Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-05

You assume that have it, he broke in, with his discordant laugh. "Yor are taking good deal for granted"
 T assume nothing" said I. "Do no, let us bandy worlds"
 Sercombe lifted the decanter which stood at his elbow and filled his glass with hand that shook. He drained it at draft and turned to Hood. The innkeeper glided to his chair, and something passed from hand to hand Sercombe put the torn fragment upon the table before him. He looked al me, as if inviting me to similar dem. onstration. We were to proceed by moves, then.
 T have no evidence that this is the document" I objected.
 "Nor I, in your case" he retorted.
 'sVery we'll" assented. we will take it pa'nt by point, but fear we 1 shall find it tedious job."
 drew the paper from my pocket and laid it before me. At the other end of the table could see Sercombe's green eyes bulging in his head as they fasten- | ed upon the white thing under my hand. His mouth dropped, and DOT | tion of the glow receded from his face l Montgomery stared. A tense feeling stiffened the attention of all I felt my heart throb in the silence, and then suddenly there was a sharp exclama- tion' from Sheppard. and the next mo- ,nent I was conscious of chatter and two figures struggling beside me. The affair lasted but q few seconds, and then Hood was hurled deftly back against the window, and Sheppard flung upon the floor with crash long Spanish dagger.
 A hush fell on the room. Sercombe turned pale, and his eyes shifted un- easily Had it been murder that was that Sercombe was no party to it.
 "It appears that we can't do quite without the law,'' said Sheppard, plac- ing his heel upsn the weapon. Hood, breathing deeply, remained in the shadows of the window.
 What does this mean?" I asked.
 Hood. black and lean, but immovable as to feature. stepped from his corner. q beg your pardon, sir" he explained, ''but I suppose the gentleman objects to my wearing it. It isn't pretty weapon, sir, exactly, but have found 1t useful, sir. I thought there would be no objection. Mir Greatorex, sir, more especially as the gentleman here carries revolver He indicated Montgomery, who grew red and stam- mered:
 "I beg your pardon. Awfully sorry. I-I-here it is," and extracting Colt from under his waistcoat he threw 1t on the table in front of me.
 Sheppard and exchanged glances.
 Come, sir" said Sercombe's voice, rising in an imperative key, but this remarkable scene requires an -explana- ton. Why may not MT. Hood wear what weapon he likes"
 "Was there anything?" I asked of Sheppard in whisper.
 He drowned in embarrassment. ITO have waited for anything would have been too late" he answered in the same tone. T had to forestall. I guessed. but I'll swear guessed right. l can't prove it. I caught the gleam." Then he turned quickly from me and picking up the dagger offered it to Hood. T am sorry for this misunder- standing, MT. Hood," he said sweetly. ''If I had stopped to think I should have known that a man like yourself would only carry a weapon for some good purpose. But I am a creature of impulse, full of mistakes, but of a warm heart below all, and offer you the dagger back in token of my trust in you," with which he sat himself down fin his seat and ostentatiously played with Montgomery's revolver for the rest of the interview. y !.
 Come. come. That is we'll said and well ended" said the captain genially, and he was evidently very much re- lieved at the conclusion of this scene. "And now, Mir Greatorex, and to show that 1t is not both sides that are so unnecessarily suspicious, if you will be so good as to take this paper from me I will trust you to read out the whole document"
 This proposal, coming on the top of what had happened between us, ass founded us all, as you may suppose. But Sercombe was rarely at a loss for some amazing movement, and he knew we'll enough that he was perfectly safe with me. whereas he was also aware that I knew I was absolutely unsafe with him. Therefore he assum- ed a golden air of courtesy and lofty faith, as between gentlemen. But these reflections are not to the point, for there was I, with tine two parts of the precious document in my hands and four pairs of bright eyes burning upon my face with the:r eager interrogation. You may conjecture my emotions and the way my pulse ran. spread the paper I had received from Sercombe upon the other, smoothed it with the back of a knife and. forthwith deci- phering the following composition, read 1t slowly aloud to the company:
 q, Sir Ralph vyvian, being now in my thirtieth year and upon the eve of exile through the malicious treachery of friends. this 10th day of April, in the