The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-09-14
BY a. CONAN Y


by Mcclure. Philip, q Co. =
iy TOOK it for Il blind. rs it were. then
they would naturally be anxious TO set
rid OF it,"
But why should such an idea cross
your mind?''
WV. We'll. thoushs it was possih,e.
French window, there was the pond
with Ole tempting little hole in the
ice, right in front of their noses. Could
there be a better hiding place.
"-Ah. a hiding place-that is better
cried Stanley Hopkins. Yes, yes. L
see it al l5nowi Ii was early, there
afraid OF being seen With the silver
SO they sank it in the pond, intendii g
to return for it when the coast was
clear, Excellent. MIR. Holrlcs-that is
betJer than your idea of Il blind"
quite so. YOU have got an admirable
own ideas We're quite Wild. but YOU
must admit that they V ended in
discovering the silver"
Yes, sir-yes. 1t was all your doing.
But | have had a bad setback
"A setback"
eyes. Mr.. Holmes. The Randall gang
We're arrested in New York this morn
illw."
Dear me, Hopkins. That is certain
ly rather against your theory. that they
committed a murder in Kent last
night"
1T is fatal, Mr.. !.olmes-absolutely
fatal. Still, there are other gangs of
be some new gang of which the police
have never heard
Quite so. it is perfectly possible.
What, are o off,"
Yes. Mr.. Holmes, there is no rest
for me 1ntil l have got to the bottom
OF the business. / suppos you have no
hint to give me?"
Il have given you one"
''Whicll?"
We'll, / suggested a blind"
But why, Mr.. Holmes. why?"
"Ah, that's the question, of course.
You might possibly find that there was
something i'm it. You Won't stop for
dinner? Well, good by. and let us
know how you get on"
Dinner was over and the table
cleared 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.
II expect developments. Watson"
"NN..en?"
"Now-within a few minutes. I dare
say you thought l acted rather badly
to Stanley Hopkins just now?"
II trust your Judgment"
"A very sensible reply. Watson. You
must look at it this way: what I know
is unofficial, what he knows is official.
[ have the right to private Judgment,
but he has none. He must disclose all,
or he is a traitor to his service. In a
doubtful case l would not put him in
so painful q position, and so 1 reserve
my iDfoyJN1Drjnn until INV own mind ic
clear upon Tie NATTER"
But wheL will hat be-"
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,
fine u specimen of manhood as ever
passed through it. He was a very tall
young man, golden moustached. blue
eyed, with a skin which had been
burned by tropical suns, and a
springy step, which showed that
as it was strong. He closed the door be-
him., and then he stood With clenched
hands and heaNing breast, choking down
some overnastering emotion.
sit down, Captain Crocker. You got
my telegram"
Our visitor sank into an arm chair, and
looked from one to the other of US with
questioning eyes.
81 got your telegram, and l came at
the hour you said. / heard that you 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, man! You
can't sit there and play with me like a
cat with a mousse
Give him a 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 l thought
that you were a common criminal, you
and we may do some good. Play tricks
with me. and I'll crush YOU"
What do you wish me to dog
ITO give me a true account Of all that
happened at the Abbey Grange last night
"a true %accoun mind you, with nothing
much already that if YOU so one inch
eff the straight, III blow this police whis-
tie from my window and the affair goes
out of my hands forever"
Tie sailor thought tor a little. Then he
struck his leg with a great s%un-burned
hand.
I'll chance it," he cried. Il believe you
are a ma OF your word, and a white man,
and I'll tell you the whole story. But one
tt....g will say first. So far as j am
concerned, / regret rothiag ard l fear
nothing, ana 1 would do it all again, and
be proud of the job. Damn the beast, if
he had as many lives as a cat, he would
owe them all to me, But it's the lady,
Mary-Mary Fraser-for never will l cali
her by that accurscd name. When | think
of getting her into trouble, l who would
give my life just to bring one smile to
her dear face, it's that that turns my soul
into water. And yet-and yet-what less
could l 90? I'll tell you my story, gentle
men, and then IN ask YOU, as man tc
4 man what less could | do.
Il must go back a bit. You seem tc
know ever. tni..s. so I expect that you
know that l met her when she was u
passenger and | was first officer of the
Rock of Gibraltar. From the first day
l met her, she was the only woman to me
Every day of that voyase l loved hel
more, and many a time since have
kneeled down in the darkness of the nigh,
watch and Kissed the deck of that ship