The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-03-16
CHAPTER XXI.

| Imroth had written to me, say and
l had answered his letter. In a few
brief sentences, worthy of the man and
his story, he put me upon my honor
f, and recited the compact between us.
To DR.; Fabos, of London, from the Mas
ter of the Ship
At Canvey Island to which you will
come, alone or with your servant at the
most (such attendants as your launch
brings being careful not to land), i will
await you at shutdown on the afternoon
of the fifth day of May. Fear nothing as
] am un-afraid. The word is no less sacred
to me than to you. l pass 1t and bid you
come"
Whence, then, had this strange let.
ter been delivered, and how had !
falsified the fine phrases of the police
and communicated with Imroth? The
truth shall be told with all the brevity
l can command.
There is published thrice every
month in Paris a pretendedly comic
paper. called the Journal DIES Polissons.
Ostensibly journal pour rire, poor
mans Punch and jester, II is, as have
long known, a sure means by which
one thief may communicate with an
other, or any assassin make known his
hiding place to his friends. This know
ledge i employed directly it became
plain to me that Valentine Imroth had
eScaDed the meshes Of the laws clumsy
net, and defied a police which vainly
protested that there was no eviden"e
against him. I advertised in the pape y
in the common cryptogram of the Po
lish societies. Making no effort to be
clever, intimated to the Master Of the
Ship that / could be of the greatest
service to him If he, in turn, were will
ing to be Of some little service to me.
This letter, so amazing--for so many
are the eyes which watch Imroth's
career--was answered before a week
had run. In sentence learned that
the so-called Master was in hiding on
Canvcy Island-that desolate marsh
beyond Tilbury, familiar to all who go
down to the More in ships. There he
would see me and hear my news. There
must challenge him and be answered
-ah, what would / have not given to
know in what manner he would answer
me!
1t is not TO be supposed that claim
any merit of this voyage or was una
ware of its dangers. Imroth knew per-
peculiar dangers. Imroth knew per-
fectly well with whom he had to deal,
and / might reasonably argue that he
would never be mailman enough to
attempt anything against me at mo-
IneUt WHeIi MIN SeTNlce
of such magnitude as that / proposed.
To be frank, found the whole business
not less humiliating than that former
Iail,,re in mid-ocean which win remain
the supreme misfortune of my career.
Here was 1. who had set out to hunt
this man down, about to say to him:
go your way: l have done with you.
The police say there is no evidence
against you. It is their affair, and I
will take no further part in it," He. on
his part. must guess that I came to
him in some such mood. Canvey Island,
remembered; could be easily gained
from the open sea, and just as easily
from the shore Of Essex. There would
be a hundred eyes watching the coming
of my launch, spies afloat and spies
ashore, a launch of his own, perhaps.
and certainly every expedient his subtle
mind could contrive against any
treachery that might be contemplated
against him. He would trust me with
a sword naked to his hand as it were.
On my side, might go safely while we
agreed-but let us quarrel, and then
God help me, / said.
CONTINUED Next Week)