Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-22

This address set the old gentleman
upon his legs. metaphorically speak
ing. and forthwith he plunged into the
depths.
This party. l understand, Mr..
Greatorex." said he, attacked you ear
" this morning?'
About ) o'clock l answered. He
commended the reply to the sergeant,
who scrubbed i'll his book.
Had you any reason to fear this as
sault was intended?"
l hesitated. We'll, to say the truth"
l replied, we were not wholly without
some suspicious
Il may take it upon myself to say,
SIR suddenly broke in the captain,
that it was l that first put the sus-
plclon into MI. GreatoreX's head"
He looked at me as if inviting nv
corroooration, and a twinkle glistened
in tn, rascal's eye.
THAT is true" said l gravely. Cap
tain Sercombe is entirely responsible
for my suspicious"
The ambiguity of the phrase tickled
us both, and Il smile was very private
ly exchanged between us.
May ask. Captain Sercombe," said
the old gentleman politely, recognizing
this importation with a bow, what
reasons YOU had for supposing Ivor
castle would be attacked in this ex-
traordinary way, and whether YOU have
any clew to the o%ffenders?"
The captain lolled back In his chair
and stroked his red mustache. II used
my eyes, colonel. I have lived a sharp
life, sir. And when l see a fact 1 re-
cord it. That's q hint which is Of use
in your profession, as l make no doubt
you know we'll enough" he said cour-
%teously. Tins affair of the attack is
a bad business; there's no denying that.
But it might have been worse. No lives
were lost. you see" And he glanced
out Of his cnsanguined eyes at Shep-
pard.
NO: We must be thankful for that
observed the justice heartily. But do
I understand you that you had indeed
actual evidence that the burglary was
%planned?"
Il can add two to two, colonel, and
make them four" says Sercombe,
seeming to be very complacent. And,
staying by accident in the same neigh
borhood with my friend Greatorex, l
put a point on his wits. That was all.
l make no claim to extra smartness,
but when see a number of lazy look
ing gypsies about, there's no good
promised, according to my notions"
You are right; you are right"
agreed the Justice. But here the ser
geant struck in for the first time, cast
ing a glance from sharp, beady eyes
on the captain.
"Where We're these gypsies, sir::'
We all looked at Sercombe, who
showed not the least discontinue. but
bit the tip off a cigar.
Il trust l have your permission,
GreatoreX:" said he. The gypsies. sir.
are encampel at the bottom Of the
valley; have been SO, indeed, for q
week"
| was astonished at the mans au
dacity. He had actually revealed the
secret of his nest of c%utthroats. The
sergeant turned the pages Of his note
book.
"Ihe man Williams, examined this
morning, states that one of the men,
seen closely, looked like a foreigner
dark, stoutish; shouted in gibberish."
He repeated the evidence mo]notonous-
ly.
sercombe, putting at his cigar. nod
ded. That bears out my belief" he
said. "Precisely-I thought So"
Colonel LIndell turned to the ser
geant. This is important, JONES' he
said. You'd better attend to it at
once. But II question more, Mr..
Greatore1. Would you be able to iden-
tify any Il of your assailants:"
Il fear not" said. You must re-
member that it was quite dark"
Nor YOU, sir, | s%uppose?' he added.
looking ut Sheppard.
Sheppard shook his head GouDtfu!iy.
I'VE were engaged in a pelimcll strug-
sic. The utmost I saw was the out
lines OF the men, but I can recall that
one looked very like my friend Cap
ain Sercombe-that is to say, in the
dark"
Sercombe laughed. my dear fell
low, wish l had been there. I'm sor-
ry I missed it. But l shall have bet
ter luck another time, if stick to
Sergeant Jones'
The officer smiled without emotion,
and thec colonel put his question formal
~ to Montgomery, who promptly re-
turned a negative. Landell moved to-
ward the door, but suddenly the police
officer touched him Oh the shoulder
and whispered in his ear, then faced us
again.
1T was lucky you had that moat
filed and the drawbridge up, sir.
What made you take those precau.
tions"' he demanded.
"We were forewarned, as you have
heard" l answered.
He referred to his notes. Was the
warning sufficiently urgent to induce
you to 20 to that troublei" he asked