The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-09-05
THE LAST
MAN.
A Story Of British Co
lumbia.
By cLARIssA MAcKIE-
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation. 1911.
s**-s*s's'ss sss.s-s''a's-i

AS AldudSSr O1 tue NTFedL Mines OuI-
fitting company of Victoria, British
Columbia, frowned as the door of his
private Office was pushed softly open
and the chief clerk deferentially'
placed card on his desk.
Woolson scanned the card thought
fully, his frown growing blacker and
deep lines settling about his mouth,
At last he flung back his head and
shook his broad shoulders as If pre-
pairing himself for contest. His face
became an urbane mask as he turned
to the waiting clerk.
"Send him in" he said briefly.
Again the door opened and closed,
and a short. stout man approached
the managers desk.
''Mr. Arthur st. Claire Woolson p
he asked suavely.
"My name is Woolson," replied the
manager CURLY. The sound Of his
several appellations savored too
strongly of that hateful period when
they had blazed III black type across
the front pages of English newspa-
pers. Now he glanced down at the
card before him and added You are
Inspector Duffy of Scotland Yard. Sit
down, sir, and tell me what l can do
for you"
The inspector sat down and pulled
out large notebook from an inner
pocket and consulted it nearsightedly.
I'm the matter of Laurence Kim
ball." he snapped out suddenly. His
bulldog voice did not accord with his
feline appearance. The contrast was
startling.
Woolson stiffened in his chair. II
thought that matter was settled when
Kimball was convicted and impris-
oned,'' he said indifferently.
Inspector Duffy consulted his book
again. Laurence Kimball served one
year of his sentence and then escaped
from Dartmoor prison on June last.
have traced him across the Atlantic,
through Canada and British Colum-
bia to Victoria
you have caught him them? There
| was almost a sneer in Woolson's voice.
The other Redeemed to the roots Of
his pale hair. and his catty smile wild
ened. His voice growled the deeper
| when he replied
II lost the trail. know he arrived
in Victoria July Is because be was
recognized. Since then he has dropped
| out of sight
Il will instruct our superintendent to
aid you in every way. Here is card
which will admit you to every depart
ment of our company"
The inspector hesitated and shot a
furtive glance at the face Of the man
ager. "Of course his majesty's war.
rant opens all doors to my knock, but
always choose the other way when
1t is possible
That is very considerate Of you,
inspector" said Woolson ironically
do you know Of any reason why l
should be unwilling for you to seek
your escaped-man?" he challenged.
Escaped convict" corrected Duffy,
with square look into Woolson's
stern eyes. 81 can think Of no reason
except that he was your friend-and
! pardon me. sir, your testimony was
given reluctantly. hope you won't
take offense, but I've got to have your
best help. whether you are willing OF
not Besides accomplishing the ends
Of justice. there's big reward out for
Kimball's capture. and want it." BE
smiled greedily.
| "a reward large enough to lure you
to the uttermost end of the earth, ]
| fancy" observed Woolson carelessIy.
A rueful look overspread the rudy
he responded 1.-THE Yukon is the
limit SO far as I'm concerned. My
times worth something at home"
Woolson touched a bell. 'Mr Jane
son will be at your service. inspector,
and If you decide to go to the Yukon
one Of our steamers will sail at to-
morrow morning Here is pass that
will take you up the coast to your
destination, whatever it may be-"
| After the detective and Jameson had
left the room the manager turned to
the window and stared out at the
| wharf. Ten. fifteen, twenty minutes
he stood there. motionless. Then be
put on his hat and went out.
The long stream Of coolies wavered
1 back and forth across the gangplank.
The tallyman yelled Justify until Wool
sons drawing accents cut him short
"Hodgson. you may discharge the
man on the end Of the line He's a
| ol,.rosxv y,or,xow Card him a., <ho raw
master tonight"
Whenever the long line struggled to
its final end the last man, tall and
| gaunt. a ragged cloth tied about his
head and half concealing yellow
countenance would pause to stretch
| his lean and silrunken arms bare to
the shoulder He walked with stoop
from the waist. and the burdens that
he bore seemed all too heavy for the
wavering gait with which he followed
his companions.
Always he was the last man TO
reach the gangplank with his burden
| for the steamers hold. and, returning,
he was the last to leave the vessel.
The tallyman swore at him in various
languages, and his mates grinned
cbildishly at his meek acceptance Of
the insults that were heaped upon his
bowed back.
Woolson, observing all this. clinched
his strong hands on the counter. Once
his mouth opened to repfimaDd thu
tallyman. but it snapped shut as he
observed the roly poly form Of In
spector Duffy coming down the wharf
The detective cast sleepy glance
over the men on the wharf, stared I'm.
pudently into Hodgsous face and
when that belligerent gentleman nunG
an angry word at him flashed open
his coat and displayed his badge TO the
utter confusion of the tallyman.
This betrayal Of petty vanity on the
part OF the inspector brought CLEAN
to Woolson's brooding eyes. He step
ped out of the cage and approached
the detective. The line OF coolies was
stringing of on to the wharf, and the
bowed gaunt form Of the last man
would soon approach to pick up the
boxes against which the inspector wai
carelessly leaning.
! Woolson thrust an arm through thu
inspectors pudgy one and turned hin
away. Come over to the hotel ana
have something he said genially
Cant you drop your duties Ions
enough to spend sociable half hourY
| Inspector Duffy redeemed with tick
led vanity. THANK you. sir, I'll b
pleased to join you" he agreed as b,
accompanied the manager across ths
wide street where the glittering glass
front Of large hotel reflected the
busy scenes on the wharf.
Inside the hotel Nonlsan sat FACING