The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-04-19


Anyhow. couldn't let her go. Besides.
with this crowd about. Il was well that
she should have someone near To look
after her. Then. when the cable came.
1 knew they were bound 10 make
move"
What cablcT"
Carruthcrs took telegram from his
pocket.
That's g." said he.
II was short and concise
The old man IL dead"
HUM" said Holmes. Il think see
how things worked. and I can under
stand how this message would. as you
say. bring them ,o a head. But while
you wait. you might tell me what you
can"
The old rcprobatc with the surplics
burst into yolley OF bad language.
by heavea." said he. 'if you squeai
on us. Bob Carruthers. I'll serve you as
you served Jack woodley. You can
blcat about the girl To your hearts
content. for that's your own AFFAIR. but
II you round on your pals TO this plain
clothes copper. II will be the worst
days work that ever you did"
Your reverence need not be excited.
said Holmes lighting "A cigarette. The
case is clear enough against you. and
all I ask IN for few details for my
private curiosity. However,. IL there's
any difficulty In your telling me. I'll do
the talking. and then you will see how
far you have chance OF holding back
your secrets. In the first place. three
Of YOU came from South Africa on this
game-you, Williamson. you Car
ruthe-S. and woodlcy.'
Lie number one" said tha old man;
Il never saw either or them until two
months ago. and have never been In
% In
In your pipe and smoke IL. Mr.. Busy
body Holmcs!"
what he says Is true" said Car
ruthcrs.
We'll. we'll two OF you came over.
His reverence IN our own home made
article. You had known Ralph Smith
In South Africa. You had reason to
You found out that his niece would in
hc-it his fortune. How's that-eh?"
Carruthcrs and Williamson sworc.
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.
so you came over. the two Of you.
and hunted up the girl. The Idea was
that ono OF you was To- marry her. and
the other have a share OF the plumber
For some reason woodley was chosen
as the husband. why was that
we played cards FOR her on the voy-
age. He won"
Il see. You got the young lady into
your service. and there woodley was 10
do the counting. She recognized the
drunken brute that he was. and would
have nothing To do with him. Mean
while. your arrangement was rather
upset by the fact that you had your
self fallen In love with the lady. You
could no longer bear the idea or this
ruffian owning her.
mo. By George. I couldn't"
There was quarrel between you.
He left you In a rage, and began TO
make his own plans independently OF
you"
1T strikes me, Williamson. that
there isn't very much that we can tell
this gentleman" cried Carruthers. with
n bitter laugh. Yes. we quarreled.
and he knocked me down. I am level
with him on that, anyhow. Then lost
sIsht OF him. That was when he picked
up with this cast padre here. 1
found that they had set up housekeep-
ing together at this place on the line
that she had TO pass for the station.
I kept my eye on her after that. for
knew there was some deviltry In the
wind. l saw them from time to time.
for I was anxious to- know what they
came up 90 my house with this cable,
which showed that Ralph Smith was
dead. He asked me " l would stand
by the bargain. l said / would not.
He asked me II ! would marry the girl
myself. and give him "A share. I said
would willingly do so. but that she
would not have me. He said. Let US
get her married first. and after week
or two she may sec things bit differ
emit said would have nothing to do
with violence. SO 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 lend. and had got a trap To take
her TO the station. but was so uneasy
In my mind that ! followed her on my
bicycle. She had got n start. however.
and before could catch her the mischief
was done. The first thing knew
about IL was when saw you two gem
tlemen driving back in her dog cart"
Holmes rose and tossed the end OF his
cigarette into the CRATE. Il have been
very obtusc. Watson" said n. when
In your report you said that you had
seen the cyclist as you thought ar
range his necktie In the shrubbcty, that
alone should have told me all. How
ever We may congratulate ourselves
upon curious, and. In some respects, a
unique case. l perceive three OF the
county cons,abulnry In the drive, and
l am glad 20 see that the little ostler
Is able Ia keep pace with them. so IL is
likely that neither he nor the interest
ing bridegroom will be permanently
damaged by their mornings adven-
lures. think. Watson. that in your
medical capacity. you might wait upon
Miss Smith and tell her that IL she IL
sufficiently recovered. We shall be
happy TO escort her to her mothers
home. II she is not quite Couvalescent.
YOU will ind that a hint that we were
about To telegraph TO n young cleo
trician In the Midlands. would probably
complete the cure. IA to you. Mr..
Carruthers. | think that you have done
what you could tn make amends for
your share In an evil plot There Is my
card. sir. and IL my evidence can be OF
help to you In your trial. IL shall be
az your disposal"
In the whiTl OF our in~cssant activity.
1; has often been difficult for me. as the
reader has probably observed. to round
OF my narratives. and to give those
final details which the curious might
expect. Each case has been the pre-
Jude OF another. and the crisis once
over. the actors have passed forever
out OF our busy lives. find. however.
aha -