The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-11-29
"But when will that be?'

There was sound upon the stairs,
and our door was opened to admit as
fine q specimen of manhood as ever
passed through It He was very tall
young man, golden mustached, blue
eyed, with a skin which had been burn
ed by tropical suns, and a springy step
which showed that the huge frame was
as active az 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.
81 got your telegram, and 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 cat with mouse"
''Give him a cigar" said Holmes.
"Bite on that, Captain Croker, and
don't let your nerves run away with
you. I should not sit here smoking
with you If thought that you were
common criminal, you may be sure of
that. Be frank with me, and we may
do some good. Play tricks with me,
and I'll crush you"
"What do you wish me to do?'
ITO give me a true account Of all
that happened at the Abbey Grange
last night-a true account, mind you.
with nothing added and nothing taken
off. I 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 my
hands forever"
The sailor thought for q little. Then
he struck his leg with his great sun
burned hand.
"Tll chance It," he cried. II believe
you are man of your word and a
white man, and I'll tell you the whole
story. But one thing will say first.
So far as l am concerned l regret
nothing and fear nothing, and
would do it all again and be proud Of
| the job. Damn the beast, If he had as
many lives us a cat he would owe them
all to me! But It's the lady, Mary
| Mary Fraser-for never will l call her
by that accursed name. When think
Of getting her into trouble, who would
| give my life Just to bring one smile to
her dear face, it's that that turns my
soul into water. And yet-and yet
what less could do? I'll tell you my
story, gentlemen, and then I'll ask you,
as man to man, what less could do
II must go back bit You seem to
know everything, so expect that you
know that met her when she was q
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 loved
her more, and many time since have
I kneeled down In the darkness Of the
night watch and kissed the deck of
that ship because knew her dear feet
had frod 1t. She was never engaged to
me. She treated me as fairly as ever q
woman treated man. have no com.
plant to make. It was all love Oh my
side and all good comradeship and
friendship on hers When we parted
she was free woman, but l could
never again be u free man.
Next time l came back from sea
heard Of her marriage. Well, why
, shouldn't she marry whom she liked
, Title and money-who could carry then
better than she! l didn't grieve ovel
her marriage / was not such selfist
) hound as that. just rejoiced thai
t good luck had come her way and tina
she had not thrown herself away on {
penniless sailor. That's how l loved
: Mary Fraser.
] well, never thought to see he
/ again, but last voyage l was promoted
and the new boat was not yet launch
. ed, SO had to wait for couple o
months with my people at Sydenham
One day out in a country lane l me
, Theresa Wright, her old maid. Sh
: told me all about her, about him, abou
everything. l tell you, gentlemen,
' nearly drove me mad. This drunken
' hound-that he should dare to raise hi
t hand to her whose boots he was no
worthy to lick! l met Theresa again
Y Then l met Mary herself, and met he
f again. Then she would meet me u
Y more. But the other day l had nc
g hce that was to start on my voyag
within week, and l determined tina
j. | would see her once before lef
Theresa was always my friend, for SD
t loved Mary and hated this villain a
n most as much as l did. From her
g learned the ways Of the house. Mar
used to sit up reading in her own littl
room downstairs. crept round ther
last night and scratched at the VIII
dow. At first she would not open I
me, but in her heart know that no.
she loves me, and she could not leav
= me in the frosty night She whispere
: to me to come round to the big fror
y window, and / found 1t open befol
4 me, so as to let me into the dinin
room. Again heard from her ow
lips things that made my blood Dol
,,d ,,xo;r o,,rood fhic hr,Ita who mi