Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-20

sess which has saved her from the ac
cusation? The least that you owe her
is to make il clear TO the whole world
that she WAS in no way, directly or
indirectly, responsible for his tragic
end
Il ask nothing better" said the Amer
lean. Il guess the very best case l
can make for myself is the absolute
naked truth"
lit is my duty to warn you that 1t,
will be used against you" cried the
inspector. with the magnificent fair
play of the British criminal law.
Slaney shrugged his shoulders.
IN chance that" said he. First of
all. I want you gentlemen to under
stand that l have known this lady
since she was child. There were sew
en- of us in a gang in Chicago. and Ell
sizes father was the boss of the Joint.
He was n clever man, was old Patrick.
1t was he who invented that writing.
which would pass Us a child's Scrawl
unless you just happened to have the
key to it. Well. Elsie learned some Of
our ways, but she couldn't stand the
business, and she had a bit Of honest
UlOtlcN VI htl wv III. 81 HAO boFt w. 80
the slip and got away to London. She
had been engaged TO me, and she would
have married me, i believe. if l had
taken over another profession. but she
would have nothing to do with any
thing on the cross. 1t was only after
her marriage to this Engllshman that
was able to find out where she was. l
wrote to her, but got no answer. After
that l came over, and. as letters were
no use. l put my messages where she
could read them.
well. / have been here a month
now. l lived on that farm. where had
n room down below, and could get in
and out every night and no one the
wiser l tried all ! could to coax Elsie
away. | knew that she read the mes
Sages, for once she wrote an answer
under one of them. Then my temper
got the better OF me. and l began TO
threaten her. She sent me letter then.
lmploring me to go away. and saying
that il would break her heart il any
scandal should come upon her husband
She said that she would come down
when her husband was asleep at in
the morning and speak with me
AIlIOuS1 tAlt tllO "A NOuAN 81
away afterward and leave her in peace.
she came down and brought money
with her. trying TO bribe me to go.
This made me mad. and l caught her
arm and tried to pull her through the
window At that moment in rushed
the husband with his revolver in his
hand. Elsie had sunk down upon the
floor. and we were face to face. l was
heeled also. and l held up my gun to
scare him of and let me get away. He
fred and missed me. l pulled off al
most at the same instant, and down he
dropped. l made away across the gar
den. and as l went heard the window
shut behind me. That's Gods truth,
gentlemen, every word of it; and
heard DO more about IL until that lad
came riding up with n note which made
me walk in here like a jay and give
myself into your hands"
A cab had driven up while the Amer
lean had been talking. Two uniformed
policemen sat inside. Inspector Mar
tin rose and touched his prisoner on the
shoulder.
1T is time for us 10 CO.
Can see her first?"
NO, she is not conscious. Sherlock
Holmes, only hope that IL ever again
l have an important case I shall have
the good fortune to have you by my
side"
We stood at the window and watched
the cab drive away. As turned back
my eye caught the pellet OF paper
which the prisoner had tossed upon the
table. 1t was the note with which
Holmes had decoyed him.
See if you can read 1t, Watson" said
he, with a smile.
1t contained no word, but this little
line of dancing men: