Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-08-27
CHAPTER XII.

oOx.
There goes the reward" said he,
gloomily. Where there is no money
there is no pay. This nights work
would have been worth tenner each
to Sam Brown and me if the treasure
had been there"
Mr.. Thaddeus Sholto is rich man."
said. HE will see that you are re-
warded, treasure or no."
The inspector shook his head de-
spondently, however. cts bad lob"
he repeated, land so Mr.. Athelney
Jones will think"
bis forecast proved TO be correct
for the detective looked blank enough
when l got to Baker street and showed
him the empty box. They had onlv
just arrived, Holmes. the prisoner and
he, for they had changed their plans so
far as to report themselves at a station
upon the way. My companion lounged
In his armchair with his usual listless
expression, while Small sat stolidlv OBJ
posite to him with his wooden leg
cooked over his sound one Ash ex-
hibited the empty box he leaned back
In his chair and laughed aloud.
This is your doing, Small" said
AtheIney Jones, angrily.
Eyes, l have put it away where You
shall never lay hand upon it." he cried,
exultantly. 1T is my treasure; and if
i can't have the loot I'll take darned
good care that no one else does | tell
you that no living man has any right
TO II, unless it is three men who are in
the Andaman convict barracks and N.Y.
self. know now that cannot have
the use of it, and | know that they
cannot. l have acted all through for
tRem as much as for myself It's been
the sign of four with us always Wen
know that they would have had me
do Just what | have done. and throw
the treasure into the Thames rather
than let 1T go to kith or kin of Sholto
or of Morstan 1t was not to make
them rich that we did for Achmet.
You'll find the treasure where the kew
Is, and where little Tonga is When |
saw that your launch must catch us.
put the loot in a safe place. There are
no rupees for you this journey"
You are deceiving us, Small" said
Athetney Jones, sternly, "If Won had
wished to throw the treasure into the
Thames it would have been easier for
you to have thrown box and all"
Easier for me to throw, and easier
for you 10 recover" he answered. with
a, shrewd, sidelong look. 1.-THE man
that was clever enough TO hunt me
down is clever enough to pick an iron
box from the bottom of river. Now
that they are scattered over five miles
or SO, IT may be a harder Job. II went
TO my heart to do it, though. | was
nall mad when you came up with us
however, there no good grievinr over
IT. I've had ups in my life, and I've
had downs, but I've learned not TO cry
over split milk"
This is n very serious matter, Small"
SAID the detective. eff you had helped
Justice, instead of thwarting il in this
way, you would have had better
chance at your trial"
Justicel" snarled the ex-convict. "a
pretty justicel Whose loot is this IL
1t is not ours? Where is the Justice
that should give it up to those who
nave never earned it? Look how have
earned i'll Twenty long years i'm that
Iever-ridden swamp, all day at work
under the mangrove tree, all night
chained up in the filthy convict huts.
bitten by mosquitoes, raci1ed with
ague bullied by every cursed black
laceo policeman who loved TO take il
out 81 white man That was how
earned the Agra treasure; and you talk
10 me OF Justice because cannot bear
70 feel that have paid this price only
that another may enjoy It'll would
I"'her swing score of times.
or nave one of Tonga's darts in
my moe than live in convicG's cell
and feel that another man is at his ease
AZ palace with the money that should
De mine" Small had dropped his masl,
OF StOlPiSn1 and oil 81,
Wild whirl of words. while his eyes
olazed, and the handouts clanked to
gether with imprisoned movement of
ms hands ! could understand. as
sa" the fury and the passion of the |
man mat IL was no groundless or un-
natural terror which had possessed |
Mag. Sholto when he first learned that
'he injured convict was upon his track. !
GU forget thatwe know nothing of |
all this" said Holmes, quietly. ,sXVe |
have not heard your story, and we can
not tell how far justice NAV ORIGINALLY
nave been on your side"
We'll, sir, you have been very fair
spoken to me, though can see that I
nave you to thank that | have these
bracelets upon my wrists. Still, bear
no grudge for that. 1t is all fair and
oVe-ooard If you want to hear nv
story have no wish to hold it back.
what say TO you is Gods truth, every
wore of 1T. Thank you; you can put
the glass beside me here, and I'll put
my lips to it if l am dry.
am Worcestershire man myself
oorn near Pershore. ! dare saw Won
would find heap of Smalls living
tnere now If you We're to look. have
oI'eH thought of taking a look round
there but the truth is that was never
ihuch OF a credit to the family, and
"ouot II they would be so very glad to
see me. They were all steady, chanel
gong folk, small farmers, well known
ana respected over the couRtry-side.
Whne was always bit of rover ,
AZ last. however, whom -.