Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-01-23
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geant struck lu for the first time. cast ing q glance from sharp, beady eyes ell tAe captain.
 Where were these gyps.es. Sir:
 We ali looked at sereolabe, vho showed lot tI4e le.gst discoil1tufe tut Lit t.le t.p - a c.sar.
 T trust 1 have your permission 6.Heat5re&:' sad le. The gEfsie>, *.e. are eaca.nped at t4e bos5y.s. oi tl4s ss.a!Iel have been so, indeed. fer H.e=ls.
 WAS a,t9l.slel at#tllc ra;ssIs ;sl.# t.acity He h.. fsett..s,..55s 5s- teve:..ai tila secret of lis ae>t O. eatsaroat@ .f.-s sergeant tufnoss tHe PIges of IL, Lot.= book
 "The ra,n Williams. examined tlsa morning 3g.tate@ ti..gt oHe of tae men. seen closely, looked like 8 foreigner dark, stoutish; shouted in siDberish. He repeated the evidence H4onot9nous- ly.
 sercombe putiing at lis cieaE nod led. That bears out my belief," Ire said "IfeeiselF-I thought SO
 Colonel LandeIl turned to the ser. seant. This is important, Jones" he sand II oa'd better attend to 1t u once. But one question more, Air. Greatorex. Wot:..z.. ..su be able to ilen= tilH any one of your a:sl!lants:s
 T fear not" said. You Must re member that it was quite dark
 Nor you. sir, supp9se:" Le added. 1 looking Ht Suei1palti
 Sheppard sll5oa lis head doubtfuly. gle The utmost 1 saw was the out lines of the men. but 1 can recall that one looked very like my friend Cap tain Sercombe-that is to say in tie dark
 Sercombe laughed. My dear fel- low, l wish had been there. lin sor ry I missed it. But 1 shall have bet ter luck another time, if l stick to Sergeant Jones'.
 The officer smiled without emotion and the colonel put his question formal ly to Montgomery, who promptly re- turned negative Landeil moved to- ward the door. but suddenly the police
  and whispered in his ear, then faced us again.
 Ut was lucky you had that moat filled and the drawbridge up, sir. What made you take those precau- tions:" lie demanded.
 We were lorewarned, as you have heard, 1 answered.
 He referred to his notes. Was the warning sufficiently urgent to induce you to go to that trouble:" he asked slowly.
 You can judge for yourself if We went to the trouble' returned sharp ly.
 Imperturbably he repeated his ques. ton again. What Were the terms of the Warning:'
 The man took me aback, and. more over. 1 was q little angry at this i'm pertinent inquisition, but before could arrest my thoughts for reply Sercombe intervened.
 Il can recollect what 1 said very we'll" he said, taking the cigar from his mouth, "if it interests you, ser yeant. 1 said: 'Greatorex, there's d number of very indifferent looking scoundrels down the valley. You have some valuable plate and this Is d lone ly spot. Moreover, l saw u couple of them hanging furtively about the plan tatons as l came up. Now. I've never seen moat full nor a rawbridge work, and if 1 were you and you were me- fancy this dtcn would be filled and the bridge hung up for my satiS- faction and your editieation and for the confusion of any nefariouS scoundrel with q big nav. These were the eX- act words, as 1 happen to remember i'll which l introduced the subject, as Mir. GreatoreX will no doubt recall though he is hot likely to have the terms on his tongue. like myself. But that, reckon, is what started It. And with this Sercombe replaced his cigar between his teeth and went on smok ing trdnquilly.
 The sergeant thanked him, drowning , in some embarrassment; then he turned [ on his heel and, saluting to the com !. pany, vanished after his superior through the doorway. . Sercombe got up. Well, we can break up now, gentlemen" he said Sorry to interrupt harmony, but I've got business to do' , T am greatly obliged to you" said somewhat sheepily. You're very welcome" says the . captain, with a wide smile.
 But what about the gypsies?' con tinued.
 "Oh, suppose the police will catch , them" he remarked, his grin growing broader. But you see. none of you would be able to recognize them"
 Sheppard burst into laughter, and !, was fain to follow him, but Montgom cry stared in amazement and with a : certain latent dislike at the adventur- or nurSuino him ont into the cOurtva rd