Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-08-20

was any suspicion, they would make
their way under cover of darkness to
some ship at Gravesend or in the
Towns. where no doubt they had al
ready arranged for passages to America
or the colonies"
"But the launch? They could not
have taken that to their lodgings"
Quite so. l argued that the launch
must be no great way off, in spite of
its invisibility. then put myself in
the place of Small, and looked at it as
man of his capacity would. He would
probably consider that to send back
the launch or 90 keep il at wharf would
make pursuit easy if the police did
happen to get on his track. How, then,
could he conceal the launch and yet
have her at hand when wantedP /
wondered what should do myself if /
were in his shoes ] could only think
of one way of doing It. l might hand
the launch over to some boatbuilder
or repairer, with directions to make a
trifling change in her. She would then
be removed to his shed or yard, and SO
be effectually concealed, while at the
same time / could have her at few
hours notice"
THAT seems simple enough"
"It is lust these very simple things
which are extremely liable to be over
looked. However, l determined to act
on the idea. l started at once in this
harmless seaman's rig and inquired at
all the yards down the river. | drew
blank at fifteen, but at the sixteenth
Jacobson's-I learned that the Aurora
had been handed over to them two
days ago by wooden-legged man,
with some trivial directions as to her
rudder. There amt naught amiss
with her rudder,' said the foreman.
There she lies, with the red strealxs'
At that moment who should come down
but Mordecai Smith, the missing
owner? He was rather the worse
for liquor. ] should not, of course,
have known him, but he beloved
out his name and the name of his
launch. 4 want her tonight at eight
o'clock said heat eight o'clock sharp,
mind, for have two gentlemen who
won't be kept waiting They had evil
IDENTIFY paid him well, for he was very
flush of money, chuclIing shillings
about to the men. / followed him some
distance, but he subsidized in an ale
house; so / went back to the yard, and,
happening to pick up one of my boys
on the way, | stationed him as sentry
over the launch. He is TO stand at the
waters edge and wave his handkerchief
to us when they start. We shall be
lying off in the stream, and il will be
strange thing IL we do not take men,
treasure and all"
You have planned IL all very neatly,
whether they are the right men or
not" said Jones; "but If the affair
were in my hands should have had
n body of police in Jacobson's yard,
and arrested them when they came
down"
which would have been never. This
man Small is pretty shrewd fellow.
He would send a scout on ahead, and If
anything made him suspicious he
would lie snug for another week"
But you might have stuck to
Mordecai Smith, and so been led to
their hiding-place," said |.
''In that case should have wasted
my day think that it is a hundred
to one against Smith knowing where
and good pay, why should he ask ques-
tionsP They send him messages what
TO do. No, thought over every pos
sible course, and this is the best"
While this conversation had been
proceeding, we had been shooting the
long series of bridges which span the
Thames As we passed the city the last
rays of the sun were gliding the cross
upon the summit of st. Pauls II was
twilight before we reached the tower
THAT is Jacobson's yard" said
Holmes, pointing TO bristle Of masts
and rigging on the Surrey side
Cruise gently up and down here under
cover of this string of lighters" He
took pair of night glasses from his
pocket and gazed some time at the
shore. II see my sentry at his post"
he remarked, but no sign of a hand
kerchief."
suppose we go down stream a short
way and lie in wait for them" said
Jones, eagerly. We were all eager by
this time, even the policemen and stol-
ers, who had a very vague idea of what
was going forward.
I'VE have no right to take any,
thing for granted" Holmes answered.
1t Is certainly ten To one that they go
down stream, but we cannot be certain.
FROM this point we can see the en-
trance TO the yard, and they can hardly
see us. 1t will be clear night and
plenty of light. We must stay where
we are. See how the folk swarm over
yonder in the gaslight"
They are coming from work in the
yard"
"Dirty-loolSing rascals, but ] sup
pose every one has some little immortal
spark concealed about him. You
would not think it, to look at them.
There is no priori probability about
1t. A strange enigma is manp'
Some one calls him soul concealed
In an animal" suggested.
"Winwood Reade is good upon the
subject" said Holmes. she remarks
that, while the individual man is an
insoluble puzzle, in the aggregate he
becomes mathematical certainty.
You can, for example, never foretell