Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-10
Copyright, 1899, by Herbert S. ston, & Co
CHAPTER I.-CoNTINUED.

ana Wnefe DO come In, in this
business?" asked the newly appointed
councillor nervously.
''Ah! you are business-like," replied
Che chairman, with a smile. Listen
The detective is to join Councillor
Number Seven, as we will continue for
the present to call him, at midnight,
On board the yacht | have told you of.
1t will be our business to see that he is
prevented from getting there, and you
may rely upon our doing it, for the
resources at our command can ac-
Complish anything. We are going to
take you ashore with us in the dinghy
when this meeting is concluded. There
4. siiff will be waiting for you, in which
you will row out to pay a visit to
Councillor Number Seven. In fact,
You will go there impersonating his
expected visitor Detective Marten. He
has never seen Marten, and doesn't
even know what he is like, which SIM
plifies matters very much. You see this
india-rubber ball, scarcely bigger than
marble? You will have no difficulty
in concealing it in the palm of your lett
hand. You notice that there is tiny
tube or pipe to it? Well, Councillor
Number Seven has a long story and
a dry one to tell you, and from what
know OF him, | can promise you that
he will offer you refreshment, and will
not want much pressing to join you
himself You must make some oppor-
tunity, when he is not looking, to pass
your hand over his drink. AS you do
ha haI
what it contains goes into the whisky,
your business will be done. But even
If you can't manage the business that
way, you will have no difficulty in
effecting his removal, for he has
arranged to give the detective berth
for the night, and you can easily chic
roform him when he is asleep. Well
suppis you with the drug for the pur-
pose"
And what do | do with the body?"
asked the new councillor. His face was
now deadly pale. and his fingers were
picking at the braid on his coat while
he spoke.
That too we have arranged" was
the answer. You see that brown
leather handbag on the locker? Lift
1T Rather heavy, isn't it? Let me
show you what it contains. This
weight attached to a chain is heavy
enough to sink two men. When your
business with Councillor Number Seven
is transacted, you will slip the chain
round his ankle, fasten it so, and drop
The body overheard. Then haul up
the anchor, row ashore, and leave the
tn ri with ha bn
go a long way out to sea, and the
farther the better.
"On the first of next month the
council meets again, when you will!
make your report. Put this letter in
your pocket. 1t contains instructions
as to where we meet and under what
circumstances.
"And now about the disguise. You
received, before you came here to-
night, the clothes you are wearing, the
false beard and the rest of it, with in
Structions in regard to getting up"
Yes" said the recruit; but I
didn't know that all the seven were to
be disguised alike, and it gave me a
turn when | first came down in the
cabin. 1t is tho cleverest thing | ever
saw, for behanged if the seven of us
aren't as like as two peas If we were
all sh uffied together like cards in a
pack | don't believe l could pick OUT
any one of us again to save my life.
What's it for, and how do you know
each other again?"
1--WE don't know each other again. ."
was the calm reply. mo man here
except myself, so far as | am aware,
knows the name of any of his fellow
councillors. Why should they? There's
no chance of my turning informer. If
turned Queens evidence a thousand
times over, it wouldn't save my neck.
What there is against me is too bad
and there is zoo much of it for that
ever to be thought of. Hence we are
iynOwn to each other only by a number.
You are Number Seven and am Num-
ber One, as | ought to be, for | origi-
mated the whole concern. Every man
here has been invited to join Us on my
responsibility alone. | do the thing
carefully, you must admit In your
own case, for instance. | knew what