Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-11-12

entered the house and reared his duck
gun up in the hall in conspicuous posi-
ton.
He had almost decided to run up to
town and consult his brother John, the
detective, with view to having the
movements of Herr Schmidt watched,
when he was startled by the click of the
letter box.
A scrap of paper lay on the mat. Pick
ing it up, Phineas glanced at it., turned
deadly pale. then hurried into the gar
den. Scrubbed in lead pencil on dirty
paper was the following:
''Peel has discovered everything. We
have not moment to lose and must
clear out tonight. The front door is
unsafe. Will meet you at the back
1890 sharp"
There was no signature.
"Good gracious!' calculated Phineas,
after reading the note for the third time.
ed no idea matters had gone so far.
Oh, yes. Mr. Schmidt he added grimly,
"I'll meet you at 1890 sharp"
III.
1t was about 1915, and raining heavi-
ly. Phineas Peel, seated on wall over
looking the back of Rhyd cottage, with
his duck gun laid across his knees, was
beginning to feel uncomfortable.
''The note said 1O:3O," he muttered.
''It must be after that time now. What's
that?"
Phineas had caught the sound of heavy
feet moving cautiously over the gravel.
gloom, but could distinguish nothing.
Suddenly he heard voices. evidently at
the front of the house. He was about
to quit his position under the impression
that Herr Schmidt was leaving by the
front door after all, when. one of the
windows was cautiously raised and the
1.-THE form of the naturalist dropped light
ly to the ground.
Creeping along the side of the wall on
which Phineas lay, he presented an eX-
cellent mark. Mr.. Peel, however, could
not bring himself to shoot man down
in cold blood. He would give him Il
chance.
''Stop, you sco1lndrelv' he shouted.
The effect of the challenge was scarce
ly what Phineas had anticipated. Herr
Schmidt darted forward and seized the
barrel of the gun.
He was much the stronger of the two
and Phineas was pulled from the wall
his back on the gravel, in half-dazed
condition, he saw the tall form of
Schmidt standing over him with the
gun raised.
Keep your tongue still, you fool" he
Missed, ''or I'll brain you. Now, quick.
ucII ne over lue wall.
Phineas hesitated, but the threatening
attitude of the other induced him to rise
However, he had no intention of giving
Obeying his instructions. he caught
hold of Schmidt's foot to give him "a leg
up Before the naturalist could grip
the top of the wall, however, Phineas
saw his opportunity.
Bracing himself for the effort. he ex-
erted all his strength and pulled Schmidt
bodily from the wall. He fell flat on
his face. and before he could recover
himself, Phineas jumped OH his back and
seized him round the throat. emitting a
to a Sioux Indian.
The next moment Phineas was dragged
off from behind, and found himself in the
clutches of a burly member of the local
police force.
-Four or five others seized Schmidt, who
struggled in vain to free himself.
'What am | arrested forY' gasped
Phincas. 'There's your MANI
Phineas would no doubt have been led
off with the other prisoner but for the
timely arrival on the scene of the last
person in the world he had expected to
see-his brother John!
Here, what on earth is the meaning
of all this?" he demanded when, as the
result of John Peels interference, he
found himself free.
John stayed behind a minute or two to
explain that Herr Schmidt, the natural
ist," and Edward Harper-the notorious
forger who had defied New Scotland
Yard for the past six weeks, were one
and the same.
1T was smart dodge of Harper's,"
said John Peel land he might have got
clear away but for that clever wife of
yours. Phineas. Mary suspected the
man from the first, and supplied me from
time to time with valuable informa ton.
1t is to her entirely that the. credit of
the capture is due. Tell her I'll call
round and thank her myself tomorrow.
By-the-by, the gang of which he was
the head got wind of our intentions, and
a man was despatched with warning.
Harper doesn't appear to have received
il.
Then Phineas began to understand
things a little more clearly.
Il suppose this will be it," he re-
marked, producing the note and handing
it to his brother. "You see, the messen-
ger left it at the wrong door, and Ter
| thought l might as well see the fun
For some little time after Phineas was
of the opinion that he had made fool
of himself. Lately, however, he has TAX
ell a different view of the matter. and is
never tired of relating how he literally
dropped on Harper, the forger. alias
Schmidt. the naturalist, next door.-Cas-
sells Saturday Journal.