The Lamar register., 1901-11-06

HI syss saartns nnsdly - ma
the revolver, which was fixed above it,
in the mortar between two stones. The
spring, however. which caused the ex-
plosion of the pistol, was fastened on
the inner side Of the door, and so ar
ranged that either a pressure on the
door or IN 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 ons." remarked Sonntag.
'-rhen you know he robbed the
bank 2" asked.
"Oh, yes, we knew IL, and have known
1t 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 for
US, and we could not discover where
It was. Then yesterday you told me
of the walled-up cellar, and I knew ]
had him."
From what you tell me now, and
what have heretofore thought of your
peculiar ways, suppose I am right in
surmising that you are detective" 1
said.
Eyes, am detective" he quietly re-
sponded.
"And your name is not Sonntag7"
mo. Wilson is my name. 1t was
simply a stroke of chance that made
me your lawyer and agent for short
time. 1t was necessary to be present
here, and the death of your former
agent came most opportunely."
$50 then jackson never suspected
your" 4l.
mo. Atleast believe not"
sand how did you come to suspect
Jackson7" I asked. curiously.
"By looking up his record"
"Why, was he a regular criminal7"
mo. Not until he robbed the bank.
He used to be in the employ of large
safe mandatory as an expert on locks.
When we found that out we were GER
tdlH ne Wd6 blC Auhh Ill Tic uhuA WIZ
could open the lock, when the time
piece was of, without knowing the
combination"
Did the detectives know of Mr.. Nor
ley's connection with the affair? II
not, 1 could easily keep secret what I
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 I find there waa
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 be7 Are
you detective, too?" asked of Skim
ner.
"Yes," he replied, simply, "I am a
detective and Skinner is my name"
why did you try to shoot me2'
IT didn't. fired in the air. Still,
I did want you to think did. It 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 thought II 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 friendr' I re-
marked. Worked the pal racket on
him, eh7''
"As much a. I could"
"Then you really were not treacher-
GUS TO your contract with Miss Nor
ley7"
Good God, no. Who could play false
to herr" Skinner exclaimed, in such
convincing tones that was satisfied.
Here Mr.. Perry broke in. "Your
name will come out resplendent, Nell
son, when the whole truth is known,
and we will take care that it be known
that you allowed yourself to be made
a 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" !"
CHAPTER XVII.
Sonntag-or Wilson, as I ought to call
him now-went first, with the lantern