The Washington times., 1906-11-11
The Case of the Convict Code

fingered in Boyd's keen. gray eyes
Yet his voice. when ne curtiy inter-
Tupted, had a subtle ring unheard be-
fore. and the unexpected declaration
he had made startled every hearer.
Scanlon glanced sharply about.
checked with "A gesture the apprs-
heEsive movements Of several Of his
gang. then snarled suspiciously. with
his frowning gaze revertng 10 Boyd's
dispassionate face:
Speak plainly. curse you! Why DO
you say I've put the cart before the
horse? What do you mean by another
ride of the story?"
BOYD had not moved from his seat
on the back Of his chair. His attitude
was stin that Of absolute unconcern.
and only the sharper CLEAN Of his
watchful eyes betrayed that he rsc0g-
niZed any change In the existing sit
uauon. For moment he did not an
swer, and again the profound silence
was broken only by the sound heard
once before-that distant WhistlIng Of a
popular air as OF a lad In the city
streets.
Then Boyd laughed Rightly. as ne had
done before.
Don't be alarmed. you fellows"
said he, with a glance over the fTewu-
ing faces confronting him. You
seem 60 fear me, even while having
all the best gf mo. as your raseaUy
leader EondeE stated. Ills cler.rr.-z
is quite commeudahIc. am sure. 90
is true thar ] planned TO make IL easy
Tor you o. Iiberate Wykon and voudei
thievins ruffiau- IL is true tHat I ap-
parently designed 10 aid their esc4ne
and thus force myself among sou. II is
true that. having landed me here
without being tracked by the police
Won should feel perfectly secure"
And so We do, the devil take you!.
cried tcanl0I with suppressed feroc-
tty. Why do YOU barter words IT,
tH'- fashion,"
because. as remarked" saic
Boyd w.t1 curious smile, there's
another side of the story"
haT other Side2' suarled Scan
ION. with his maIevoIeut ewes gglov
with guickened suspicion.
Boyd leaned forward on his perch.
and placed both arms across his
knees.
Let's suppose a case. Mr.. Big Fin
ger. said he. with a provoking dis
n.ay CO.. csuIur. You'll hear me with
patience. I'm sure, as I heard YOU
Ir IS only a supposabIe case. mind
y"u, q" illustrate the other side OF
che story. NJ foundation. n fact.
as youU plainly see.'
Scaulon's hand had closed hard
around his revolver PIE dlstrus--d
this beginning. and a certain vague
apprehension impeued him q learn
what il presaged With darker
frGwn. with his searching eyes fixed
constantly on Boyd's unreadabIe face
Ho rCi1ined curtIv:
y il hear what you have TO say"
Boyd smiled again and nodded.
81 merely aim. since YOU have auas-
t1ned my superior cunning AIr. Se.ln-
loH- to show how YOU. even. mIeht
have oy-rlclpsd y0ur mount said
-r. with ius'uuatiug suaVity- sup
..-s. to begin with. th1f you we're
u1r a- clever as yru Thought Su1-
pose tl.tr merely by Claur. Ifz-
covered YOU on my track, that I at
once suspected your purpose. that i
deliberately led YOU 10 the wood
cock and there selected one OF two
vacant booths adjoining that you
MALT Overhe2r the disclosures and
designs ] conH5ed To Coleman"
Too far-fetchei"' snecrcd Sean
In. Much TOO far.'
Yet uoJNimpossibIe." argued Boyd
with inSmuating pleasantly sup
pose. To continue, knowing how read
ily YOU would take the bait, that I
played the game into your hands up
% the very moment you landed me
aboard Your launch
Admitting even that. we stlu
should have the advantage" he cried
savageiE. We could not have been
followed. I made sure Of that"
"QGite right" nodded Boyd The
fog made pursuit next 10 impossi-
hIe. Yet even that condition might
have been overcome by clever
man"
Like yourself?' sneered ScanIon.
Like myself. If you Will" nodded
Boyd
I'm what way?"
"SUppuse-for this stin is suppoai
lion only" continued BOYD, still odd
~ smiling suppose that. while /
stiT leaned apparently exhausted
against the rail OF your launch. I
had attached to il a few feet OF me.
black thread, At the end OF which was
small vial Suppose ] left It sus-
fed across TIE river. Suppose the
vial TO have been filled with oil. which
onzed drop after drop through a tube
in the cork. and fell TO the surfaos
II the stream. IL would have left up
on the river, asteTu Of the heeina
launch, what is known as a slick
a trail as easily followed as that OF
footprints in fresh fallen snow. Sun
puse Jhas officers on the prison boat
stop a bit. you fellows"
The situation suddenly had become
strained. Several OF the scowlins
gang had pulled their guns
Boyd dropped 10 his feet behind his
chair. and laid his bands on the back
of H. The move appeared aimlessly
made, yet he designed 10 use tbs
chair for self-defense, If the need
arose.
Lend me your ears. you fellowsi"
he quickly added with more auster.
ity tnan yet had sounded In his voics
! have a word OF advice for you. ons
Continued on Page Six. this section-l