Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-25

li6hman. HIS accent was OF JnaL lnOe- /
terminate character common to the |
educated class Of both America and |
England, and had learned very little |
about his antecedents, since he ap-
peared to be wholly absorbed in his
hobby OF unraveling mysteries through
the medium Of his peculiar optical
gift That he had any interests out
side this line Of occupation was borne
in upon me for the first time when
going to his office to consult him rela-
tive to a client Of mine, found him
reading a morning newspaper and Civ
ing vent TO short and emphatic ejacu-
lations.
did you see this?" he exclaimed.
The American fleets middleweight
champion is to box our middleweight
champion at Coney Island tomorrow
evening at eight"
Our champion?" I exclaimed.
The champion Of the visiting Brit
ish feet" Crewe explained: and then
] learned his nationality for the first
time.
"Are you interested in boxing?" I
asked in some surprise.
Il was a pupil OF John L. Sullivan"
he answered proudly.
Il developed that Crewe had been
widely known at one time as a sue
cessful amateur boxer, and was still
held in respect as a man of parts and
a stickler for all the best traditions
of the ring.
1T is strange that you should have
brought up this subject" ! said. DE
cause II is about this very man.
Thompson. the American middle
weight, that l have come to consult
you"
What is the trouble7- asked Crewe,
laying his newspaper aside.
II have an appointment with him at
three" answered. Suppose you
come over TO my Office and let him
tell you his own story"
Crewe agreed. and, promptly at the
hour set. Thompson made his appear
ance. He was a handsome. well-set-
up fellow, a seaman from the North
Dakota" and a man Of evident intelli-
gence.
"Sit down, Thompson" said.
Thompson complied laying down his
head-covering upon the table. Now,
] said, tell your story in detail"
We'll. it's this way. Mr.. Langton, VI
said Thompson. pulling up his trouser
legs. Next week l shall be twenty
one, and II live to reach my majority
] inherit a snug little sum of fifty
thousand dollars from the estate Of
my uncle in Ireland. II ] don't live
that long It goes to a distant connec
ton OF my uncle known as PhiliI
Egan. II wasn't willed that way ex
actly, but there was a court case, and
the lawyers fixed it that way between
them after eating up half the estate IL
litigation; the sum left was nearly {
hundred thousand"
"And you have experienced som,
remarkable things during the past few
days" I continued.
''Yes, sir, as ! told you this morn
ing. We came ashore last week afte
a years cruise, during which hardl.
ever left the ship. Phil Egan was on
of The frst men l met on landing. a.
came up to me and shook hands
Frank he said, of course 1 hope
you wouldn't live long enough to ge
that money, but we're not going TO lie
a little thing like that stand betweel
friends, are wer And though Nv
always mistrusted Phil, what could
do but give him the glad grip? So W
saw the sights of the town together.
Now, sir, that was five days age
and of course I've been careful Of my
self, being in training and having e1
80 he nrfk a
the Island tomorrow. And yet, 1t ha
seemed to me that my life wasn't 4
particularly good standing.
THAT same night, while Phil and
were strolling down the Bowery, pei
fectly sober. we were attacked by
gang without moments warning
Phil got away: knocked down two c
them, and the third nearly got HON
with his knife on me-" He pulled dow
his sailors collar and displayed fain
red scratch, almost encircling tn
throat.
That would have been a bad woun
II Il had gone an inch deeper. NJ
Langton," he remarked philosophical
~. And the day before yesterda!
when was passing down a side stree
! heard a snap at my side and a crac
at window opposite. looked. an
in the woodwork Of door behind u
found this, just embedded"
He took from his kerchief a Az ca
bine bullet.
You suspect Egan is trying to mu
der you for the sake of the money!"
asked
1T wouldn't become me TO say tina
sir,T replied Thompson, although
haven't seen him since We were 81
upon by the gang. But IL he's going I
get me, he'll have to do Il quickly, fC
/ come of age on Saturday"
Did you go anywhere else wit
Egan?" Crewe asked.
we took turn round Coney Is
and. a couple hours before we were a
tackled on the Bowery, SIR Crewe a
swered.
Now think. Did you do anythin
unusual at Coney?"
El1Ez u II IL z n ~ u n
nm RTIG