Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-03

the ground together. He was a man OF
such gigantic strength that even with
the handouts Holmes had so deity
fastened upon his wrists he would have
very quickly oYerpowered my friend
had Hopkins and l 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
Il must really apologize. Hopkins"
said Sherlock Holmes. Il fear that the
scrambled eggs are cold. However,
you will enjoy the rest of you- break
fast all the better. viii you not. for the
thought that you have brought Your
case TO triumphant conclusion"
Stanley Hopkins was speeches. with
amazement.
Il don't know what to say, Mr..
Holmes he bIurted out at last. with a
very red face. 1T seems 10 me that
l have been making Il fool OF myself
from the beginning. | understand now,
what | should never have forgotten,
that 1 AN the pull and You are the
uldSltI- Even AiON S6C WHAT NON
have done, hut | don't know how you
did it or what it signifies
Well Well" said Holmes good hu
moredIy 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 a
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, Il make
no complaint of being man handled in
this fashion. but l would have you cafl
things 10y their right names. You say
| murdered Peter Carey; say killed
Peter Caret. and there's all the differ
ence Maybe you don't believe what l
say Maybe you think am just sling
ing you Il yarn
Not at ALL" said Holmes. let US
hear what you have to say"
It's soon told. and. by the Lord. ev
cry word of it is truth. / knew Black
Peter. and when lie pulled out his knife
whipped Il harpOOn through him
sharp. for / knew that it was him or
me. That's how he died. You can call
il 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 IL you from the beginning.
Just sit me up little so as can speak
easy 1t was ipfS3 that it happened
go
master OF the Sea Unicorn, and l was
spare harpooner. We were coming out
of the ice pack on our way home, with
head winds ana a weeks sOutherly
gale. when we picked up little craft
that had been blown north. There was
one man on Jer-4a landsman. The crew
had thought she would founder and
had made for the Norwegian coast i'll
dingey guess they were all drowned.
Well, we took him on board, this man,
and be and the skipper had some long
talks in the cabin All the baggage we
took of with him was one tin box. So
far as 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
that we were having. Only one man
knew what Had happened to him, and
that was me, for with my own eyes /
saw thesslxipper tip up his heels and
put him over the rail in the middle
watch of a dark night two days before
we sightedsthe Shetland lights.
well. j kept my knowledge to my
self and waited to see what would
come of IL. When we got back to Scot
land IL WAS easily hushed up. and no
body asked any questions. \ stranger
died by.. accident, and it was nobody's
business 10 Inquire Shortly after Pc
ter t'arey gave. up the sea, and it was
long years before / could find where he
was l guessed that he had done the
deed for the sake of what was in that
tin box and that he could afford now
to pay me we'll for keeping my mouth
shut
Il found out where he was through
a sailor man that had met him in Lon
den, and down / went to squeeze him.
The first night he was reasonable
enough 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 l found him three parts
drunk and III vile temper. We sat
down, and we drank, and we yarned
about old times, but the more he drank
the less | liked the look on his face.
l spotted that harpOon upon the wall.
and i thought l might need ii before l
was through. Then at last he broke
out at me, splitting and cursing, with
murder in his eyes and great clasp
knife i'm his hand. He had not time
To get it from the sheath before l had
the harpoon through him. Heavens,
what yell he gave! And his face gets
between me and my sleep. l stood
there. with. his blood splashing round
me, aud l waited for a bit, but all
was quiet, SO / took heart once more.
looked round, and there was the tin
box on the shelf. / had as much right
to II as Peter Carey, anyhow. 80 i took
1t with me and left the hut Like u
u. -