The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-14
CHAPTER XIX.
AMATEUR DETECTIVE WORK.


This was a queer ending to my crude
bit of amateur detective work. had
hoped to track my man to his OWE. den,
and all that succeeded in doing was
to follow him into an ice hole, and very
nearly into the next world.
chafed the fellows limbs and tenn
pies as well az I could. The exercise
warmed me, and the treatment appar-
emily suited my patient well enough,
for he soon revived and sat up, looking
round him in puzzled way, and shiv-
ering
"Do You feel well enough to stand
up and walks" I asked. "I'll give you
an arm"
"What has happenedf Where are
we2' he said. "And who are your"
"Well,' said. laughing, GIVE just
had the pleasure of pulling you out Of
the water, into which you did me the
honor to drag me- As for what hap
pened, followed you down the quay
for reasons of my own, and You, having
a guilty conscience l euppose-for !
know no other reason--fefused to be
overtaken and ran souse into an ice
hole"
II remember" he said. II thought
was gone more than once. How did
you pull ME out2 I don't recall it some
how"
"Does it matter since out you are
and safe on dry land, or rather ice'
Come, get up and III take you home
and you shall change your clothes. Your
teeth are ehattering like castanets. "
II have no clothes but these and no
fire in my room," said the fellow.
II don't think shall ever be warm
again. But III get into bed II / can
travel 20 far. Don't think me migrate
full. am very much obliged to you for
pulling me ont. I'd rather die Of cold
at home, CT hunger either, than drown
like rat under the ice. BAIL The idea
is sickeningp'
"Look here" I said, an idea striking
me. "If your place is go cold and I'M
comfortable and you've no change Of
clothes, you shall lie up for few days
at my house. You shall be fed well and
have a good rest. When you feel all
right again, you shall be free to go. Do
you consentT'
"But stopl Why all thisa Who are
your You pulled me out Of the water
at some risk, and am grateful for it,
but when you come TO offer me these
other kindnesses don't know what to
think. I am suspicious Of your good
faith, for, after all, why should you
treat me in this way-a total stran-
ger3"
"There Ia a certain service which I;
think you can render me IL you like"
said. II will tell you that much. I
would gladly keep you in luxury for ten
years if I could obtain certain informa.
tion from you which you may or may
not be able to give mel There, I aai
open with you, you see."
"Goodl will be as OPEN with you.
See here would sell my soul for ten
years Of luxurious life. II there is any
Information that it is in my power to
give you and you are prepared to pa1.
well for 1t, you shall have all I have to
tell You and l shall make the terms all
The easier because You logged me out
Of yonder death trap. Bnt why should
--particularly I-be able to give you
the information you desire3 Are you
sure that I possess it2'
"No, am not. Still you are sure to
be able to afford me some satisfaction,
if you cannot tell me all wish to
know Step out quicker. The faster we
70 the sooner you shall have a warm
room and some dry clothes and full
meal
"A hot meal-hos meat and so onf"
said the student, looking wolfshly at
me, "and perhaps glass of wine or
good beerf"
''Most certainly" laughed. "If
you fancy it, why not? Are good meal
and a glass Of beer so unwonted lux
ury to your"
II have not eaten really full meal
for two years, at least. That which
eat scarcely serves to keep body and
soul together.
"Are you SO terribly poor, them" I
asked. I had never seen such poverty.
l had always had plenty Of the best Of
everything and had never consequently
realized what the want Of good food
meant.
"God knows how live" shivered
the student. 81 DON'T
We were now on the Palace quay and
rapidly approaching our big house-the
very place he had last left before we
had both started upon our wild and Ill
omened race
"Where are you taking me tor" he
said.
"To my home. Of course. replied
with laugh.
(Which house is IL" he said, hang
ing back little. "Not this huge one
the Landrinof mansion2'
eyes, certainly. Why not l am
Count Boris Landrinof, and you shall
be my guest, as promised.
He stopped on the doorstep, shivering
violently,
ooh, I dare not" he said. "Not
there-I-I didn't guess you were
young Count Landrinof
"NoDsense, said. "Now we have
made one another's acquaintance, you
will find am quite as good friend,
and perhaps more profitable one, than
well, than your other friend in here
--Kornilof or Andre Landrinof, or
whatever ron NAV rall him Cnme He