Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17
Copyright, 1899, by Herbert S. Stone Co.
CHAPTER III.-CoNTINUED.

1t was an indiscreet answer, for my
companion evidently interpreted it as
meaning that | was not altogether un-
aware of the fact that steps were to
have been taken by the syndicate to
prevent Inspector Marten from paying
his promised visit
"But why should you suppose you
were beinS watched at Southend?" he
answered, suspiciously.
i didn't suppose" | answered; 81
only wanted to guard against observa-
ton. But, as l was saying when you
interrupted me, | swan out instead of
rowing, and, being bit cold after the
long swim, | asked our host there to
give me drink before we got to busi-
ness. He gave me one and was going
10 help himself, when suddenly, with
out a word of warning he jumped up
rs If to make murderous attack upon
me, and then fell dead, as you saw,
Killed by his own fury. However,
there it is, and it can't be helped; SO
now l think l will bid you goodnight
and get ashore"
Not without drink at all events"
said the councillor, with a singularly
mirthlesS smile. This is really a most
unfortunate and unhappy affair. al
though I'm not a bit surprised at the
sequel, for I've warnad our friend there
not once, but dozen times, that his
passion would cost him his life one
day. But he was a hospitable man.
and, as his friend, | stand in the place
of n
30 do the honors."
For all mis- protested politeness there
was look in his eyes as he spoke
which convinced me that he meant to
40 me mischief. If he believed that
j was in possession of no dangerous in
formation, he would surely have let
me go about my business unmolested:
Out his pressing me to drink foreboded
no good, and when / thought of the
2Rdia-rubber ball l wished heartily
that | were safe on shore again. The
honest truth is that the strain to which
had been subjected was beginning
10 tell upon me and that my nerve was
railing. | was possessed with a great
desire to be done with the whole busi-
ness and out in the open, SO with a civil
Thank you; | won't take any more
whisky tonight" l made a move to-
wards the door
HE stepped forward hastily to inter-
ceEt me and we stood for a moment al |
knost breast to breast, each looking the |
olher IN the face with eyes of menace |
will You allow me to pass, please?"
said, with freezing politeness.
ha,
about your share in this business" he |
protested with equal determination, |
pointing as he spoke to the corpse, and |
advancing one leg, as if to plant that |
hmb more securely, and thus more eff |
aeetually 20 bar the way. In so doing
ne set his heavy heel right upon my
nAhed foot, and with such force that
1ns scar is there to this day.
screaming with pain and maddened
beyond endurance, | struck out at him
With my clenched fist catching him
fairly between the eyes, and with such
force that the back of his head can
honed against the door with a bang
snat set all the crockery on board rat
ulng like housewives china closet
after an earthquake shock.
10 say the fur flew" during the
next half minute would be-in view of
my unclothed condition-an inaccurate
metaphor; but all | know Is that |
was for that space of time as uncer-
tain which of me was | and which of
me was he, as if the pair of us had
ASeen ball of string in the claws of a
kitten. For one moment we untangIed
ourselves, so to speak, to get breath;
and I well remember with what ioy
I caught sight of the livid, ugly lump
between his eyes where | had struck
MIN. The next instant we were at 1t
again, rolling over and over upon the
floor like wild cats and striving each
10 throttle the life out Of the other.
No one who has not fought for his life
stark naked, as | did then, would be-
S1sVe how much l was handicapped by