has liquor
and good pay, why should he ask ques-
tions? They send him messages what
to do. No, I thought over every pos
sible course. and this is the best.
While this conversation had been
proceeding, we had been shooting the
long series of bridges which span the
Thames. AS we passed the city the last
ravs of the sun were gliding the cross
upon the summit of St. Paul's. 1t was
twilight before we reached the tower.
THAT is Jacobson's yard" said
Holmes, pointing to bristle OF lnasts
and rigging on the Surrey side.
Cruise gently up and down here under
cover of this string of lighters He
took pair of night glasses from his
rocket and gazed some time at the
shore II see my sentry at his post"
be remarked, but no sign of hand
kerchiof.
suppose we 60 down stream short
way and lie in wait for them, said
Jones, eagerly. We were all eager by
this time. even the policemen and stos-
ers. who had very vague idea of what
was going forward.
1--WE have no right to take any
thing fer granted" Holmes answered.
"It is certainly ten to one that they go
down stream, but we cannot be certain.
From this point we can see the en-
trance to the yard. and they can hardly
see us. It will be clear night and
plenty Of light We. must stay where
we are See how the sclk swarm over
yondcr in the gasli;; ..ht.'
They are coming from work in the
yard.
.Dirty-locl;ing rascals. but / sup
pose every cre has some little immortal
spark concealed about him. You
would not think it, to look ct them.
There is 70 a r~:.~i probability about
it. y strange enigma is man
Some one calls him 4 soul concealed
in an animal. l suggested.
"Winwood Reade is good upon the
subject. said Holmes. lie remarks
that. while the individual man is an
insoluble puzzle. il the aggregate he
becomes a mathematical certainty.
You can for example. never foretell
what any one man will 90. but you can
say with precision what an average
number will be up to. Individuals
vary. but percentages remain constant.
So SAYS the statistician. But Go see
handkerchief? Surely there is a white
futter over yonder.'
"Yes. it is your boy" cried. II can
see him plainly"
And there is the Aurora exclaimed
Holmes, and going like the devil!
Full speed ahead: engineer. Make
after that laur h with the yellow
light. BY heaven, l shall never for
give myself if she proves to have the
heels of u.s.
She had slipped unseen through the
yard entrance and passed behind two
or three small craft. SO that she had
fairly got her speed up before we saw
her. Now she was flying down the
stream. near in to the shore going at
tremendous rate. Jones looked gravely
at her and shook his head.
'She is very fast. he said. II doubt
if we shall catch her
..yTo ,.,,,S+ catch hori' cried Holmes