Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-02-02

pointing to fiashily dressed fellow
who skunk along. with a peculiarly
sinister gait, in front of us.
NO." l replied.
That's Egan," lie answered. dis
guised, but he could not take out that
wrinkle above TIE eyebrow. Now fol-
low him."
! We followed him for five minutes or
more; then he turned aside abruptly
and came to a halt in front Of JaDa-
nese rice-cake booth, in a corner of
which we now perceived a savage
looking Monaghan seated apparently
aimlessly, staring out upon the
! crowds.
"You recognize tho firecracker sym
bol?" asked CGewe.
I did not recognize It and should
never have remembered t--cae apr2r'
emily meaningless h!sroGlyphics.
Crewe. however, GvcmsA to bo 81 high
spirits.
Now a great deal hinges unon ono
thing" he said. ct e ny belief that
Thompson did not tel lie his whole
story. In other words. believe that
Re has been induced to rctuca for {
final treatment either tonight or to.
morrow"
"surely not Immediately before the
fight" sugges. ed.
"Sailors have no common sense
about themselves. Ten TO one he will
be here. Tire only thing to do ia to
wait for him."
There was a conveniently secluded
place across tho alley Since neither
of us was known to Egan. 1t was ar.
ranged that we ehould take our seats
within this beer garden and remain
there.
'Langton," said Crewe, when we
we're seated with our full glasses before
US, 81 am more than ever confirmed in
my belief that a most ingenious and
| aiabolical plot has been Matched for
| that young seaman's death, and that
In return for services rendered him by
Egan that Chinese criminal has con
sented to cooperate with him. The
sight of the fire crackers has confirm
ed me in this belief. And if Thomp
son meets the English champion his
death will be a foregone conclusion.
But could they not encompass his
death without such meeting?"
asked.
"They could undoubtedly. A fstic
encounter between Egan or some
hired bully and Thompson would have
the same result, so far as Thompson
is concerned. But there would be two
drawbacks to such plan. In the first
place, the survivor would probably be
arrested and have to stand his trial
for manslaughter. In the second place
the encounter would not be without
danger to the life Of the other party
Whereas by making the EnglishmaI
the innocent participant in the muir
der, all danger is removed so far as
concerns the conspirators."
I was more piqued than ever, but
knew that it was not Crewe's custom
to explain mis- theories until the de
nouement. | revolved a dozen ideas
in my mind Could the Chinaman have
injected some subtle poison which
would be set in action only in the
stress of fistic encounter? My spec
ulations were cut short by my per
ceiving Egan prepare to move away
In his farewell of the gun man there
appeared to be a glance of perfect I'm
derstanding.
Follow him, Langton," whispered
Crewe. ut is not essential that we
know where he is going, but it is de
sirable In case more mischief is brew
ing. Do not be more than fifteen min
utes, though, in any event"
I went in pursuit Of Egan, who NOV
ed off furtively through the crowds
He made his way in the direction o.
the American camp, where the sailors
Of the English fleet were being re
called at q clambake by their Ameri
can comrades. The affair was practic
ally over; as I approached the canvas
tent which had been set up perceived
g hilarious crowd. composed Of the
crews OF both nations, streaming ou
erm in arm, laughing and chatterin1
together. Egan made his way TOWARD
G. large gathering Of men which seem
Cd to Iorm the nucleus of the mob.
Suddenly the crowd opened and
perceived Thompson struggling in thu
erIna Of . dozen sturdy compatriots
! who. e!atc6 with tho festive meal. in
sisted, apparently. i'll carrying him II
state down the main avenue c. Coney
lie rega!ned his feet at last ard stoot
IL thei" midst, flushed and g. little un
steady. ! was astontshed to see tina
ho had evidently been drinking. II
rp!te Of his training. At the same
moment he perceived Egan.
Hello, Phil" he shouted. and shool
the man by the hand warmly: theI
flung his arms around him. 1t wa'
evident that prudence was no part O
tho sailors nature. I reasoned that
angcrcd by tho unsatisfactory result
OF his interview with Grove end my
self that morning. he had experienced
an entire revulsion Of feeling. Doubt
less Egan was now. to him, his bes
friend, and we were maligners ant
conspirators against his much-wronget
relative. | wondered how much h
would tell Egan; whether he would
put him upon his guard.