Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-04-06
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Scoundrels eco.
BY coULS0N KERNAHAN
author q Captain Shannon.'' "A Book Of
Strange Sins. A Dead Mans Diary" Etc.
Copyright, 1899, by Herbert S. Stone 4 Co.
CHAPTER XII.-Coxr1x,-rn


T..
CHAPTER XlI.-CoNT1NUED.
mere IS no pond anywhere near
said Number Two, with a curiously
fard note in his voice. But I'm an
swerable for the woman's death, and
lh be answerable for the disposal of
tne body. The fact is, my friends, l
came mere tonight determined that
me person who played us false should
pay the price of his treachery. AMI
when I've made up my mind to a GER
tain course of action make my prep
aratlons beforehand accordingly.
mats the only way to carry a crime
through successfully. It's your crimi-
nal who does things in hurry who
plays into the hands of the police.
sometimes unforeseen circumstances
compel one to act in a hurry, and I
rather f1atter myself I'm as good as
most people in an emergency. But, as
say, prefer to take my time to fix
things up scientifically. I knew that
there'd be body to dispose of to-
night, for knew that when you had
beard what I had to tell you, you
would decide that the person who
played us false should not leave here
alive. That person didn't come by his,
or rather her, death in the way l had
intended. I'd arranged a much surer
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. came here. as said,
knowing that there would be a body
to dispose of, and it was my duty,
therefore, to look round the place and
make the necessary arrangements be-
fOrehaHd. They are quite simple.
I've been in the cemetery close by to-
day, and l see that they have been
digging grave ready for 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. 1t is surprising the
little notice people take of things, I'M
less, of course. they have reason for
being suspicious. You'll find that the
coffin will be let down on the body
there tomorrow, the service read, the
grave filled in 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 I
worked all right together in the jubi-
lee business Do you feel like throw
ing in your lot with me again.
For one moment hesitated. Not
withstanding his assurance that the
minimum of risk was practically nil,
foresaw that we're anything unfore-
seen to upset his calculation l might
a. result find myself in the dock on
q charge of murder. AS a matter OF
fact I was beginning to realize the
tremendous responsibility l had taken
upon myself when 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 l was secreted in the
fo'castle of the Sea Swallow, so that
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
committal of crime has come, to con-
stitute themselves. as did, private de-
tectives, the results would be deplor-
able My own plea is that I entered
upon the business thoughtlessly and
while the itch for adventure was on
me, and that once having become in
1olved saw no way out at present.
Even while Number Two was speak
ing that adventurous spirit stirred
again within me- Sooner or later the
psychological moment would come TO:
calling in the police, and bringing the
1ufians, red-handed, to justice. I'm
til that psychological moment arrived
I preferred to steer clear of Scotland
yard and to do my detective work aft
er my own methods.
BY falling in with Number Two's
proposal l might learn something i'm
man who was practically the leader
of the gang. That decided me.
opened my mouth to say, eyes, will
do as you WISH" but before l could
do so Councillor Number Six forced
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.
Then, gentlemen, / need detain the
rest of you no further. The day aft
or tomorrow we meet at midnight at
the old place. Good night"
CHAPTER XIII.
A BIT OF .BOUNCE" THAT SENT SIX
POLICEMEN OFF ON A FALSE
SCENT.
As he spoke we heard the grating Of
wheels on the shingly high-road that
Ekirted the cemetery. In an instan:
Number Two had blown out the can
die and opened the door softly.
1t was bright moonlight night,
and we could distinctly see a trap,
from which seven men got out noise
lessly. They stood a moment, and
then, in obedience to muffled word
Of command, each produced something
that, from the way in which the moon
light glanced upon it, appeared to be
polished metal.
Don't move, any one, on your life"
said Number Two, in. an imperative
whisper Were betrayed, and by that
woman; but see way out of 1t.
I'm going to bluff them. It's the only
way. I'm going to send all but one
0r tuyo NJ thoun-all ht1t 0ne If I can