Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-09-27

l
conspira against a poor retired officer
of Indian irregulars? Bitterly l left
| was to blame more than any one
else for having fallen into the trap
of the Internal thinner, who l be-
lieved now was the real culprit, and
cross-examined him for the benefit
of the party as well as our position
would allow, but he merely sneered /;
Jones prodded me brutally with his
alpenstock and Leroy advised me to
reserve my defense. Miss Greystone
amongst the faithless was only faith.
full found, her conversation being
streaked with references to the absent
pop" and incisive satire on the OBJ
trusive Leroy.
We could hardly be described as a
merry company when we reached the
Elsmeer, where we encountered re.
lief party, signalled for by Hans, the
first moment the fog lifted, and at
Grindelwald gendarmes took the
places of my companions.
pass over the ensuing two days:
they were the most anxious l eva,
spent. One point of light alone re.
lieved the gloom. Prof Greystone
and Pierre were recovered from a
snowdrift nothing the worse save for
shock and exposure On the third
morning learned that thinner and
Jones had been arrested and that l
was at liberty. Subsequently re.
ceiyed ample apologies from Leroy
over an excellent breakfast.
And now for the explanation" l
said, lighting cigar.
Quite simple" he replied. For
the past four years l have been on
the track of select gang of ruffians
who have operated in every capital
of Europe; two were English, the
third German. When had the honor
of making your acquaintance at Basel
was close on their traces; when
we met at Grindewald they were in
my company"
thinner and Jones!"
Those were the names by which
you knew Them" he replied.
Then why not arrest the rascals
on the spot?"
The great detective smiles. "You
judge things from the military stand
point" he answered; I'VE work by
more subtle methods. / had infor.
nation that they were journeying to
meet the third at Turin, the worst of
the three, man whose cunning goes
to lunacy verge-so perfect an adept
at disguise that he would conceal him
self from himself"
You interest me exceedingly" l
said, and the passionless Jungfrau
caught my eye through the open win
dow.
Naturally" replied Leroy, you
may be said to have personal graft
f1cation in their capture"
But you have your eye on this ras.
cal at last?" remarked, knocking
off some ash.
He shook his head. Chance favors
him! he is almost unknown to his
confederates, directing their move
ments from afar; Jones met him
once, thinner never. And they want.
ed very much to meet him." contin-
ued Leroy, blowing a smoke wreath,
because he has secured the lions
share in their last great coup, the for
gerry of English bank notes, and some
on the Bank of France. You have
no idea of the finished perfection III
the plates. After their refusal to work
with him longer he invited them to
Turin, really, as they suspected, to
get possession of those very plates,
thinner being the artist. The chiefs
specially was manufacturing the pa
per. They had run out of the supply
and had to fall in with his sugges
tion.''
But why arrest me? Surely you b.
lieyed that thinner gave me that
wretched packet?"
do you recollect the rope? 1t did
not break by accident. Feeling that
| they were being watched-how, can.
| not tell-Jones, who was formers a
ropemaker, got at it before our as.
cent, opened the strands most arts.
tically, and cut some inches of the
core with a surgical scissors, rear.
ranging the envelop so that it was
apparently still solid and would, in.
deed, resist moderate strain. 1t
was done in two places to insure Its
breaking. They suspected us porn,
but not knowing how many might be
watching below planted the plates on
YOU SO that they might be found on
your body when the accident came
Off"
1T was providential."
"Yes-for Miss Greystone If had
not seen the rope parting just at my
hand 1t would have been serious
Then, understanding the desperate
wretches with whom l had to deal,
there was. nothing left but to formal.
ly arrest you, get possession of the
plates which had seen thinner give
you, and by putting you in their Gus.
tody insure the safety of the party
Your detention enabled me to make
absolutely sure, and when / struck
this morning they practically con
fessed Miss Greystone will never
forgive me; perhaps l should have
told you we were once acquainted
May ask you to explain? And now
Capt. Dozer," he continued, rising, 81
am off to Turin. Will you accept this
as some reparation?' And he ten.
dered me an open envelope. 1t con.
tanned an English bank note for a
tidy amount, l almost tainted; by
the powers, it was one of our own.
Pulling myself together bowed and
returned it. The call had been close
enough. Fortune has been kind to
me-" I said with my frank Saxon
smile. pray accept the little sum as
an humble testimonial to the clever.
ness which effected the most difficult
arrest have ever known. For my
own part, Monsieur Leroy, shall
need nothing to remind me of the
most thrilling episode in life not de.
void of experiences
An hour later the train was whirl.
| inp mo nOrthward Tho cop,nor ,,,o,t