Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-03-22

defend the Cdelle anu ivsc AdiA SU1t
natural life In blows and strategies;
therefore, what do you say to termsav
.aTermsr echoed. ITO ransom
Hood y
| He calculated an oath. Let the
beast rot" he declared. @Pm talking
Of ourselves"
captain Sercombe," said gently,
| 81 knew Mr.. Hood in this business ere
| knew you, and to my idea he was the
prime mover In the conspiracy. Let
us say that he is gone, and what have
we to fear?"
Sereombe looked extremely blank,
and could see that my words had
struck vital spot.
Hood" he said, has done nothing
but bIunder, and besides"
But he got no further, breaking of
suddenly and as though with an eff
fort.
sIf that be so,v said I, rising, "let us
see how Captain Sercombe will man
age matters"
Hold hard" he interrupted. "sit
down awhile, sir. You have sprung
this affair on me. / must take my
counsel. Come, what do you say to go
ing sharesT
/ lifted my brows. You are not
serious?'' / remarked.
He glanced furtively at Montgom-
cry. II will take one-third," he said.
"and no questions asked"
my dear SIR said I in amazement,
"you embarrass me. Your TERMS are
too liberal from a vanquished foe. /
could not accept such generosity. And
now, if you will allow me, as / have an
appointment with Mr.. Hood shortly, !
must"
But this alarmed him, as could per-
ceive, for he changed color and put out
a finger to catch my arm.
Il will stand in with all of your he
cried.
smiled, but before could reply an
interruption fell in the entrance OF the
police sergeant, Jones, whom we had
met before. He saluted US, and | made
an inquiry as to his Investigations.
81 am on a track. sir" he declared.
IT can say no more" And he eyed
Sercombe attentively.
you've not struck those gypsies. !
hear said Sercombe, who had re-
sumed his cigar with an appearance OF
nonchalance
mo, SIR
They're here today and somewhere
else tomorrow ! hardly expected you
would find them. They nose a scent
pretty soon.'
sTm on a track, sir" repeated Jones.
"Glad to hear it, nodded the cap
tain.
/ went out with the sergeant, but
Sercombe called to me.
what is it," | asked, standing in
the doorway.
An anxious look troubled Sercombe's
eye. have made you a proposition,
Mr.. GTeatorex.,'
"Thats true,' said gravely, aand
/ will ask you, captain, to better it.
But, excuse me, my time is limited"
"You give me short shrift," exclaim-
ed he, with bitter laugh.
"Oh, no." / said; .sbut dare say you
will have time to think over it between
now and 9 o'clock If you can see
your way to more equitable adjust
ment, captain, perhaps you would be
good enough to let me know by then?'
At that i left him and caught up with
Montgomery, who had gone ahead with
Jones.
Excuse me, SIR" said Jones politely,
"but are you very old friend of Cap
tain Sercombe's?"
"Why, no." said |, Il have not known
him long,
"Ah," said he, San odd gentleman,
sir. Mr.. Hood Of the Woodman, he
knows some queer stories about him"
HE says so, does he?" said /.
Jones emphatically wagged his head.
every queer" be added. From which it
appeared to me that Mr.. Jones might
not be quite so smart as he seemed,
and also that Mr.. Hood was even
smarter. What his object might have
been in spreading an evil reputation for
Sercombe / could not guess, but that
he had an object, and a material one,
I did not doubt for moment
Though / had introduced the idea
to Sercombes notice, and the introduc-
ton had had Its effect, had not vet
given shape and substance to my plan
Of setting of the one scoundrel against
the other. I foreeaw that ! could i'm
prove my own position very substan-
TALLY by this system Of balance, and I
determined to go now fortnight to
Hood on the same errand. He had
failed me in the morning, but perhaps
he would have grown wiser in the
course of the days Imprisonment.
There is nothing like solitude and the
opportunity Of reflection to bring a
man to prudence, and now. too, had
seen Sercombe and had genuine offer
to consider. came to the conclusion
| that after all, Hood would not prove
| obdurate and that the end Of the war
| fare was almost in sight.
| In some such mood as this made