The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-06
The Adventure of
Black Peter
No. Q OF the serie,

'eefvtref' i'os' bt hecfsrs. Fbfiilss y Co
you mean the west country bank
ers,' said he. They failed for a mil
lion, ruined half the county families
Of Cornwall and Neligun disappeared. ,
Exactly. Neligan was my father,
At last we We're getting something
positive, and yet It seemed long Gar
between an absconding banker and
Captain Peter Carey pinned against
the wall with one Of his own harpoons.
We all listened intently to the young
mans words.
IT was my father who was really
concerned. Dawson had retired. /
was only ten years Of age at the time.
but was old enough to feel the shame
and horror Of it all. Il has always
been said that my father stole all the
securities and fed. 1t is not true. II
was his belief IL he were given time in
which to realize them all would be
well and every creditor paid in full.
lie started in his ,. tie yacht for Nor
way Just before Stne warrant was is
sued for hiS arrest. l can remember
that last night, when he babe farewell
to my mother. He left us list OF the
securities he was taking, and he swore
that he would come back with his
honor cleared and that none who had
trusted him would suffer. Well, no
word was ever heard from him again.
Bcth the yacht ana he vanished utter.
ly. We believed, my mother and I.
that he and 1t, with the securities that
ne had taken with him, were Mt the
bottom OF the sea. We had a faithful
friend, however, who is a business
Toan, and 1t was he who discovered
sornc time ago that some OF the Sc
curities which my father had with
MIN had reappeared on the London
market. You can imagine our amaze
ment. | spent months in trying 10
trace them. and at last, after many
doubtings and difficulties, discovered
that the original seller had been Cap
tain Peter Carey, the owner OF this
hut
Naturally, made some Inquiries
about the man. found that he had
been in command OF whaler which
was due to return from the arctic seas
at the very time when my father was
crossing to Norway. The autumn OF
that year was a stormy one, and there
was long succession Of southerly
gales. Ny fathers yacht may well
have betn blown TO the north and there
met by Captain Peter Carey's ship. II
that were Sc, what had become of my
fatherf In any case, II could prove
from Peter Carey's evidence how these
securities came on the market ii would
be proof that my father had not sold
them and that he had no view to per
sonal profit when he took them.
Il came down to Sussex with the in
tention OF seeing the captain, but it
was at this moment that his terrible
death occurred. l read at the inquest |
description OF his cabin. IN which It |
stated that the old logbooks Of his ves-
sci were preserved IN 1t. II struck me |
that II / could see what occurred in the /
month Of August. 1888, on board the |
Sea Unicorn might settle the mystery
OF my fathers fate | tried last night
10 get at these logbooks, but was una
BILE TO open the door. Tonight / tried
again and succeeded, but find that the
pages which deal with that month have
been torn from the book. 1t was at that
moment found myself prisoner in
your hanGs."
rs that allr' asked Hopkins.
'Yes, that is all." His eyes shifted as
be said Il. |
You have nothing else to tell usg"
He hesitated.
mo, there is nothing"
you have not been here before last
nlghtT
NO"
Then how do you account for thatg'
cried Hopkins, as he held up the damn
ng notebook. with the initials Of our
prisoner on the first leaf and the blood
stain on the cover.
The wretched man collapsed. He
sank his face In his hands and trem-
lied all over
Where did you get it?" he groaned.
I did not know. l thought had lost
I at the hotel"
'Srbat is enough" said Hopkins stern
y Whatever else you have TO say,
'ou must say in court You will walk
lown with me now to the police sta
ion. Well. Mr.. Holmes, / am very I
much Obliged to you and TO your friend
or coming down TO help me. AS It 4
urns out your presence was unnec-
ary, and / would have brought the |
ase to this successful Issue without
ou; but. none the less. am grateful. /
iooms have been reserved for you at {
be Branabletye hotel. 80 we can all ]
yak sown to the village together" II
Well. Watson. what do you think OF /
~ asked Holmes Ga we travelled back
ext morning. 8
7 can see mat you are not salts
ed" I
"Oh, yes, my dear Watson; am per I
ectly satisfied. At the same time, q
tanley hopkins methods DO not com b
lend themselves TO me. am disap-
ointed In stanley Hopkins had '
oped for better things from him. One o
houid always look for a possible al 4
srnRtive and provide against Il. II is
le first rule OF criminal investiea-
on
What then. is the nlternativeg" r
The line Of investigation which / IA
ave myself been pursuing II may /
I've as nothing. ! cannot tell But az p
asl ! shah follow II to the end."
Several letters were waiting for
Dimes az Baker street He snatched
le Of them up, opened II and burst =
Il into a triumphant chuckle OF laugh y