The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21

boil, and again cursed this brute. who
mishandled the woman loved wen,
gentlemen,s / was standing with ner
just inside the window, in all inno-
cence as God is my judge, wnen ne
rushed like q smadman into the room,
called her the vilest name that a man
could use to woman, and welted her
across the face with the stick he had IN
his hand. ] had sprung for the POKER
and, it was a fair fight between US.
See here, on my arm, where MS nrSt
blow fell. Then Ii was my turn, ana
went through him as If he had been a
rotten pumpkin. Do you think / was
sorry? Not /! 1t was his life or mine,
but far more than that, it was his life
or hers, for, how could leave her In
the power OF this madman? That was
ahow killed him. Was wrong? Wen,
then, what would either of you gentle
. men have done, If you had been in my
position?
"She had screamed when he struck
her. and that brought old Theresa down
from the room above. There was q
bottle of wine on the sideboard. and
opened it and poured a little between
Mary'S lips, for she was half dead with
shock. Then I took a drop myself
Theresa was as cool as Ice, and II was
her plot as much as mine. We must
make 1t appear that burglars had done
-
our story to her mistress, while
swarmed up and cut the rope Of the
bell. Then ] lashed her in her chair
and frayed out the end Of the rope to
make 1t look natural, else they would
wonder how In the world a burglar
could have got up there to cut it. Then
gathered ur a few plates and pots OF
silver, to carry out the idea OF robbery,
and then ! left them, with orders to
give the alarm when I had quarter
of an hours start. dropped the silver
into the pond and made off for Syden-
ham, feeling that for once in my life
Il had done a real good nights work
And, that's the truth and the whole
truth. Mr.. Holmes, II it costs me my
neck"
Holmes smoked for soma time IN si-
lence. Then he crossed the room and
shook our visitor by the hand.
That's what I think" said he. ct
know that every word is true, for you
have hardly said a word which I did
not know. No one but an acrobat or
a sailor could have got up to that bell
rope from the bracket, and no one but
sailor could have made the knots
with which the cord was fastened to
the chair. Only once had this lady
been brought into contact with sailors,
and that was on her voyage, and It
was some one OF her own class OF life.
since she was trying to shield him, and
so showing that she loved him. You see
how easy It was for me to lay my
hands. upon you when once had start
ed upon the right trail"
II thought the police never could
: have seen through our dodge.
And the police haven't. nor will
they, to the best of my belief. Now,
look here, Captain Crocker, this is a
very serious matter, though am-will-
: ing to admit that you acted under the
most extreme provocation to which
any man could have been subjected
/ am not sure that in defense of your
own life your action will not be pro-
nounced legitimate, However, that is
for British jury to decide. Mean
while I have so much sympathy for
you that, II syou choose to disappear
in the next twenty-four hours, I will
promise you that no one will hinder
you." e cs~
And then 1t will all come out?'sf,os;
Certainly 1t will come OUT
The sailor flushed with anger.
What sort of proposal is that to
make a MANI I know enough Of law
to understand that Mary would be
held as sacconplice. Do you think
would leave her alone to face the
music. while / skunk away? No, sir,
let them do their worst upon me, but
IOr uedVeu SAKE MI. HOLINESS .uQQ
some way of keeping my poor Mary
out of the courts"
Holmes for second time held out
his hand to the sailor.
"I was only testing you, and you
ring true every time. Well. it is a
great responsibility that / take upon
myself, but have given Hopkins an
excellent hint, and If he can't avail
himself of it can do no more. See
here, Captain Crocker, We'll do this in
due form of law. You are the pris-
oner. Watson. you are British jury.
and never met a man who was more
eminently fitted to represent one.
am the Judge. Now, gentlemen Of the
jury, you have heard the evidence Do
you find the prisoner guilty or not
guilty ?"
Not guilty. my lord" said I.
"Vox populi, vox Del. You are ac-
quilted. Captain Crocker. So long as
the law does not find some other VIC
tim you are safe from me. Come back
to this lady in a year, and may her
future and yours justify us in the
judgment which We have pronounced
this night"