The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-05-16

| the doorway like mailman. I never
saw more beastly fury In mans
| eyes. l side-stepped, and he missed
me again--it was knife this time.
Then woke up and let him have II
with my right under the ear. He
staggered, dropping the knife. Az he
stopped to pick it up, l jumped for
| him and In ten seconds more was
sitting on his chest, pegging out his
arms on the turf. He tried strug-
gle or two; but he soon saw that I
was far the stronger man, and 50
lay painting. with a hopeless despair
in his face, that, In q man Of his age
was shocking to witness. He had
tried to kill me, but, on my honor.
felt sorry for him.
We'll, Mr.. Hearne." said. "and
what does this mean?"
"Too DID," he gasped. Twenty
years different. How did you
suspect? It was justice-nothing but
bare justice, by Heaven!"
Nov. what in the world do you
think 1 amt" I asked him, In great
surprise.
"A detective. You couldn't deceive
me-"
I got to my feet with curse at
the middle had made Of 1t, and he
sat up staring at me as II he thought
had gone clean crazy of sudden
I'm no detective" said angri1y.
though 1 was fool enough to believe
you we're one."
"Then why did you follow me to-
night?" he asked, with a quick sus.
picion.
"Why did you try to kill me?"
said. 1.-THE truth is, Mr.. Hearne, you
and 1 are playing risky game. Is
1t to be cards on the table, or are we
to separate and say no more about
it,"
| He sat watching me for a time with
puzzled look. Plainly he was In
great uncertainty of mind.
Perhaps 1 have nothing to tell, /"
he said at last.
"A man does not attempt to MUIR
der detectives unless he has crime
to conceal"
THAT is true" he said, holding his
head; very just and true.
There was nothing to be gained by
long bargaining of secrets with
him. Whatever his business, he could
speedily discover mine II he chose.
II were honest with him he might
return the confidence.
IT am arranging for the escape OF
julius Craig, now doing his time in
the prison yonder," l told him.
Julius Craig!" he echoed, with
wild eyes. 1.-THE escape OF Julius
Craig?"
Eyes. Do you know him?"
He burst into scream Of hysteri-
cal laughter, swaying his body to and
fro. and pressing his hands to his
sides as If trying to crush the uncan-
ny merriment out of him; and then.
before l guessed what he was about.
the old fellow was upon me. with his
arms about my neck in mad en-
brace.
welcome, comrade." he cried. 7.
too. have come to find a way out OF
Princetown Jail for Julius Craig"
It took a good five minutes and a
pull out Of a flask to get him back
to hard sense. Then he told me his
story sitting on a fallen stone under
the old cherry tree.
Craig was dearer to him than any
brother he said, with burst OF open
sincerity. There was that between
them that he could never forget while
life remained to him. He had heard
how the man had come under prison
discipline, and had come to help him
escape If that were humanity possible.
| OF me or my London employers he
knew nothing whatever.
He had been shown over the pris-
on having obtained pass from an
influential friend, and while there
had learned the place where Craig
was daily employed. Yesterday from
the cairn hill he had satisfied himself
that the convict was working In the
gang.
He had crept out this evening to
examine the stream and hedge which
divided the new enclosure from the
| moor. When he saw me on his track,
his suspicious as to my business were
confirmed. Either he must give up
his project or my mouth must be
stopped. So he tempted me into the
ruined farm. The rest knew.
He spoke in an easy, pleasant voice,
with q perfect frankness and good
humor. It never seemed to occur to
him that he had done anything I'M
reasonable, anything to which level
headed man could object. l stared at
him In growing amazement.
There seemed, indeed, only one So
luton before me-that he had become
partially insane.
"You must understand my position.
Mr.. Kingsley" he concluded. II am
not lunatic, but have made up
my mind in this matter of Julius
Craig. Any one who is foolish enough
to come between us must stand aside