The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-10-13

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"What good would that do me? Let
me see it," said Rallies peremptorly.
and the detective obeyed Rallies
raised his eyebrows as he perused the
document; his mouth hardened, but
suddenly relaxed. and Il was with Il
smile and a shrug that he returned the
paper.
"Wun that do for yeY inquired
Mackenzie.
at may. congratulate you, Mac.
kenzie, It's n strong hand. at any
rate. Two hurglaries and the Melrose
necklace, Rlmnyw And he turned to
me with a rueful smile.
"An' all easy to prove" said the
scotchman, poclleting the warrant.
"I've one O. these for YOU" he added,
nodding to me, only not such long
one"
ITO think" said the captain re-
proachfully, that my shib should be
made den of thiefS, 1t shall be Il
very disagreeable madder have been
obliged to pud you both in irons until
we ged to Nables.'
surely notr' exclaimed Rallies.
Mackenzie. intercede with him. Don't
give your countrymen away before all
! hands. Captain. we can't escape Sure
| ly you could hush it up for the night?
Look here, here's everything | have in
my pockets. You empty yours, too,
Bunny, and they shalferip us stark
]
sleeves All | ask is that we be al
lowed to get out of this without gives
upon our wrists"
'Webhons you may not have" said
the captain, but wad about der pearl
/ dat you were sdealingT'
you shall have itr' cried Rallies.
you shall have it this minute if you
guarantee no public indignity ON
board"
That I'll see to-" said Mackenzie,
"as long as YOU behave yourselves.
There now, where is't?'
ION the table under your nose"
My eyes fell with the rest, but no
pearl was there Only the contents of
our pockets--our watches, pocketboolls,
pencils, penllniyes. cigarette cases-lay
on the shiny table along with the re-
volver already mentioned.
"Ye're humbuggin' u.s." said Mac
kenze "What's the use?"
I'm doing nothing of the sort"
laughed Rafles. I'm testing you,
Where's the harm?"
Its here, joke apart?'
"On that table, by all my gods"
Mackenzie opened the cigarette cases
and shook each particular cigarette
Thereupon Rallies prayed to be allow
ed to smoke one, and when his prayer
was heard observed that the pearl had
| been on the table much longer than
! the cigarettes. Mackenzie promptly
caught up the Colt and opened the
chamber in the butt.
| Not there, not there" said Rallies.
"but you're getting hot. Try the car
tridges."
Mackenzie emptied them into his
palm and shook each one at his ear
without result.
oh give them to mer'
And in an instant Rallies had found
| the right one, had bitten out the bullet
and placed the emperOr's pearl with
! a flourish in the center of the table
after that you will perhaps show
| me such little consideration as is in
! your power Captain, l have been a
/ bit of villain, as you see, and as
such am ready and willing to lie in
irons all night if you deem it requi-
site for the safety of the ship. All
ask is that you do me one favor first"
"That shall debend on wad der vafor
has been"
Captain, I've done worse thing
aboard your ship than any of you
know. | have become engaged to be
married. and l want to say goodby."
| suppose we were all equally amaZ-
ed. but the only one to express his
amazement was Won Heumann, whose
deep ehested German oath was almost
his first contribution to the proceed
ings. He was not slow to follow it,
however, with q vigorous protest
l against the proposed farewell. But he
I was overruled, and the masterful pris-
oner had his way. He was to have
five minutes with the girl while the
captain and Mackenzie stood within
range, but not within earshot, with
their revolvers behind their backs. As
we were moving from the cabin in a
body he stopped and gripped my hand.
$50 I've let you in at last, Bunny
at last and after all! If you knew how
sorry l am. But you won't get much.
l don't see why you should get any
thing at all. Can you forgive me?
This may be for years, and it may
be forever, you know! You were a
good pal always when it came to
the scratch. Some day or other you
mayn't be sorry to remember you We're
good pal at the last!'
There was a meaning in his eye that
l understood, and my teeth were set
and my nerves strung ready as
wrung that strong and cunning hand
for the last time in my life.
How that last scene stays with me
and will stay to my death! How see
every detail, every shadow on the sun
lit deck! We were among the Islands
that dot the course from Genoa to Ma
pies. That was Elba falling back ON
our starboard quarter, that purple
patch with the hot sun settling over it.
The captains cabin opened to star
board, and the starboard promenade
deck, sheeted with sunshine and scored
with shadow, was deserted but for the
group of which l was one, and for the