Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-06-08
THE ADVENTURE OF eLAG~
PETER,-Continued.

"Yo are just the man I want" said he,
Heres the agreement on the s.de-tabie.
II you sign it the whole matter viii be
settled"
The seaman IIrchcd across the room and
took up tho pen.
Shall | sign here" he asked, stopping
over the table.
Holmes Ieancd over his shoulder and
passed both hands over his neck.
"Thi Will do" said he.
I heard a click OF steel and a below like
an cnraged bull. The next instant Holmes
and the seaman were rolling on the
ground together. He was a man Of such
gigantic strength that even with The hand
cuTs which Holmes had so deftly fastened
upon his wrists, he would have very
quickly overpowcred my friend had Hop
kins and / not rushed to his rescue.
Only when / pressed the cold muz-
zle Of the revolver to his temple did he at
last understand that resistance was vain.
We dashed his ankles with cord, and rose
breathless from the struggle.
II must really apologize. Hopkins" said
Sherlock Holmes. II fear that the
scrambled eggs are cold. However, you
will enjoy the rest of your breakfast all
the better, win you not, for the thought
that you have brought your case to a
triumphant conclusion"
Stanley Hopkins was speeches. with
amazement.
Il don't know what 10 say, Mr..
Holmes" he blurtcd out at last. with a
very red face. 1T seems to me that /
have been making a fool of myself from
the beginning 1 understand now. what l
should never nave forgotten, that / am
the pIpii and YOU are tho master. Even
now see what you have done. but |
don't know how ypu did It. or what 1t
signifies"
Wen. well" said Holmes, good hum
oredly, I'VE all learn by experience, and
your lesson this time Is that you should
never lose sight OF the alternative, You
were 50 absorbed In young Neligan that
you could not spart a thought to Patrick
Cairns, the true murderer of Peter Carey"
The hoarse voice of the seamon broke
In on our conversation.
"See here. mister" said he, II make no
complaint of being man-handled In this
fashion, but / would have you call things
by their right names. You say | murdered
Peter Carey, I say / killed Peter Carey.
and there's all the difference. Maybe you
don't believe what j say. Maybe you
think | am just singing you a yarn"
Not at ALL" said Holmes. Let us hear
what you have to say
Its soon told, and, by tao Lord, every
word Of 1t is truth. knew Black Peter,
and when he pulled out his knife | whipped
= Hdi iiObH ltlIpuSH nun SIdlpt lOl L hlltN
that II was him or me. That's how ne died.
You can call II murder. Anyhow, Id as
soon die with a rope round my neck as
with Black Peters knife in my heart"
"Hcw came you there?' asked Holmes.
"f'll tell II you from tho beginning. Just
sit me up a little. 80 as l can speak easy.
1t was in SO that il happened-August Of
that year. Peter Carey was master of the
Sea Unicorn, and / was spare harpooner.
We were coming mt of fha loo mack IN
our way home. with head winds and a
weeks southerlv gale, when we picked up
a little craft that had been blown north.
There was one man on her--a landsman.
The crew had thought she would founder,
and had made for the Norwegian coast In
che dinghy, 1 guess they were all drowned
Wen, we took him on board, this man.
and he and the skipper had some long
talks In the cabin. All the baggage we
took of with him was one tin box. So far
as i know, the mans name was never
mentioned, and on the second night he
disappeared as II he had never been. IL
was given out that he had either thrown
himself overheard or fallen overheard In
the heavy weather that We were having.
Only one man knew what had happened
20 him, and that was me, for, with my
own eyes, 1 saw the skipper tip up his
heels and put him over the rail In the
middle watch of a dark night. two days
before we sighted the Shetland Lights.
We'll, / kept my knowledge to myself,
and waited to see what would come of IL.
When we got back TO Scotland IL was
easily hushed up, and nobody asked any
questions. A stranger died by accident.
and II was nobody's business to inquire.
Shortly after Peter Carey gave up the
sea. and II was long years before ! could
Ind where he was l guessed that he had
done the deed for the sake of what was
in that tin box, and that he could afford
now TO pay me well for keeping my mouth
shut
II found out where he was through a
sailor man that had met him In london,
and down l went TO squeeze him. The
first night he was reasonable enough. and
was ready 10 give me what would make
me free OF the sea for life. We were TO
6x 1t all two nights later. When ! came,
/ found him th-ee-parts drunk and In q
vile temper. We sat down and we drank
and we yarned about old times, but the
more hi drank the less l liked the look
on his face. I spotted that harpoon on the
wall, and I thought i might need IL be-
fore ] was through. Then at last he
broke out at me. splitting and cursing, will
murder In his eyes and a great clasp
knife IN his hand. He had not time to ge'
* from the sheath before | had the har'
pooa through him. Heavens. what a vel
he gayei and his face gets between M
and my sleep. ] stood there. with hi,
blood splashing round me, and / waitet
for a bit, but all was quiet. SO l tool
heart once moro. / looked round, ant
there was the tin box on the shelf. / hat
as much right to IL as Peter Carey. any
how, SO / took ii with me and left thu
hut. Like a fool / left my baccy poucl
upon the table.
Now I'll tell you the qucerest part o
the whole story. I had hardly got outsid'
the hut when / heard omeone coming. am
/ hid among the bushes. A man caf:r
Sinking along, went into the hut. gave
CRY as IL he had seen a ghost. and legge
IL as nard as he could run until he wa
out OF sight. Who he was or what h
wanted Is more than / can tell. For m
Part | walked ten miles. got D train a
Tunbridgc Wells. and so reached London
and no one the wiser.
Well. when ! came to examine the DO
j found there was no money In IL. ar
nothing out papers that I would not dar
10 sell I had lost ny hold on Biac
Peter, and was stranded Ia london with
ous q shilling There was only my trad
left, ! saw these advertisements abor
harpooncrs. and high wages. so / went |
the shipping agents and they sent m
here. That's ali l know. and I say agai
tiiatif 1 killed Black Peter. the law shoui
give me thanks. for saved shem N
price Of a hempen rope"
IA very clear sfatcmcnE,' said HoImc
fisinx and lighting hia nipe-.l fhinl
Hopkins. that >ou should lose no time
conveying our prisoner to q place {
u4ftfv This ro0m * not we'll adaDfcd II