The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-01-29


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 O
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?"
continued.
well, we wanted to recover the prop
erty also. He had it hidden around
his hunting-lodge somewhere, we were
quite sure, but he was too cunning fol
us, and we could not discover where
1t was. Then yesterday you told me
of the walled-up cellar, and knew !
had him"
"From what you tell me now, and
what / have heretofore thought of your
peculiar ways, I suppose am right in
surmising that you are detective" !
said.
"Yes, am detective" he quietly re-
sponded.
"And your name is not Sonntag?"
mo. Wilson is my name. 1t was
simply stroke of chance that made
me your lawyer and agent for a short
time. 1t was necessary to be present
here, and the death of your former
agent came most OPPORTUNITY"
$50 then Jackson never suspected
your"
"No. Atleast believe not"
sand how did you come to suspect
Jackson?" I asked, curiously.
"By looking up his record"
"Why, was he a regular criminal?"
mo. Not until he robbed the bank.
He used to be in the employ of a large
safe mandatory 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 ]
knew. .~-
"And you think Jackson was alone
in the AFFAIR."" / asked, with a 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 find there was
not"
Here Skinner, who had been listening
to our conversation, glanced quickly uI
at Wilson, and saw some signal
flashed between the two.
"And what may your name be? Are
| you detective, too?" / asked of Skin
| ner.
ayes" he replied, simply, II am g
detective and Skinner is my name"
: "Why did you try to shoot me?"
81 didn't. I fired in the air. Still
I did want you to think did. 1t was
for two purposes: One, to brighten you
away until this affair was settled; an
other, to make you really down on me
You see, Jackson ut last seemed tc
suspect me, and l thought if | coult
show him you were terribly down or
me it would put me all the closer in
his confidence"
"Oh, you succeeded in making hin
believe you were his friend?" I re
marked. worked the pal racket or
him, eh?''
GAS much as could"
"Then you really were not Preacher
Gus to your contract with Miss Nor
ley?"
Good God, no. Who could play false
to her?" Skinner exclaimed, in such
convincing tones that was satisfied.
Here MIR. Perry broke in. "Youl
name will come out respondent, Mel
son, when the whole truth is known
and we will take care that it be known
that you allowed yourself to be made
q martyr of, by enduring the suspicion
for the sake of aiding the search fol
the real robbers. Now then, come. gen
tlemen. Let us go into the other place.