The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-11-01
The Champion Of The Fleet
AN ADVENTURE OF PETER CREwE-"TEE MAN
WITH THE CAMERA EYES,
BY HAROLD CARTER
W. the United States and Great BRITAIN

educated class of both America and
England, and had learned very little
about his antecedents, since he ap-
peared 10 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 client of mine, I found him
reading 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 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.
'I was a pupil of John L. Sullivan"
he answered proudly.
It 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
stickler for all the best traditions
of the ring.
ut is strange that you should have
brought up this subject" said, "be-
cause it is about this very man,
Thompson, the American middle
weight, that 1 have come to consult
you"
""What is the trouble?" 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, seaman from the North
Dakota" and a man of evident intelli-
gence.
"Sit down, Thompson" I 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,"
said Thompson, pulling up his trouser
legs. Next week 1 shall be twenty
one, and If live to reach my majority
inherit snug little sum of fifty
thousand dollars from the estate of
my uncle in Ireland. If don't live
that long 1t goes to distant connec-
ton of my uncle known as Philip
Egan. 1t wasn't willed that way ex-
actly, but there was court case, and
the lawyers fixed it that way between
them after eating up half the estate in
litigation; the sum left was nearly a
hundred thousand"
Sand you have experienced some
remarkable things during the past few
days." continued.
Eyes, sir, as I told you this morn
ing. We came ashore last week after
a years cruise, during which hardly
ever left the ship. Phil Egan was one
of the first men met on landing. He
came up to me and shook hands.
Frank he said, of course l hoped
you wouldn't live long enough to get
that money, but we're not going to let
little thing like that stand between
friends, are we?' And though I've
always mistrusted Phil, what could l
do but give him the glad grip? So we
saw the sights of the town together.
"Now, sir, that was five days ago,
and of course I've been careful of my
self, being in training and having ev-
cry hope of whipping the Britisher at
the Island tomorrow And yet, it has
seemed to me that my life wasn't in
particularly good standing.
'That same night, while Phil and l
were strolling down the Bowery, per-
fectly sober, we were attacked by a
gang without a moments warning.
Phil got away; knocked down two of
them, and the third nearly got home
with HIS knife on me-" He pulled down
his sailors collar and displayed faint
red scratch, almost encircling the
throat.
"That would have been bad wound
II it had gone an inch deeper, Mr.
Langton," he remarked philosophical
iy. "And the day before yesterday,
when was passing down side street,
/ heard a snap at my side and O. crack
AT WlndoW opposite. looked, ana
in the woodwork of door behind me
found this, just embedded"
He took from his kerchief AS car
bine bullet.
'You suspect Egan is trying to MUIR
der you for the sake Of the money!" /
asked.
1T wouldn't become me to say that,
sir" replied Thompson, although I
haven't seen him since we We're set
upon by the gang. But if he's going to
get ne, he'll have to do it quickly, for
come of age on Saturday"
Did you go anywhere else with
Egan?" Crewe asked.
I'VE took turn round Coney ISL
and, a couple hours before we were at
tackled on the Bowery, sir" Crewe an