Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-09-14

ria OF IL.
But why should such an idea cross
your mind?"
"Well. l thought it was possible.
When they came out through the
French window, there was the pond
with one tempting little hole in the
ice, right in front of their noses. Gould
there be a better hiding placer
'Ah, a hiding place-that is better
cried Stanley Hopkins. Yes, yes, |
see it all know! Ii vas early, there
were folks upon the roads, they were
afraid Of being seen with the silver.
so they sank it in the pond. intending
to return for it when the coast was
clear. Excellent, Mr.. IIolmes-that is
better than your idea of a blind"
quite so, you have got an admirable
theory. / have no doubt but that my
own ideas were quite wild, but you
must admit that they have ended in
discovering the silver
Eyes, sir-yes. 1t was all your doing.
But / have had n a setback"
"A setback"
Eyes, Mr.. Holmes. The Randall gang
were arrested in New York this morn
ing"
Dear me, Hopkins. That is certain
ly rather against your theory, that they
committed a murder in Kent last
night"
1T is fatal, Mr.. Holmes-absolutely
fatal. Still, there are other gangs of
three besides the Randalls, or it may
be some new gang Of which the police
have never heard
quite so. it is perfectly possible.
What, are you OFF,
Yes, Mr.. Holmes, there is no rest
for me until l have got to the bottom
of the business. l suppose you have no
hint to give me?"
Il have given you one"
"Which?"
well, l suggested a blind"
But why, Mr.. Holmes, why?'
"Ah, that's the question, of course.
But / commend the idea of your mind.
You might possibly find that there was
something in it. You won't stop for
dinner? Well good by, n let US
know how you get on"
Dinner was over, and the table
cleared before Holmes alluded to the
matter again. He had lit his pipe and
held his %slippered feet to the cheerful
blaze of the fire. Suddenly he looked
at his watch.
II expect developments, Watson"
"When?"
"Now-within a few minutes. / dare
say you thought I acted rather badly
to Stanley Hopkins just now?"
Il trust your judgment. q
"A very sensible reply, Watson. You
must look at it this way: what ! know
is unofficial, what he knows isa official.
l have the right to private judgment,
but he has one He must disclose all.
or he is a traitor to his service. In Il
doubtful case | would not put him in
so painful a position, and so | reserve
my information until my w mind is
clear upon The matter"
But when will that be-"
THE time has come. You will now
be present at the last scene of a re-
markable little DRAMA"
There was a sound upon the stairs,
and our door was opened to admit as
fine a specimen of manhood as ever
passed through it. He was a very tall
young man, golden moustached, blue
eyed, with a skin which had been
burned by tropical suns, and a
springy step, which showed that
the huge frame vas rs active
as it was strong. He closed the door be-
hind him. and then he stood with clenched
hands and ~heaving breast, choking down
some overmastering emotion.
"Sit down, Captain Croker. You got
my telegram"
Our visitor sank into an arm chair, and
looked from one to the other Of us with
questioning eyes.
II got your telegram. and l anne at
the hour you said. / heard that you had
been down to the office. There was no
getting way from you. Let's hear the
worst. What are you going to do with
me? Arrest me? Speak out, man! You
can't sit there and play with me like a
cat with q mouse"
Give him a cigar said Holmes. Bite
on that, Captain Croker. and don't let
your nerves run away with you. / should
not sit here smoking with you If l thought
that you were a common criminal, you
may be sure of that. BE frank with me
and we may do some good. Play tricks
with me, and I'll crush you"
What do you wish me TO do?'
ITO give me 4 true account of all that
happened at the Abbey Grange last night
"a true account. mind YOU, with nothing
added and nothing taken off. | know so
much already that If you go one inch
eff the straight, IN blow this police whis-
tie from my window and the affair goes
out of my hands forever
The sailor thought tor a little. Then he
struck his leg with a great sun-burned
hand.
I'll chance it," he cried. Il believe you
are a man Of your word, and a white man,
and IN tell you the whole story. But one
thing / will say first. So far as l am
concerned, / regret nothing and l feal
nothing, and / WOULD do II all again. and
be proud of the job. Damn the beast. il
he had as many lives as a cat. he would
owe them all to me. But it's the lady
Mary-Mary Fraser-for never will / cal
her by that accursed name. When 1 think
OF getting her into trouble, l who would
give my life just to bring one smile &c
her dear face, it's that that turns my sou
into water. And yet-and yet-what les:
could l do? I'll tell you my story, gentle
men, and then I'll ask you, as man t
man, what less could / do.
Il must go back a bit. You seem L
know everything. so / expect that yol
know that / met her when she was 1
passenger and / was first officer of thu
Rock of Gibraltar. From the first da!
/ met her, she was the only woman to me
Every day of that voyage 1 loved he
more, and many a time since nave
kneeled down in the darkness of the nigh
watch and kissed the deck of that shil
because l knew her dear feet had troC
1t. She was never engaged 10 me. Sh,
treated me as fairly as ever a womal
treated a man. i have no complaint L
all good comradeship and friendship OIL
hers. When we parted she was a FREE
woman, but / could never again be
free man.
Next time / came back from sea,
heard of her marriage. Well, VIII,
shouldn't she marry whom she liked? Titl'
and m~oney-who could carry them bette
than she? She was born for all that 4
beautiful and dainty. l didn't grieve owe
her marriage. i was not such a selfisl
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