The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-04-25
BY MISADVENTURE
FIR A ~ K & A r RI T T

1--WE withhold our decision after the ex-
animation until terms are made with
you," unused Bax, with his finger on his
nose and his eye on the ceiling. well,
| don't see much objection to the meeting
in that case. But the poison in the mans
nouth-how are you going to explain
that?"
Il may be able to prove" said I, after
4 show. of hesitation, ''that Flexmore fear
ed untimely burial, and left instructions
for means to be taken after death to pre-
vent resuscitation. 1 may be able to pro-
duce his written wish to that effect"
That's clever notion" exclaimed
Bax, gasping approval. WAS it the
Doctors idea or yours?''
"Oh, let me impress upon you at once"
said l, 'that the doctor pleads not guilty
to everything, and will take no measures
whatever to clear himself from suspicion"
"Well, I'll talk it over with the
Yeameses, and, if they don't object, no
| reason why We shouldn't fall in with your
plan"
We shook hands and parted with mu-
tual hypocrisy, and got my hat in order
to seek the magistrate whom l had fixed
on in my thoughts for the service l need
ed. went off to the Manor House to
see Sir Roland Firkin, ]. p.
Sir Roland was one of the best-known
and most popular men in the county; and
he deserved to be, for he was a thorough
ly kind-hearted and generous old fellow,
willing at all times to render a service
and not too stupid to despise advice. l
laid the case before him, and asked if he
| would consent to preside at an informal
inquiry should the Yeames side accept our
proposal of going thoroughly into the
truth of what may be called the Flex-
more poisoning case. He gave his prom
Use to attend without hesitation, and ap-
proved highly of the course l had taken
for making the inquiry public, promising
drey on the part of his friends and him
self should it be found that the charge
against him was unjust.
The next day Bax called upon me to
say that Lynn and his mother agreed to
attend the inquiry, and I fixed it for the
following afternoon at three o'clock; for,
as luck would have it, 1 had received just
half an hour before telegram from my
clerk, saying that he had found two men
who acknowledged to stretching the rope
and had agreed to tell the whole truth
concerning the affair. The dispatch came
from London, and l reckoned upon these
witnesses arriving by the morning train
which reaches Coneyford at 10 80.
In the evening I went to my friends,
and l also called upon Mrs. Bates, bind
ing them all to be in my Office at the
hour fixed; then / went home and spent
the best part of the night in drawing up
the questions to be put, for l determined
that Sir Roland Firkin should be the
chief actor in the inquiry, not only be-
cause it would please the old gentleman,
but because the question would wear less
of an ex-parte aspect coming from him.
The next morning had my Office table
pushed up In a corner, and a long dining
table brought in covered with green baize !;
all my ink pots were brought into requi-
sition and a sheet of paper laid before
each chair, and the regulation water bot
tie and tumbler placed at the head Of the
table for the president to dip into if the
proceedings grew dry.
One thing vexed me. My clerk did not
arrive with the witnesses by the 10 80
train; however, a telegram came to say
they would travel by the next down train,
which reaches Coneyford at 3:15. At 2
p. m. had lunched and dressed, and was
looking at my watch anxiously.