Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-28
ICoNTINUED.I

-hh. Tx question:, VI CouISc
But l commend the idea TO Your
mind. You might possibly find that
there was something in it. You Won't
stop for dinner? Well. goodby. and
let us know how you get on"
Dinner was over and the table clear.
ed before Holmes alluded to the matter
again. He had lit his pipe and held his
slippered feet to the cheerful blaze OF
the fire, Suddenly he looked at his
watch.
Il expect developments. Watson"
"When?
"Now-within a few minutes. dare
say YOU thought I acted rather badly
to Stanley Hopkins just now"
II trust your Judgment"
"a very sensible reply, Watson. You
must look at it this way: What l know
is unofficial; what he knows is official.
I have the right to private Judgment.
but he has lone. He must disclose all
or he is a traitor to his service. In q
doubtful case l would not put him in
so painful a position, and so I reserve
my information until my own mind is
clear upon the matter"
"But when will that be-
"The time has come. You will now
be present at the last scene of a re-
markable little drama"
There was a sound upon the stairs.
and our door was opened to admit as
fine Il specimen of manhood as ever
passed through it. He was q very tall
young man., golden mustached. blue
eyed, with q skin which had been burn
ed by tropical suns. and a springy step
which showed that the huge frame was
as active as it was strong. He closed
the door behind him. and then he stood
with clinched hands and heaving
breast. choking down some overmaster-
ing emotion.
"Sit down. Captain Croker. You
got my telegram!'
Our visitor sank into an armchair
and looked from one to the other of US
with questioning eyes.
Il got your telegram, and I came at
the hour YOU said. / heard that YOU
had been down to the office. There
was no getting away from you. Let's
hear the worst. What are you going to
do with me? Arrest me? Speak out.
man. You can't sit there and play
with me like a cat with a mouse"
"Give him q cigar said Holmes.
"Bite on that, Captain Crocker. and
don't let your nerves run away with
you. l should not sit here smoking
With you if I thought that you were a
common criminal, you may be sure Of
that. Be frank with me, and we may
do some good. Play tricks with me,
n I'll crush YOU
"What do you wish me to do?"
"To give me a true account of all
that happened at the Abbey Grange
last nlght-a true account, mind you,
with nothing added and nothing taken
tt | know so much already that if
you go one inch off the straight I'll
blow this police whistle from my win
dow, and the affair goes out of nv
hands forever
The sailor thought for a little. Then
he struck his leg with his great sun
burned hand.
"Ill chance it," he cried. II believe
you are a man Of your word and a
White man, and FL tell you the whole
story. But one thing | will say first.
SO far as l am concerned | regret
nothing and I fear nothing, and
would do it all again and be proud Of
the job. Damn the beast, if he had as
many lives as a cat he would owe them
all to me. But it's the lady, Mary
Mary Fraser-fOr will | call her
by that accused name. When l think
or getting her into trouble. l who would
give my life just to bring one smile to
her dear face, it's that that turns nv
SOU into water. And yet-and yet
what less could I do! I'll tell you nv
story, gentlemen, and then III ask YOU,
as man to man., what less could / do.
Il must go back a bit. You seem to
know everything, SO / expect that YOU
know that | met her when she was a
passenger and / was first officer of the
Rock of Gibraltar. From the first day
I met her she was the only woman TO
me. Every day of that voyage I loved
her more, n many a time since have
l kneeled down in the darkness of the
night watch and kissed the deck of
that ship because l knew her dear feet
had trod it. She was never engaged to
me. She treated me as faicly as ever a
woman treated Il man. l have no com
plant to make. 1T was al love on nv
aide and all good comradeslip and
Friendship Oh hers. When He parted
she was Il free woman but cOuIG
never again be II free man.
Next time | came back from sea
heard OF her marriage. Well, why
shouldn't she marry WHOM she liked.
Title and money-wno could carry then
better than she: | Cont grove over
her marriage. l was not such II selfish
hound as that. | just r~eJoiced That
good luck had come her way and tia,
abe had no thrown herself away on Il