Daily camera., 1897-09-03

III Iue MOI XIV St.i VIZ SlltS 1 IlC
spring, however. which caused the eX-
plosion of the pistol, was fastened on
the inner side of the door, and SO ar
ranged tnat either pressure on the
door or an adverse force compressed it.
My leaning the weight Of my hand
against the door when had stopped
down to peer into the hole had operated
the spring. as had Jackson's body when
he backed from me-,
"Clever rascal, that jackson, and a
patient one" remarked Sonntag.
"Then you know he robbed the
bank?" | asked.
"Oh, yes, we knew it, and have known
it for some time," Sonntag said, dryly.
'Then why was he not arrested?' l
continued.
"Well, we wanted to recover the prop
erty also. He had it hidden around
his huntinglodge somewhere, we were
quite sure, but he was too cunning for
us, and we could not discover where
it was. Then yesterday you told me
of the walled-up cellar, and knew l
had him."
From what you tell me now, and
what l have heretofore thought of your
peculiar ways, suppose l am right in
surmising that you are a detective" l
said.
"Yes, am detective" he quietly re-
sponded.
and your name is not Sonntag?'
NO. Wilson is my name. 1t was
simply a stroke of chance that made
me your lawyer and agent for short
time. It was necessary to be present
here, and the death of your former
agent came most opportunely."
$50 then Jackson never suspected
you?"
NO At least l believe not"
'And how did you come to suspect
Jackson?' l asked, curiously.
"By looking up his record"
"Why, was he regular criminal?'
mo. Not until he robbed the bank.
He used to be in the employ of large
safe manufactory as an expert on locks
When we found that out we were GER
tain he was the man in the bank who
could open the lock, when the time
piece was off, without knowing the
combination
Did the detectives know of Mr.. Nor
ley's connection with the affair? If
not, I could easily keep secret what I
knew.
"And you think Jackson was alone
in the AFFAIR."" asked, with view to
ascertaining how much Sonntag, or
Wilson, knew.
He cast upon me one Of his whimsical
looks, and after pause replied: "At
first it seemed quite certain there was
some one connected with Jackson in
the affair. But now l find there was
not"
Here Skinner, who had been listening
to our conversation, glanced quickly up
at Wilson, and I saw some signal
flashed between the two.
"And what may your name be? Are
you detective, too?" asked Of Skin
ner.
"Yes," he replied, simply, Il am q
detective and Skinner is my name"
: "Why did you try to shoot me?"
Il didn't. l fired in the air. Still,
| did want you to think | did 1t was
for two purposes: One, to frighten you
away until this affair was settled; an
other, to make you really down on me.
You see, Jackson at last seemed to
suspect me, and l thought if l could
show him you were terribly down on
me it would put me all the closer in
his confidence"
"Oh, you succeeded in making him
believe you were his friend?" re-
marked "Worked the pal racket on
him, eh?"
''As much as could"
'Then you really were not treacher-
Gus to your contract with Miss Nor
ley?"
Good God, no. Who could play false
to herr" Skinner exclaimed, in such
convincing tones that was satisfied.
Here Mr.. Perry broke i'll. "Your
name will come out resplendent, Mel
son, when the whole truth is known,
and we will take care that it be known
that you allowed yourself to be made
martyr of, by enduring the suspicion
for the sake of aiding the search for
the real robbers Now then, come, gen.
tlemen. Let us go into the other place"