The Holly chieftain., 1897-08-06

!
suddenly been cpufronted with the rid.
die Of the SphinN.
Out Of the depths OF Jem's capncious
pockets he turned on to the table Il
chicken, q tin OF soup. some eggs, q
packet Of sweets sticky piece OF can
died peel. and last. but not least. a bottle
OF port.
whats the meaning Of this ?" said
the detective, sharply, feeling vaguely
that some trick was being played upon
him. What is it" a picnic, a ard par
~, or what? Apparently you're in a
new line"
'Oh. yes" said Jem. suIleuly: I've
stole 'em all" And after that he made
no remark. He sal staring at the stone
floor, with his coarse hands c!asped to-
gcther by the handouts, and with o
strange, almost baftied expression on
his face
"Ill tell yer wot," he said, raising
his head suddenly, If yen cum wi me
. I'll show yer the oloke as put me up
ter this Job. It's straight-uo kiddin'.
an 1 swear as If yer does III cum back
quiet swear | will. Yer can bring
Snaith With yer an some more 'coppers'
/ If yer LIKE don't care"
The detective looked Jem in silence
for a moment. Something about the
| case struck him as peculiar. II was not
I like Jrm Brooker to steal eatabIes when
| better things were TO be got with the
same risk. and he fe!, a desire to know
/ what it meant.
/ SO, with a fine disregard for the rules
and regulations Of her ma jrsty's prison.
/ he bundled Jem and Snaith into cab,
and with another policeman on the box
they were driven TO small aud filthy
court short distance away.
There they all three mounted the
dreary stairs to the dingy Earret where
John Endletou sat with shaking shoul-
/ ders watching his dying son.
! At the sound of footsteps he raised
his head and looked round With sud
den astonishment he saw that Jem wa
haudcuffed. He saw the policeman and
/ the detective. and then Hartly stepped
into the middle of the room.
/ He looked round rNpectautly.
well" he said. what now" He
had expected TO find perhaps half a
1 dozen roughs. He had hoped that Jem
| might have given him some valuable in
/ formation-som clew that he had beer
unable 10 pick up himself; and now all
I that was 10 be seen was man and Il
sick boy.
What do you mean by this" he de
mnnded. turning to Jem. nnd the thief
pointed with his mauacled hands to the
bed
There's the littlr cove as started me
/ on this" he said. and Hartly snortcd
/ impaticntly
/ Look here, Jem Brooker." he said.
/ you won't make things any better for
/ Yourself with trickery. Now. what's the
reason for his fools errand?"
Jem stood up.
That's L meanin' Of it," he repeated.
still pointing to the bed. IT'S the little
biokr there as set me on tim Us is dy-
in for things to eat. There e is. S'elp
me. that's wot | done it for
/ Hurtly turned round sharply and
/ looked at the boy. Then he stepped
across the room and peered down at the
wan face that was blue with cold and
pitiful with hunger, and all at once he
became aware that there was a strange
silence in the room, and when he looked
again he saw the father staring breath
lessly into the boys face.
He saw ii only dimly before him, and
then 1t faded away to a picture of his
own son. Some vague astonishment at
BROKERS behavior passed through his
mind-he had never expected TO find A
heart under the mans rough exterior
and then he strobe suddenly across the
room 10 the top of the stairs.
II say, Harris-Harris!" he shouted
Go back to the station at once and get
those things that are on the table there
Hurry up, now. Bring the port and tn,
soup. and you'll find cup and saucer
in the cupboard. Be quick. You'd bet
ter take the cab; and, oh, | say, bring q
corksCrew."
Then he went back and calmly uu
locked the handouts on Jem's wrists
To-day Detective Hartly is not quit,
such a hard man as he was. He has