Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-14

there be better hiding placer
.'Ah. a hiding place! That is better!'
cried Stanley Hopkins. Yes, yes:
see it all now! 1t was early. there
We're folk upon the roads. they were
afraid of being seen with the silver.
80 they sank il in the pond, intending
to return for il when the coast was
clear Excellent Mr.. Holmes, That
is better than your idea Of a blind
Quite so. You have got an a6mira-
bic theory. l have no doubt that my
own ideas were quite wild, but you
must admit that they have ended in
discovering the silver"
Yes sir-yeS. 1t was all your doing
But have had a bad setback
a setback
"YeS, Mr. Holmes The Randall gang
were arrested in New York this morn
| ing"
Dear me. Hopkins. that is certainly
rather against your theory that they
| committed a murder in Kent last
night
| 1T is fatal, Mr.. Enthusiastically
| fatal. Still there are other gangs Of
three besides the RandaIls, or it may
be some new gang of which the police
have never heard"
quite so. 1t is perfectly possible
| What. are you Off?'
Yes, Mr. Holmes. There is no rest
| for me until have got TO the bottom
Of the business. I suppose you have
no hint 10 give me?'
Il have given you one"
which"
well, / suggested blind"
but why. Mr.. HOlmes-why?'
"Ah, that's the question, of course.
But 1 commend the idea to your
mind. You might possibly find that
there was something in it. You won't
stop for dinner? Well. goodby, and
let us know how you get on"
Dinner was over and the table clear
ed before Holmes alluded TO the matter
again. He had lit his pipe and held his
slippered feet to the cheerful blaze of
the fire. Suddenly he looked at his
watch.
Il expect developments, Watson
when?
'NOw-within few minutes. l dare
say you thought 1 acted rather badly
to Stanley Hopkins just now
Il trust your judgment"
"A very sensible reply, Watson. You
must look at it this way: What l know
is unofficial; what he knows is official.
1 have the right to private judgment.
but he has none. He must disclose all
or he is a traitor to his service. In n
doubtful case 1 would not put him in
so painful position. and so 1 reserve
my information until my own mind is
clear upon the matter"
But when will that beg"
THE time has come. You will now
be present at the last scene of a re-
markable little drama"
There was a sound upon the stairs,
and our door was opened to admit as
fine Il specimen of manhood as ever
passed through it. He was a very tall
young man, golden mustached, blue
eyed, with Il skin which had been burn
ed by tropical suns, and a springy step
which showed that the huge frame was
as active as it was strong. He closed
the door behind him, and then he stood
wSh clinched hands and hPaving
breast, choking down some Overmaster-
ing emotion.
sit down. Captain CrOcker. You
got my telegram
Our visitor sank into an armchair |
and looked from one TO the other of us |
with questioning eyes.
Il got your telegram. and I came at |
the hour you said. / heard that you i
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. |
MANI Won cit fhopn nd NAV
with me like cat with mouse"
Give him cigar" said Holmes.
bite on that. Captain Croker and |
don't let your nerves run away with
you. l 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
10 some good. Play tricks with me, /
and I'll crush YOU
what do you wish me to do?"
''TO give me true account Of all
that happened at the Abbey Grange
last night-a true account mind you,
with nothing added and nothing taken
off. ! 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 a little Then
he struck his leg with his great sun
burned hand.
III chance it," he cried. Il believe
you are Il man of your word and Il
white man. and I'll tell you the whole
story. But one thing / will say first.
So far as | am concerned l regret
nothing and | fear nothing. and |
would do it all again and he proud of
the job. Damn the beast, If he had as
many lives as II 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
IF getting her into trouble. who would
give my life just to bring one smile to
ler dear face, it's that that turns nv
soul into water. And yet-and vet