Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-16
! The AdvGnt tuners
By H. g. MARRIOTT WATSON
COPYRIGHT. 1898. HARPER BROTHERS

| even OIL leuF.
mo doubt" said I in return, "but
you must remember that I have al
ready had experience of your posi-
bilities. But come; we shall get no
further unless we can strike compro-
mise. If you will produce your frag-
ment Of the document
You assume that have II" he broke
in, with his discordant laugh. you
are taking good deal for granted"
II assume nothing" said l. "Do not
| let us handy words"
| Sercombe lifted the decanter which
stood at his elbow and filed his glass
| with a hand that shook. He drained
| it at draft and turned to Hood. The
innheeper glided to his chair, and
something passed from hand to hand.
Sercombc put the torn fragment upon
| the table before HIM He looked at
me. as if inviting me 20 similar dem
| onstration We were to proceed by
1 moves. then.
| IL have no evidence that this Is the
| document" l objected.
Nor I, in your case" he retorted.
every well,' l assonted. I'VE will
| take it point by point, but fear we
| 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 por-
| ton of the glow receded from his face.
| Montgomery stared. A tense feeling
stilfcned the attention Of all. l felt my
| heart throb IN the silence, and then
| suddenly there was IL sharp exclama-
ton from Sheppard, and the next mo-
| ment I was conscious Of clatter aud
], two figures struggling beside me. The
affair lasted but Il 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
intended? If so, could have sworn
that Sercombe was no party to it.
"It appears that we can't do quite
without the law said Sheppard, plac-
ing his heel upon 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
81 beg your pardon, SIR he explained,
"but suppose the gentleman objects
to my wearing it. 1t isn't pretty
weapon, sir, exactly, but have found
it useful, sir. thought there would
be no objection. Mr.. Greatorex. sir,
more especially as the gentleman here
carries a revolver" He indicated
Montgomery, who grew red and STAN
mered:
81 beg your pardon Awfully sorry.
There 1t u.s." and extracting Colt
from under his waistcoat he threw
| it on tie table in front of me.
Sheppard and l exchanged glances.
"Come, SIR" said Sercombe's voice,
rising in an imperative key, "but this
remarkable scene requires an explana-
|! ton. Why may not Mr.. Hood wear
what weapon he likes?"
"Was there anythingw l asked Of
Sheppard in a whisper.
He frowned in embarrassment. ITO
have waited for anything would have
been too late" he answered in the
same tone. II had to forestall.
guessed, but I'll swear guessed right.
can't prove it. I caught the CLEAN"
Then he turned quickly from me and
picking up. the dagger offered it to
Hood. II am sorry for this misunder-
standing, Mr.. Hood" he said sweetly.
"If 1 had stopped to think I should
have known that man like yourself
would only carry weapon for some
good purpose. But I am creature Of
impulse, full of mistakes. but of q
warm heart below ALL and offer you
the dagger back in token Of my trust
in you" with which he sat himself
down in his seat and ostentatously
played with Montgomery's revolver for
the rest Of the interview.
Come, come. That Is well said and
we'll ended" said the captain genially,
and he was evidently very much re-
lieved at the conclusion Of this scene.
"And now, Mr. Greatorex, and to show
that it is not both sides that are so
unnecessarily suspicious, If you will be
so good as to take this paper from mo
will trust you to read out the whole
document
This proposal coming on the top Of
what had happened between us, as
founded us all, as you may suppose.
But Sercombe was rarely at loss for
some amazing movement, and he knew
we'll enough that he was perfectly
safe with me, whereas he was also
aware that | knew l 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 l, with the two parts Of the
precious document in my hands and
four pairs of bright eyes burning upon
my face with their 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 knife and. forthwith deci
phering the following composition, read
1t slowly aloud to the company:
ar st, D,I,1b X>vvinn hais11 Ynvxy in