The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-04-19

dLltl iiC4. Lllel, wien til' tdDle talIle,
l knew they were bound to make d
move"
"What cable"
'Carruthcrs took a telegram from his
pocket.
That's it," said he.
1t was snort and concise
The old man is dead
Hunt said Holmes. Il think I see
how things worked, and / can under
stand how this message would, as you
say, bring them to a head. But while
you wait, you might tell me what you
can
The old reprobate with the surplicc
burst into a yolIey of bad language.
by hcaven," said he, IF you sGueal
on us, Bob Carruthers, III serve you as
you served Jack Woodley. You can
bleat about the girl to your hearts
content, for that's your own affair, but
if you round on your pals to this PLAIN
clothes copper, it Will be the worst
days work that ever you did"
Your reverence need not be excited"
said Holmes, lighting n cigarette. The
case is clear enough against you. and
all ask is for d few details for my
private curiosity. However, il there's
any difficulty in your telling me, I'll do
the talking. Il then you will see how
far you have a chance of holding back
your secrets. IN the first place, three
of you came from South Africa on this
game--you, Williamson, you Car
ruthe"s, and WoOdley."
Lie number one" said the old man;
Il never saw either of them until two
months ago, and [ ave never been in
Africa in my life, so you can put that
in your pipe and smoke it, Mr.. Busy
body Holmes!"
What he says is true" said Car
ruthers.
well. we'll. two cr you came over.
His reverence is our w home made
article. You had known Ralph Smith
in South Africa. You had reason to
believe that he would not live so long.
You found out that his niece would in
herit his fortune. How's that-eh?"
Carruthers n Williamson swore.
She was next of kin, no doubt, and
you were aware that the old follow
would make no will.
couldn't read or WRITE said Car
ruthers.
so you came over, the two of you,
and hunted up the girl. The idea was
that one Of you was to marry her, and
the other have a share of the plumber.
For some reason WOOlley was chosen
as the husband. Why was that?'
we played cards for her on the voy-
age. He WON"
Il see. You got the young lady into
your service, and there Woodley was to
do the counting. She recognized the
drunken brute that he was, and would
have nothing to do with him. Mean
while, your arrangement was rather
upset by the fact hat you had your
self fallen in love With the lady. You
could no longer bear the idea of this
ruffian owning herr"
NO, by George. | couldn't"
There was a quarrel between you.
He left you in a rage, and began to
make his w plans independently Of
you"
1T strikes ne, Williamson, that
there isn't very much that we can tell
this gentleman" cried Ca%rruthers. with
a bitter laugh. Yes, we Quarreled,
and ne Knocked me down. I am level
with him on that, anyhow. Then I lost
sight of him. That was when he picked
up with this cast padre here. 1
found that they had set up housekeep-
ing together at this place on the line
that h had to pass for the station.
l kept my eye on her after that, for I
knew there was some deviltry in the
wind. | saw them from time to time,
for l was anxious to know what they
We're after. TWO days ago Woodley
camc up to ny house With this cable,
which showed that Ralph Smith was
dea He asked me if | would stand
by the bargain. / said l would not.
He asked me il would marry the girl
myself. and give him a share. I said /
would willingly do so. but that she
would not have ms. He said, Let us
get her married first, and after n week
or two she may see things Il bit differ
ent.' 1 said l would have nothing to do
With violence. So he went off cursing,
like the foul mouthed blackguard that
he was, and swearing that he would
have her yet. She was leaving me his
Weekend. and had got Il trap to take
her to the station, but was so uneasy
in my mind that l followed her on my
bicycle. She had got a start, however.
and before l could catch her the mischief
was done. The first thing I knew
about it was when l saw you two gem
tlemen driving back in her dog cart
Holmes rose ard tossed the end of his
cigarette into the CRATE. II have been
very obtuse, Watson" said he. when
in your report you salt that you had
seen the cyclist as you thought ar
range his necktie in the shrubbery. that
alone should have told me all. How
ever, we may congratulate ourselves
upon a curious. and, in some respects. a
unique case. | perceive three of the
county constaDulary in The drive. and
| am glad to see that the little ostler
is able to keep pace With them. so It is
likely that neither he nor the interest
ing bridegroom will be permanently
damaged by their mornings advnn-
lures. I think. Watson. that in your
medical capacity. you might wait upon
Miss Smith and tell her that If she il
sufficiently recovered. we shall be
happy to escort her TO her mothers
home. 1t she is not quite convaloscent.
,ou will find that a hint that we were
tbout to telegraph TO q young cleo
rician in the Midlands. would probably
complete the cure. AS to YOU, NJ.
Garruthers, / think that you have done
hat YOU could to make amends for
your share in an evil plot. There is my
card. sir. and il my evidence can be Of
help to you in your trial, i. shall be
at your disposal"
In the whir.. Of our incessant activity.
it has often Eeen difficult for me. as the
reade: has probably observed. 10 round
off my narratives. and to give those
final details which the curious might
expect. ZACH case has been the pre-
lude OF another. and the crisis once
over, the actors have passed forever
out of u busy lives. | find, however.
- E .l,n,t pli>E a$ tJ1 ~ -. 80 r- . E