Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-03
CHAPTER III.
I FIGHT FOR MY LIFE.

you've made a mess of it, Marten,
haven't you?" said a voice behind me,
and, turning, saw framed in the door
way tall, clean-shaven man. He was
holding the very brown bag which had
been handed to him in my presence
only an hour ago, but had he been
without it should have known that he
was the newly appointed councillor.
One surprise had succeeded aIother
so rapidly on this eventful evening
that l was less taken aback than loigh:
have been expected. And now that
knew how INSCRIPTIONS was the man
was dealing with, and what was the
errand that brought him there, real
ICED at once that, naked and una: med
as I was, l should have to play my
cards very carefully if was to ge; out
of the business alive. My only ch ance
lay so it seemed to me, in keepiny up
the role that had been thrust upoh me.
So when the new arrival said, you've
made mess of it, Marten, haven't
you?" replied as naturally as if l had
answered to the name Marten all my
life.
Yes said YEARLY, Il suppose, as
you say, I've made mess of it. But,
since you seem to know me, call you
to witness that l laid no finger on
the man.
''Well," said Number Seven, "all
only just set foot on the yachts deck
when some one screeched out in the
cabin. l hurried down as fast as
could, but was only in time to see our
friend here throw up his arms and fall
back. I'll stand by you if anything
comes of it, however, and will swear
that you didn't lay hands on him.
But I know why he sent for you to
come here tonight, and what it was
he meant telling you; so before we
go any farther I'd like to know how
much he has told you and how much
he hasn't. You needn't be afraid to
speak out, for l was in his confidence;
besides, I know as much Of the mat
ter as he did, and can very likely put
you right on point or two"
The fellows motives in trying to
wheedle me into telling him what had
passed between the dead man and my
self we're not difficult to diagnose. He
knew that Inspector Marten had prom
Used to visit the yacht that night, and,
finding me there, he had not unnatu-
rally concluded that was the willy in
spector, and that I had in some way
contrived to outwit the scoundrels who
had been so confident of their ability
to prevent the visit from taking place.
If Councillor Number Seven could sat-
isfy himself that no communication
had been made to me by the dead man,
he would not trouble himself greatly
about my movements: but if, on ting
contrary, he had reason to belieV9
that had been made acquainted with
the facts concerning the syndicate, he
would at once decide that l must not
leave the yacht alive. The villain had
come there prepared to murder, and
he was not likely to stick at tribe
when his neck and the necks of his
fellow-conspirators were in danger.
"Oh," said, "there isn't much to
tell. had only just arrived here few
minutes, and our friend there had told
me nothing of the business about
which he had summoned me. I swan
out to the yacht, as you see, instead
of coming in boat" =
''Why did you do that?" interrupted
Councillor Number Seven, sharply.
"Why did do that?" I repeated after
him, so that I might have moment
or two's grace in which to frame some
plausible explanation. why? Oh!
only because I thought could slip
away from the shore unnoticed il
swan, whereas If l hired boat ]
might attract attention. = s. Is.
s ITO Be Co1tinusal