Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-07-18


been handed to him in my presence
only an hour ago. but had he been
without 1t / should have known that he
was the newly appointed councillor.
, One surprise had succeeded another
SO rapidly on this eyentful evening
that was less taken aback than might
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
lied at once that, naked and unarmed
as l was, should have to play my
cards very carefully IL was to get out
Of the business alive. My only chance
lay, SO 1t seemed to me, in keeping up
the role that had been thrust upon me.
So when the new arrival said, You've
made mess OF it, Marten, haven't
your" l replied as naturally as II had
answered to the name Marten all my
life.
Yes said YEARLY, 81 suppose, as
you say, I've made mess of it. But,
since you seem to know me, ] call you
to witness that laid no finger on
the man"
WELL" said Number Seven, fall
know of the business is, that had
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. Ill stand by you il anything
comes Of 1t, however, and will swear
that you didn't lay hands on him.
Del Y =. =, FfNrrN yfNT III
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 I was in his confidence;
besides, ] 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 were not difficult to diagnose. He
knew that Inspector Marten had prom
ised to visit the yacht that night, and,
finding me there, he had not unnatu-
rally concluded that was the willy in
gpector, 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.
X 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 the
contrary, be had reason to believe
that had been made acquainted with
the facts concerning the syndicate, he
would at once decide that I must not
leave the yacht alive. The villain had
come there prepared to murder, and
he was not likely to stick at a trife
when his neck and the necks of his
-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. swan
out to the yacht, as you see, instead
of coming in boat
.sWhy did you do that?" interrupted
Councillor Number Seven, sharply.
why did I do that7'' repeated after
him, so that might have a moment
or two's grace In which to frame some
plausible explanation. why? Oh!
only because I thought I could slip
away from the shore unnoticed If T
swan, whereas If / hired boat /
might attract attention. /"
1t was an indiscreet answer, for my
companion evidently interpreted it as
meaning that I was not altogether I'M
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 being watched at Southend?" he
answered suspiciously.
az didn't suppose" answered; IT
only wanted to guard against observa-
tion But, as was saying when you
interrupted me, I 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 bust
ness He gave me one and was going
to help himself, when suddenly, with
out word of warning, he jumped up
as if to make q murderous attack upon
me, and then fell dead, as you saw.
killed by his own fury. However,
there it is, and it cant be helped; SO
now think will bid you goodnight
and get ashore"
Not without a drink, at all events, =
said the councillor, with singularly
mirthless smile. This is really most
unfortunate and unhappy affair, all
though I'm not a bit surprised at the
sequel, for I've warned our friend there
not once, but dozen times, that his
passion would cost him his life one
day. But he was hospitaDle man,
and, as his friend, I stand in the place
of host to you; so you must allow m&
to do the honors.''
For all his protested politeness there
was a look in his eyes as he spoke
which convinced me that he meant to
do me mischief. If he believed that
I was in possession of no dangerous in
formation, he would surely have let
me go about my business unmolested;
but his pressing me to drink foreboded