Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-07-26


 and comparatively safe method of do- ing the painful business. But the thing has been taken out of my hand, as you all know, and we needn't discuss it. Nor need we trouble ourselves about the body. I came here, as I said, knowing that there would be body to dispose of, and it. was my duty, therefore, to look round the place and make the necessary arrangements be- forehand. They are quite simple. I've been in the cemetery close by to- cay, and I see that they have been digging a grave ready for a funeral to- morrow. It's deep grave, and if we lay the body at the bottom and put enough earth over to cover it, no one is likely to notice that the grave is slightly shallower. It is surprising the little notice people take of things, un- less, of course, they have reason for being suspicious. You'll find that tfla coffin will be let down on the body there tomorrow, the service read, the grave filled ii without any living soul suspecting that they have hidden away our ugly secret for us. If some one will volunteer to lend me a hand, we'll have the whole thing done in a quarter of an hour Who will do so? There's practically no risk. What do you say, Number Seven? You and l worked all right together in the jubi- lee business Do you feel like throw ing in your lot with me again?" For one moment I hesitated. Not withstanding his assurance that the ~F wis rf{ {no nil I foresaw that were anything unfore- seen to upset his calculation I might as a result find myself in the dock on charge of murder. As matter of fact I was beginning to realize the tremendous responsibility I had taken upon myself when I first embarked on , this venture. What I ought then to have done was to inform the police Of the facts which had come to my knowledge while I was secreted in the fo'castle of the Sea Swallow, so that 1 they might have surrounded the meet ing-place of the conspirators at Leigh and effected the arrest of the rascally gang. Were individual members of the community, to whose cognizance the actual committal or the proposed 
 stitute themselves. as1 did, private de- ! tectiyes, the results would be deplor- able My own plea is that entered upon the business thoughtlessly and i while the itch for adventure was on me, and that once having become in 1 yolved saw no way out at present Even while Number Two was speak,. l ing that adventurous spirit stirred again within me- Sooner or later the psychological moment would come for calling in the police, and bringing the l ruffians, red-handed, to justice. Un- 1 til that psychological moment arrived I preferred to steer clear of Scotland yard and to do my detective work aft CT my own methods.
 r By falling in with Number Two's proposal I might learn something irn- portant about the personality of the man who was practically the leader of the gang. That decided me. opened my mouth to say, Yes, I will do as you wish but before could do so Councillor Number Six forced I himself to the front and said roughly Come along. guv'nor. I'm your man. And let's get to business" Thank you" replied Number Two !, sThen. gentlemen, I need detain the rest of you no further. The day aft CT tomorrow we meet at midnight at the old place. Good night"
 CTo Be Continued.)
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