Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-11-04
CHAPTER vi.

rocity in his disposition toward our
selves, for ON finding himself power
less he smiled in an affaDle manner,
and expressed his hopes that he had
not hurt any of us in the scuffie.
81 guess you're going to take me
to the police station" he remarked
to Sherlock Holmes. "My cabs at
the door. II you'll loose my legs I'll
walk down to it. I'm not SO light to
lift as l used to be-"
He rose and stretched his legs, as
though to assure himself that they
were free once more.
'If there's a vacant place for
chief of the police, l reckon you are
the man for it." he said, gazing with
undisguised admiration at my fellow
lodger. ''The way you kept on my
trail was caution"
"You had better come with me-,
said Holmes to the two detectives.
st can drive you," said Lestrade.
Good! and Gregson can come in
side with me. You, too, doctor; you
have taken an interest in the case,
and may as well stick to us"
assented gladly, and we all de-
scended together. Our prisoner
made no attempt to escape, but
stepped calmly into the cab which
had been his, and we followed him.
Lestrade mounted the box, whipped
up the horse and brought us in a
very short time to our destination.
We were ushered into small
chamber, where police inspector
noted down our prisoners name and
the names of the men with whose
murder he had been charged.
The official was a white-faced, un-
cy
his duties in a dull, mechanical way.
"The prisoner will be put before
the magistrates in the course of the
week." he said: Gin the meantime,
Mr. Jefferson Hope, have you any
warn you that your words will be
taken down and may be used against
you.''
"rve got a good deal to say" our
prisoner said, slowly. II want to
tell you gentlemen all about it."
Hadn't you better reserve that for
your trial?" asked the inspector.
"I may never be tried" he an
swered. "You needn't look startled.
It isn't suicide am thinking Of. Are
you doctor?"
He turned his fierce dark eyes upon
me as he asked this last question.
"Yes, am L answered.
Then put your hand here" he said,
with a smile, motioning with his
manacled wrists toward his chest.
/ did so, and became at once con-
scious of an extraordinary throbbing
and commotion which was going on
inside.
In the silence of the room I could
hear a dull humming and buzzing
which proceeded from the same
source.
why" 1 cried, you have an aor-
tic aneurism!"
That's what they call it." he said
placidly. 81 went to doctor last
week about 1t, and he told me that it
was bound to burst before many days
passed. It has been getting worse
for years. 1 got it from over-ex,
posure and under-feeding in the
Salt Lake mountains. I've done
my work now, and l don't care
how soon I go, but I should like
to leave some account of the business
behind me. I don't want to be re
membered as a common cut-throat.'
The inspector and the two detec-
tives had a hurried discussion as to
the advisability of allowing him to
tell his story.
DO you consider, doctor, that there
Is immediate danger?" the former
asked.
Most certainly there is" I an
swered.
"In that case, it is clearly our duty
in the interests of justice, to take his
statement" said the inspector. "You
are at liberty, sir, to give your &C
count, which I again warn you will
be taken down.
''Tll sit down, with your leave" the
prisoner said, suiting the action to
the word. "This aneurism of mine
makes me easily tired, and the tus
ale we had half an hour ago has not
mended matters. I'm on the brink oi
the grave, and I am not likely to liz
to you. Every word I say is the alb
solute truth, and how you use 1t is
a matter Of no consequence to me-"
With these words. Jefferson Hope
leaned back In his chair and begar
the following remarkable statement:
can vouch for the accuracy of the
subjoined account, for 1 have had &C
cess to Lestrade's notebook, Il
which the prisoners words were TAX
en- down exactly as they were ut
tered.
"It doesn't much matter to yol
why i naleQ tnSSe mSH, uS Soio
'ft's enough that they were guilty o
the death of two human beings
father and a daughter-and that the,
had therefore. forfeited their owl
lives. After the lapse of time tina
has passed since their crime, 1t wa
- impossible for me to secure convfc
tion against them in any court.
THAT girl that / spoke of was t.
have married me twenty years age
She was forced into marrying tha
same Drebber, and broke her hear
over 1t.
"I took the marriage ring from he
dead finger, and vowed that his dy
ing eyes should rest upon that yer,
ring, and that his last thoughts shoul
be Of the crime for which he was pun
ished.
"I have carried 1t about with me
and have followed him and his az
complice over two continents until
caught them. They thought to tir
me out, but they could not do 1t.
I die tomorrow, as is likely enough
I die knowing that my work In thi
world is done, and well done. The
have perished, and by my hand
There is nothing left for me to hop
for or to desire.
They were rich and I was poo
SO that 1t was no easy matter for m
to follow them. When I got to Lor