Morris tribune., 1905-08-05

| the ground together. He was man of
such gigantic strength that even with
the handouts Holmes had so deftly
fastened upon his wrists he would have
very quickly overpowered my friend
had Hopkins and I not rushed to his
rescue. Only when 1 pressed the cold
muzzle of the revolver to his temple
did he at last understand that resist
ance was vain We dashed his ankles
with cord and rose breathless from the
struggle. .a.>.~-aa= '--,e ga ssssss sr''
81 must really apologize, Hopkins"
said Sherlock Holmes. II fear that the
scrambled eggs are cold. However,
you will enjoy the rest of your break.
fast ali the better, will you not, for the
thought that you have brought your
case to triumphant conclusion"
Stanley Hopkins was speechless with
amazement $3.50
Il don't know what to say, Mr..
Holiness" he blurted out at last, with a
very red face. ut seems to me that
l have been making a fool Of myself
from the beginning. l understand now,
what I should never have forgotten,
that am the pupil and you are the
master. Even now I see what you
have done, but l don't know how you
did it or what it Signifies
well, WELL" said Holmes good hui
moredly. 1--WE all learn by experience,
and your lesson this time is that you
should never lose sight Of the alterna
tive. You were so absorbed in young
Neligan that you could not spare Il
thought to Patrick Cairns, the true
murderer of Peter Carey"
The hoarse voice Of the seaman broke
in on our conversation.
''See here, mister" said he, II make
no complaint of being man handled i'll
this fashion, but 1 would have you cal
things by their right names. You saT
1 murdered Peter Carey; ]. say killed
Peter Carey, and there's all the dfAe..>
ence. Maybe you 'ttN1ieve what l
say. Maybe you think am just sling
ing you yarn"
Not at ALL" said Holmes. "Let Us
hear what you have to say
Its soon told, and, by the Lord, ev-
cry word Of it is truth. 1 knew Black
Peter and when he pulled out his knife
whipped a harpoon through him
sharp, for knew that it was him Or
it murder. Anyhow, I'd as soon die
with rope round my neck as with
Black Peters knife in my heart"
"How came you there? asked
Holmes.
"'I'll tell it you from the beginning.
Just sit me up a little so as I can speak
easy. It was in iS3 that it happened
August of that year. Peter Carey was
master of the Sea Unicorn, and [ was
spare harpooner. We were coming out
Of the ice pack on our way home, with
head winds and a weeks sOutherly
gale, when we picked up little craft
that had been blown north. There was
one man on her-a landsman. The crew
had thought she would founder and
had made for the Norwegian coast in a
dingey. I guess they were all drowned.
Well, we took him on board, this man,
and he and the skipper had some long
talks in the cabin. All the baggage we
took off with him was one tin box. So
far as l know, the mans name was
never mentioned, and on the second
night he disappeared as if he had never
been. 1t was given out that he had
either thrown himself overheard or
fallen overheard in the heavy weather
hot hoIyipo nnlu
knew what had happened to him, and
that was me, for with my own eyes 1 t
saw the skipper tip up his heels and |
put him over the rail in the middle /
watch of dark night two days before !
we sighted the Shetland lights. /
"Well, 1 kept my knowledge to my
self and waited to see what would
come of it. When we got back to Scot
and it was easily hushed up, and no !
body asked any questions. A stranger
lied by accident, and it was nobody's
business to inquire Shortly after Pc
;er Carey gave up the sea, and it was
ong years before I could find where he
vas. [ guessed that he had done the
Iced for the sake of what was in that
in box and that he could afford now
% pay me we'll for keeping my mouth
hut. -
81 found out where he was through
sailor man that had met him in Lon
lon, and down l went to squeeze him.
The first night he was reasonable
nough and was ready to give me what
would make me free of the sea for life.
We were to fix it all two nights later.
When [ came [ found him three parts
trunk and in a vile temper. We sat
own, and we drank, and we yarned
bout old times, but the more he drank
be less I liked the look On his face.
spotted that harpoon upon the wall,
nd I thought 1 might need it before
vas through. Then at last he broke
ut at me, splitting and cursing, with
lurder in his eyes and a great clasp
nife in his hand. He had not time
D get it from the sheath before l had
be harpoon through him. Heavens,
7hat yell he gave! And his face gets
etween me and my sleep. | stood