The Lambertville record., 1911-09-22


utter confusion of the tallyman.
This betrayal of petty vanity on the
part of the inspector brought u gleam
to Woolsons brooding eyes. He STEP
| ped out of the cage and approached
the detective. The line of coolies was
stringing off 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 was
earelessly leaning,
Woolson thrust an arm through the
inspectors pudgy one and turned him
away. Come over to the hotel and
have something" he said genially.
Cant you drop your duties long
enough TO spend n sociabe half hour?"
Inspector Duffy redeemed with tick
led vanity, Thank you. sir, I'll be
| pleased TO join YOU he agreed as he
accompanied the manager across the
wide street where the gltterlng glass
| front of large hotel reflected the
busy scenes ON the wharf.
Inside the hotel Woolson sat facing
the water front. Making out pretty
| wcllY' he asked at length.
The inspector shook his head mo
trace of his being in the city," he said
ruefulIy. You see, Mr.. Woolson, I've
been in Victoria for two days past and
| raked the place clean, and / went to
You us last resort. I've Gross ques-
toned your men, aud I've got a slight
clcw that's all"
you were saying you had n clew,"
suggested Woolson MS the inspector
yawncd slcepily
"rhere is slight clew. One OF
| your men described Il man that bought
an outfit last week. At any rate,
feel justified In carrying my chase to
the Yukon" said Mr.. Duffy.
Our boats are ut your disposal"
murmured Woolson, lighting another
cigar.
"Thanks. I'll take that one in tho
morning Now, if you'll excuse me,
sir I'll 20 10 my lodgings and get
some traps together"
On the steps of the hotel Woolson
stood and watched Inspector Duffy
roll down the street until the crowded
pavements swallowed him. Twilight
was falling. and the water front was
darkencd with the approaching end of
the day. In another half hour tho
cooie gang would stop work.
| The manager of the Great Mines
company went back TO his office and
worked rapidly for several moments.
Then he made his way to the wharf
and entered the paymaster's cage. He
| h. u
and called ITodgson. The tallyman
came, throwing clustering commands
over his shoulder mt his coolies.
Send that fellow around for his
money, lIodgson," directed his supe-
rior. that Chinaman | told you to dis
miss"
fright, sir" And IIodgson hustled
away.
Woolson stood stlnIy, waiting while
the dlsreputable figure of the last man
crept up TO the wicket. He lifted his
head and peered through ut the big
| red and white skinned Englishman
| with Il shrinking fear in his own dirt
concealed features. Coarse black hair
| struggled into his dark eyes, and Il
long cue hung down his back. He
thrust trembling hand through the
wicket as Woolson showed n fat en-
velope toward him.
Laurence whispered Woolson
guardcdy, with his eyes fixed at some
point beyond the mans head. "cut It!
Duffy of Scotland Yard is after you.
There's plenty of money in this envel-
ope. It's yours In remembrance of
old times and, God willing, in antici-
patton of new and better times to
come Lie low until midnight and
get aboard the Queen of the Sea. You
can easily lose yourself in China"
| The cooIlc drew deep breath You
recognized me az once then, Arthurn
he gaspcd.
eyes never mind it's all right, old
man Keep me posted of your move
| mcntS Better stick to the YangtZe
valley until 1t blows over Perhaps /
can help you regain what you've lost"
| He laid his broad hand over the thin
one OF the coolic
The mans face worked strangely for
n moment and he turned away; then
with sudden impulse he flung the
| envelope back on the desk and said
sharply: 'I can't do It. Arthur. Pm
too big n scoundrol as 1t Isl have
| wrongcd you enough I'll find Duffy
and 20 back to England with him.
After I'VE taken my medicine I'll come
bnck, and perhaps then I'll be worthy
TO grasp your hand He choked sud
! denly.
Woolson spoke pruilly. I've done
nothing more than YOU would have
done in like circumstances" he said to
| the weaker one "Nou make me
dcuced happy, old man though 1
writhe TO think Of your doing time
| again. When you come back there will
| be place for you with me-" He
wrung the thin hand and WINGED as
hot tears fell on his own Then he
was conscious that the "last man" had
disappeared.
After lie had dismissed IIodgson and
paid that bewllderod tallyman his due
of wages Woolson sauntered back to his
Office to await II message from Inspec-
tor Duffy.
one hour passed and another, and
his face grew haggard and bitter with
renewed disappointment Then the
message came
Got him" beloved the inspector
Ioyfully Game ana gave himself up
was dressed like lord ana cool as
you plcaso, holly odd how missed
him amt tt|'
Wo6lson hung mp the receiver and
smiled contcntedly.