The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1913-05-15

me a&ain-it was = knife this time.
Then woke up aud let him have II
with my right under the ear. Ho
staggered. dropping the knife. Al he
stopped to pick It up. l jumped for
him and in ton seconds more was
sitting on his Ghost, pegging out his
arms on the turf. He tried a strug-
gle or two; but he soon saw that
was far the stronger man. and so
lay painting. with q hopeless despair
In his face. that. In . man OF his ago
| was shocking to witness He had
tried to kill me, but, on my honor.
felt sorry for him.
| We'll, Mr.. Hearns." said, and
what does this msanr'
| TOO DID," be gasped. Twenty
years aso-different How did you
suspect? 1t was understanding but
bare justice, by Heavenl-
| NOW. what in the world do you
think 1 amf' / asked him. In great
surprise.
"A detective. You couldn't deceive
me-"
got to my feet with = curse at
the muddle l had made Of It, and no
sat up staring at me az II he thought
had gone clean crazy OF sudden-
I'm no detective" l said angrily,
though l was fool enough to believe
you were one"
Then why did you follow me to-
night?" he asked, with quick sus-
picion.
| why did you try to kill mew
said. THE truth is. Mr.. Hearne. you
and l are playing risky game. Is
1t to be cards on the table, or are we
to separate and say no more about
lit?"
He sat watching me for time with
puzzled look. Plainly he was In
great uncertainty Of mind.
Perhaps have nothing to tell.~
he said at last
"A man does not attempt to MUIR
der detectives unless he has a crime
to conceal"
That is true" he said. nodd.ng his
head; very Just and true.
| There was nothing to be gained by
a long bargaining Of secrets with
AA4-A1- w ha<tfCl hi6 baoAhCoot u6 tOulQ
| speedily discover mine II he chose.
II were honest with him he might
return the confidence.
! Il 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. The escape Of Julius
Craig?"
Yes. Do you know him?"
He burst into a scream Of hysterf-
cal laughter. swaying his body to and
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-
brac
Welcome, comrade." he cried. II,
| too, have come to find way out of
Princetown jail for julius Craig"
1t took good five minutes and
to hard sense. Then he told me his
story sitting on 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 a 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 l knew.
He spoke In an easy, pleasant voice,
with perfect frankness and good
humor. 1t never seemed to occur to
him that he had done anything I'M
reasonable. anything to which level
headed man could object. / stared at
him in growing amazement.
There sesmed, indeed, only one so
luton before me-that he had become
partially insane
you must understand my position,
MIR. Kingsley" he concluded Il am
not lunatic. but I have made up
my mind In this matter OF julius
Craig. Any one who is foolish enough
to come between US must stand aside
or take the consequences. Towards
yourself, for example, had no Ill will.
In fact, l rather liked you But you
must admit that, as detective, your
presence was excessively inconven-
lent. Now that / know the truth,
welcome you as most valuable ally.
am prepared to trust you absolute
ly. Come, what are your plans?"
told him as we walked back to
to the inn. He expressed himself an
admirer OF their simplicity as we part
ed for the night. Mad or not. I had
found an assistant who would be OF
great help to me. So | let It stay at
that and slept like q rock till nine
naxt morning