Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-11-27
CHAPTER W

rD-l-r - his -lSg position toward GU
selves. Tor on finding himself power
less h smiled II al aElu.s manner
arE expressed his hopes thar he had
no. hun any o. Us r -hs scua's.
y guess you're going 20 take ne
% -Es police station. be remarked
Il Sherlock Holmes. Ny cab : ~
rla tc1-. L you- loose ny less III
walk down 20 L. IN no- 50 LEa- 70
Ii aS ! used 70 be"
H rose and stretched his iess. as
though 20 assure himself tha- they
were free once more.
II there's vacant place fo- I
CHIEF o. The police 7 reckon you ar
The nan for =. he said. gazing with
unGiSEulSst admiration g ny fellow
lcdge-. The way you kept or ny
t-ai. was . caution.
You had better come with NE"
said Holmes 10 me -wo detectives.
= can drive you. said Les--ade.
Good. and G-ezs0r can come in
side with ms. You. TOO. doctor: you
have taken 81 interest in the case.
and may as well s-iCk 20 US
I asseuIst gladly. and we all de-
sCe1Lsl together. Our prisoner
---N-Ar IL G----s- ~ ESlGfE. DlN
stepped calmly into the cab which
had been his. and We followed him.
Les--ads mounted the box. whipped
up the horse and brought Us in q
very shO-J tine 70 our destination.
We were ushe-eG into small
chamber. whore E police inspector
noted down our prisoners name and
the names OF the men with whose
murder ne had been charged.
The official was q vhiIetaceG ur-
emotional man. who went through
his duties in { dull. mechanical way.
The prisoner will be put before
the magistrates in the course OF the
week" ne said; in the meantime.
NJ. Jste-sot Hope. have you any
thing that you wish TO say I must
warn you that your words will be
taken down and may be used against
you"
I've got a good deal 70 say" our
prisoner said. slowly. y want 10
tell you gentlemen all about il"
Hadn't you better reserve that for
your I-ial?'' asked the inspector.
I may never be tried" he an.
svered. You needn't look startled
Il isn't suicide am thinking OF. Are
you E doctor"
He turned MS fierce dark eyes upon
me as he asked this last question.
Yes. l an" I answered.
Then put your hand here" ne said
with 2 smile, motiOning with bis
manacled wrists toward mis- chest.
I did so and became az once con
scious OF an extraordinary throbbins
and commotion which was going or
inside.
In the silence OF the room could
hear a dull humming and buzzing
which proceeded from the same
source.
Why" I cried, you have an aor
tic aneurism,"
That's what they call It." he said
placidly. 4 went TO q doctor last
week about II. and he told me that il
was bound 10 burst before many days
passed. It has been getting worse
for years. I got it from over-ax
posure and under-feeding in the
Salt Lake mountains. I've done
my work now. and don't cars
how soon ! 90. but 7 should like
10 leave some account Of the business
behind me. ! don't want 70 be 70
nemhered as e common cut-rhroat.'
The inspector and the TWO detec
tives had & hurried discussion as IC
the advisability OF allowing him tC
tell his story.
DO you consider. doctor. that there
is immediate danger" the former
asked.
Most certainly there is" an
svered
IN that case. il is clearly our duty
in the interests OF justice. 10 take his
statement" said the inspector. "YoJ
are al liberty. sir. TO give your &C
count. which I again warn you viii
be taken down"
"Tll sit down. with yOrr leave" tbs
prisoner said. sui-ing the action tC
the word This aueurism OF mine
makes ire easily tired. and the tus
sic we had half an hour ago has no
mended matters. I'm on the blink o.
the grave. and I am not likely TO liz
70 you Every word ! say is the ab
solute truth. and how you use II i:
G matter OF no consequence TO me-
With these words. jefferson Hops
leaned back in MS chair and begar
the following remarkable statement
can vouch for the accuracy OF tbs
subjoined account. lot l have had &C
cess 10 Lestrade's notebook l.
which the prisoners words were tax
en- down exactly as they were Ut
tered
ct doesn't much matter to yor
WHY I hated these men" he said
"it's enough that they were guilty d
the death OF two human beings
father and q daughteT-and that they
had therefore. forfeited their OWE
lives. After the lapse OF time thai
has passed since their crime, It wa'
impossible for me to secure convic
ton against them in any court.
That girl that I spoke OF was tc
have married me twenty years ago
She was forced into marrying that
same Drebber, and broke her hear
over Il.
'T took the marriage ring from he,
dead finger. and vowed that his dy
ing eyes should rest upon that very
ring. and that mis- last thoughts should
be Of the crime for which he was pun,
ished.
'T have carried II about with me
ppd have TniIoUad him and his ar,