Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-02-20

ness. l was glad to be In when Dandy
called. BY way Of making assurance
doubly sure l took a short walk this
morning in the character Of q deaf
gentleman and got Miss Webb to write
me a direction that comprised three of
the words on these scraps of paper
left right n lane See, they cor
respond, the peculiar rs is and all.
"Now, l felt perfectly sure that Steg-
giles would go for his pay today. In
the first place, | knew that people
mixed up with shady transactions in
professional pedestrianism are not apt
to trust one another far. They know
better. Therefore Steggles wouldn't
nave had his bride first, but he would
take care to get it before the Saturday
heats We're run, because once they We're
over the thing was done, and the prin-
cipal conspirator might have refused
to pay up. and Steggles couldn't have
helped himself. Again, 1 limited he
should not go out till l could follow
him, and this afternoon when he went
follow him | did. 1 saw him go into
Danby's house by the side way and
come away again. Dandy it was, then,
who had arranged the business, and
nobody was more likely. considering his
large pecuniary stake against Crock
etts winning this race.
"But now how to find Crockett? l
made up my mind he wouldn't be in
Danby's own house. That would be a
deal too risky, with servants about, and
so on. l saw that Dandy was a build
er and had three shops to let. 1t was
on a paper before his house. What
more likely prison than an empty
house? l knocked at Danby's door and
asked for the keys Of those shops. /
couldn't have them. The servant told
me Dandy was out "a manifest lie. for
L had just seen him) and that nobody
could see the shops till Monday, but l
got out of her the address of the shops,
and that was all l wanted at the time.
"Now, why was nobody to see those
shops till Monday? The interval was
suspicious - just enough to enable
Crockett to be sent away again and
cast loose after the Saturday racing,
%supposing him to be kept in one of the
empty buildings. l went off at once
n looked at the shops, forming my
conclusions as to which would be the
most likely for Danby's purpose. Here
l had another confirmation of my
Ideas. Dandy had taken the keys
aWay-and on Thursday, the very day
with some trivial C and hadn't
brought them back. That was all
wanted or could expect in the way of
guidance. The whole thing was plain,
The rest you know all about"
"Well, you're certainly as smart as
they give you credit for, l must say.
But suppose Dandy had taken down
his ITO Let notice, what would you
have done thenY"
eve had our course even then. We
should have g0ila to Dandy, astounded
{ him by telling hirn Oil about his little
games, terrorized him with threats Of
the law, and made him throw up Ills
hand and send Crockett back. But as
1t is, you see, he doesn't know at this
, moment-probably won't know till to
morrow afternoon-that the lad is safe
and sound here. You will probably
use the interval to make him pay fol-
losing the game-by some of the in.
t genious financial devices you are nc
doubt familiar with. But about Crock.
, EFT, now. Won't this confinement be
/. likely to have damaged his speed for a
day or two?"
"Ah, perhaps" the landlord replied
but. bless We, that won't matter
There's four more in his heat tomor
row. Two ] know aren't tryers, and
the other two l can hold in at a couple
of quid apiece any day. The third
round and final won't be till tomorrow
week. and he'll be as tit as ever by
then. It's as safe as ever it was"
1t was on the following Sunday week
that Martin Hewitt, in his rooms in
London, turned over his paper and
read, Under the head "Padfe1d Annual
1876 Yards Handicap" this announce
ment: Final heat, Crockett. first
Willis, secondi Frewby, third; Owen
O; Howell, O. A runaway win by neal
ly three yards"