The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-12-11
THE :NEW !: TENANT.


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however, did not put in an appearance.
After waiting some time, Phineas re-
entered the house and reared his duck
gun up in the hall in a conspicuous po-
| sition. +-:t .l,.-...-'
He had almost decided; to run up to
town and consult his brother John. the
detective. with "a view to having the
movements of Herr. Schmidt watched,
when she was startled by the click of
the letter box: - - ::t:. =.
| A scrap of paper lay on the mat.
Picking, it up. Phineas glanced at it,.
turned deadly pale. then hurried into
the garden. 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 ~ ,...:.;..i..
There was no signature.
"Goed graciousH calculated Phineas
after reading the, note for the third
time. I'D no idea matters had gone
so far. Oh. yes, Mr.. Schmidt" he, add
ed grimly.. '.I'll meet you at: 1890
sharp" ;.
| 1t was about 10:45, and raining heav-,
| lily. FPhineas Peel, seated on well
overlooking 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. WHATS
thaf?" .....:-..,sz.
fho- Of
| heavy feet moving cautiously over the
gravel He grasped his gun and peered
into. the 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 impress
sion that Herr Schmidt was leaving by
the front door after all. when one Of
the. back windows was cautiously rails
eds:and the 1.-the form of the naturalist
dropped lightly to the ground.
Creeping along the side of the wall on
which Phineas lay, he presented an eX-
ceiient mark. Mr.. Peel, however. could
net bring himself to shoot man down
in nscold blood. He would give him
chance.
''Stop. you scoundrel!' he shouted.
The effect of the challenge was
scarcely what Phineas had anticipated.
Herr Schmidt darted forward and seiz-
ed the barrel of the gun.
He was much the stronger of the two,
and Phineas was pulled from the wall
in twinkling. Lying on the broad of
his back on the gravel, in a half-dazed
condition, he saw the tall form of
Schmidt standing over him with the
gun raised.
Keep your tongue still. you fool" he
hissed, "orsFll brain you. Now, quick,
help me over the wall"
Phineas hesitated. but the threaten
ing attitude of the other induced him
to rise However he had no intention
of giving ia.
Obeying his instructions. he caught
hold of Schmidt's foot to give him 81
leg up Before the naturalist could
grip the top of the wall. however. Phln-
cas- saw his opportunity.
Bracng himself for the effort. he ex-
erted all his strength and pulled
Schmidt bodily from the wall. He fell
fat on his face; and before he could re-
cover himself Phineas jumped on his
back and seized him around the throat,
emitting yell that would have done in
finite credit to Sioux Indian.
The next moment Phineas was drag
ged off from behind and found himself
in the clutches of burly member of
the police force.
Four or five others seized Schmidt,
who struggled in vain to free himself.
What am arrested for?" gaspeG
Phineas. There's your man."
Phfneas 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 expect
ed to see-his brother John!
Here, what on earth is the meaning
of all this?' he demanded when. as the
result of John Peers interference, he
found himself free.
John stayed behind minute or two
to explain that Herr Schmidt. the mat
uralist,"- and Edward Harper-the no.
torious forger. who had defied new
Scotland yard for the past six weeks
were one and the same.
1T was a smart dodge Of Harper's."
said John Peel, 'and 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 infor-
nation. 1t is to her entirely that the
credit Of the capture is due. Tell her
I'll call around and thank her myself to-
morrow. By-the-bye. the gang of which
he is the head. got wind of our inten-
tions. and a man was dispatched with
warning. Harper doesn't appear to
have received it."
Then Phineas began to understand
things little more clearly.
81 suppose this will be it, he re-
marked, producing the note and hand
ing it to his brother. "You see. the mes
senger left it at the wrong door, and L
er-I thought l might as well see the
fun"
For some little time after Phineas
was of the opinion that he had made a
fool of himself. Lately, however, he
has taken different view of the mat
ter. and is never tired of relating how
he literally dropped on" Harper. the |
forger. alias Schmidt, the naturalist. I
next Cassell's Saturday Journal.
Joan of Arcs Devotion to the King.
For her king, who had so cowardly
ohopdonad her she retained a DaSSiOn- |