The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-10-31
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 seuflle.
Il guess you're going to take me
to the police station" he remarked
to Sherlock Holmes. my cabs at
the door. If you'll loose my legs I'll
walk down to it. I'm not so light TO
lift as / 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 a
chief of the police, | reckon you are
the man for it," he said, gazing with
undisgulsed admiration at my fellow
lodger. The way you kept on my
trail was a caution"
"You had better come with me"
said Holmes to the two detectives.
81 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 we'll stick to US"
l assented gladly, and we all do
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 a small
chamber, where a 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-
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." he said; Gin the meantime
Mr.. Jefferson Hope, have you any
thing that you wish to say? must
warn you that your words will be
taken down and may be used against
you"
"I've got a good deal to say" our
prisoner said, slowly. 81 want 10
tell you gentlemen all about it."
Hadn't you better reserve that for
your trial?" asked the inspector.
II may never be tried" he an.
swered. "You needn't look startled
It isn't suicide | am thinking of. Are
you a doctor?"
He turned his fierce dark eyes upon
me as he asked this last question.
"Yes, am" | answered.
"Then put your hand here" he said,
with a smile, motioning with his
manacled wrists toward his chest.
I 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 could
hear a dull humming and buzzing
which proceeded from the same
source.
why" cried, "you have an aor-
tic aneurism:"
That's what they call it," he said,
placidly. II went to doctor last
week about 1t, and he told me that 1t
was bound to burst before many days
passed. It has been getting worse
for years. | got 1t from over-ex-
posure and under-feeding In the
Salt Lake mountains. I've done
my work now, and don't care
how soon l go, but I should like
to leave some account of the business
behind me. l 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," 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 ac-
count, which 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
sle we had half an hour ago has not
mended matters. I'm on the brink OF
the grave, and | am not likely to lie
to you. Every word l say Is the abb
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 began
the following remarkable statement:
can vouch for the accuracy of the
subjoined account, for | have had ac-
cess to Lestrade's notebook, In
which the prisoners words were TAX
en- down exactly as they were ut
tered.
'Tt doesn't much matter TO you
why I hated these men," he said;
'1t's enough that they were guilty Of
the death of two human beings-a
father and a daughter-and that they
had therefore, forfeited their own
lives. After the lapse Of time that
has passed since their crime, 1t was
impossible for me to secure a convic-
tion against them In any court.
THAT girl that | spoke of was to
have married me twenty years ago.
She was forced into marrying that
same Drebber. and broke her heart
over It.
81 took the marriage ring from her
dead finger, and vowed that his dy-
ing eyes should rest upon that very
ring. and that his last thoughts should
be of the crime for which he was pun
ished.
'T have carried It about with me.
and have followed him and his 40
complice over two continents until
caught them. They thought to tire
me out, but they could not do Il. If
I die tomorrow. as is likely enough,
! die knowing that my work in this
world is done. and well done. They
have perished. and by my hand.
There is nothing left for me to hope
for or to desire.
They were rich and was poor.
so that 1t was no easy matter for me
to follow them. When I got to Lon.
don my pocket was about empty, and
| found that / must turn my hand to
something for my living.
Driving and riding are as natural
to me as walking. so I applied at
cab owners office, and soon got en-
ployment. I was to bring a certain
sum a week to the owner, and what
ever was over that ! might keep for
y,,x-e,ff