Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-07-07


thrusting and parrying of blades, the
end came. A sudden irresistible move
ment of John Steele's arm and the no.
bleman's blade clattered to the floor.
"Egad! l never saw anything pret-
teri" Sir Charles came forward quick.
ly. "Met your match that time, Rons-
dale"
The nobleman stopped for his foil,
"That time, yesF' he drawled.
Steele found himself walking with
Joeelyn Wray toward the window.
Across the room footman now ap-
preached Lord Ronsdale and extended
n salver.
John Steele's glance flashed toward
Ronsdale. The telegram, then, had
been for He saw an inscrutable
smile cross the nobleman's face.
A door closed quietly as Lord Rons-
dale went out
The afternoon of that same day there
arrived at the village of Strathorn
from London a discreet looking little
man who. descending at the Golden
Lion, was shown TO a private sitting
room on the second story. In about
an hour he was Joined by Lord Rons-
dale.
"WelT"-he spoke quickly-"I fancy
you have a little something to tell me,
Mr.. GillettT
"'A little somethingy" The latter
rubbed his hands. More than a lit
tie! The special inquiry which your
lordship mentioned just as he was
leaving my Office proved for a time
most Elusive"
"You mean the object Of John
Steele's visit to the continent?"
Exactly And. the object OF that
visit solved. have now matter Of
greatest importance to communicate,
SO important 1t could only be impaired
by word of mouth" The police agent
vpoke hastily and moved nearer.
Indeed You have reached con-
clusion. one that you sought to re-
ject perhaps, but that wouldn't be dis
carded?"
MIR. Gillett looked at him earnestly.
f.ou don't mean--it isn't possible that
you knew all the while|
Let us start at the beginning"
True. your lordship" Mr. Gillett
swallowed LAS your lordship is
aware. we were fortunate enough in
the beginning to find out through our
agent in Tasmania that John Steele
came to that place in a little trading
schooner, the Laura Deaue of Ports
mouth that he bad been rescued from
n tiny uncharted reef, or isle, on Dec.
21, some three years before. The spot.
by longitude and latitude, marks.
| through an odd coincidence. the place
where the Lord Nelson met her fate"
"A coincidence truly" murmured the
nobleman. But at this stage in your
reasoning you recalled that all on
board were embarked in the ships
boats and reached civilization. except
possibly
"a few Of my charges between
decks? A bad lot Of ugly brutes. The
story of John Steele's rescue" went on
Mr.. Gillett. las told by himself. was
well known in Tasmania. lawyer
by profession, he had been passenger
non of Baltimore. United States. This
vessel. like the Lord Nelson. had come
to grief All of those in John Steele's
boat had perished except him. Some
had gone mad through thirst and suf-
fering,. Others had killed their fellows
in a frenzy. Being of superb physique.
having been through much physical
training"-the listener stirred in his
chair-"he managed to survive, to
reach the little isle. where. according
to his story. he remained almost
year"
"a year? Then he set foot in Tas-
mania about four years after the Lord
Nelson went down. observed the no
bleman, a curious glitter in his eyes.
-Four years after" he repeated. ac-
centing the last word.
"Such were the details gathered in
Tasmania" answered the police agent
Go on" said Lord Ronsdale.
From the mate of the Laura Deane,
the schooner that rescued him from
the isle. and one of her crew whom
managed to locate at Plymouth, as
| have informed your lordship by let
ter" answered Mr.. Gillett. These
men now furnish lodgings to seamen
and incidentally shanghai few of
them for dubious craft. Both of them.
the mate and the sailor, recalled the
man of fine bearing and education
whom they found on the little isle. q
sort of Greek statue. half clothed in
rags, so to speak. who made his per
sonality felt AT once on these simple.
ignorant fellows Al the spring on the
little island the seamen filled their !
water butts. This kept them several
days. mixing labor with skylarking. |
during which time one of them picked |
up something-a pouch marked with |
a name"
which was?''
Mr. Gillett leaned forward. spoke |
softly; Lord Ronsdule stared straight |
ahead "Of course" he said: "of |
This. l will confess. startled. puz-
zled me-" continued the police agent.
81 tried 10 explain Il in a dozen differ
ent ways Then II WAS that the line
OF special investigation helped. John