The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-06-29


left me and ] couldn't bear to face
that Even if she couldn't love me it
was great deal to me just TO see her
dainty fora about the house and TO
hear the sound Of her voice"
well" said /, 'you call that love,
Mr. Carruthers, but should call it
selfshness."
Maybe the two things go together.
Anyhow, ] couldn't let her 20. Be
sides. with this crowd about it was
well that she should have some one
near to look after her Then. when the
cable came, | knew they we're bound
60 make a move"
"What cablew
Carruthers took Telegram from his
pocket
That's it," said he.
1t was short and concise:
"Thc old man IS dead"
"Huml" said Holmes. Il think I see
how things worked, and can under
stand how this message would. as you
say, bring them to a head But while
you wait you might tell me what you
can"
The old reprobate with the surplice
Srrs, into a volley Of bad language.
by heaven" said he, III yoa squeal
on us, Bob Carruthers, I'll serve you as
you served Jack WOodleyi TOu can
bleat about the girl 70 your hearts
content, for that's your own affair, but
If you round on your pals to this plain
clothes copper 1t will be the worst
days work that ever you did"
Your reverence need not be excit-
ed" said Holmes, lighting a cigarette.
The case is clear enough against you,
and all / ask is few details for my
private curiosity. However, II there's
any difficulty ia your telling me IN do
the talking, and then you win see how
far you have a chance OF holding back
your secrets. In the first place, three
of you came from South Africa on this
game-you, Williamson; you, Carruth-
ers, and Woodley."
Lie number one" said the old man.
Il never saw either of them until two
months ago. aud have never been In
Africa in my life, so you can put that
In your pipe and smoke It, Mr.. Busy
body Holmesr
what he says is true" said Car
ruthers.
well, wen. two OF you came over.
His reverence is our own homemade
article. You had known Ralph smith
in South Africa. You had reason to
believe he would not live long. You
found out that his niece would inherit
his fortune. How's that-ehf"
Carruthers nodded and williamson
swore
'she was next of kin, no doubt. and
you were aware that the Old fellow
would make no will"
Couldn't read or write" said Car
ruthers.
80 you came over, the two Of you,
and hunted up the girl The idea was
that one Of you was to marry her and
the other have a share OF the plunder.
For some reason Woodley was chosen
as the husband. Why was thal?'
I'VE played cards for her on the
voyage. He won"
Il see. You got the young lady into
your service, and there WoOdley was
TO do the courting. She recognized the
drunken brute that be was and would
have nothing to do with him. Mean
while your arrangement was rather up
set by the fact that you had yourself
fallen in love with the lady. You
could no longer bear the idea Of this
rifiaa owning herr
No, by George, l couldn'tg'
al N.aafan
He left you in a rage and began TO
make his own plans Independently Of
you"
TT strikes me, Williamson. there
isn't very much that we can tell this
gentleman" cried CarIuthers, with
bitter laugh. Yes, we Quarreled. and
he knocked me down. / am level with
him on that, anyhow. Then lost sight
Of him. That was when he picked no
with this cast padre here, 1 found
that they had set up housekeeping to
gether at this place on the line that
she had TO pass for the station.
kept my eye on her after that. for
knew there was some devilry IN the
wind. / saw them from time 10 time.
for / was anxious to know what they
were after
"Two days ago Woodley came up 20
my house with this cable, which show
ed that Ralph Smith was dead He ask
ed me II / would stand by the bargain
I SAID I would not He asked me II
would marry the girl myself and give
him a share. / said / would willingly
do eo buf thof she uould NOT have me
He said Let MS get her married first,
and after a week or two she may see
things a bit different / said I would
have nothing to do with violence 80 he
went of cursing. like the foul mouthed
blackguard that he was, and swearing
that he would have her yet. She was
leaving me this week end. and / had
got trap to take her 10 the station,
but was so uneasy in my mind that
followed her on my bicycle. She had
got q start. however. and before
could catch her the mischief was done.
The first thing knew about II was
when saw you two gentlemen driving
back IN her dogcnrt"
Holmes rose ana tossed the end OF his
cigarette into the CRATE. Il have been
very ODtuse, Watson" said be. When
IN your report you said that you had
seen the cyclist, as you thought, arrange
his necktie In the shrubbery that alone
should have toid me all However, we
may congratulate ourselves upon Gu
rious and In some respects a unique
case. ! perceive thINe Of the county