The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-06-20

| II would merely encourage furtner at
tempt at extortion. So when he ar
rived In town, he took cab to Scot
land Yard. l heard his story, and
caught the next train down to Bren.
don. did not call at the house, but
gathered a few details concerning
him and his family. In all particulars
he seems to have spoken the truth. .
Must the hundred pounds be placed
| In the summer house tonight?"
mo. The blackmailer gave him a
day to collect the money. It must be
| In the locker tomorrow night by eleven
o'clock"
Which means that you will watch
the place and pull out the fish as he
enough, anyhow"
"Oh, yes" he said. But it is the
faulty sense of proportion in Coran
which provides the interest in the
case. Even at the time the scandal
was no very serious matter. What
must be his frame OF mind that 1t
should terrorize him after all these
, years?"
When I left him half an hour later
it was with the promise that l should
have first news of the comedy's con-
clusfon-for tragedy it certainly was
not, save for the blackmailer, If Peace
should catch him.
The following afternoon l was sit
ting In my studio with the cigarette
that comes SO pleasantly after tea and
buttered toast-between my lips, when
my servant, Jacob Hendry, thrust In
his head to announce visitors. They
came hard upon his heels-a long,
gray-wliskered man in the lead, and
the inspector trotting behind. AS they
cleared the door the little detective
twisted round his companion and
waved an Introductory hand.
This is Mr.. James Coran," he said.
I'VE want your assistance, Mr.. Phil
lips"
The long man stood staring at me
and screwing his hands together In
evident agitation. He had a hollow,
melancholy face. a weak mouth, and
" Oo VI Oil 1hoOCISIVC SIdy. 1IOm LIE
square-toed shoes to the bald patch on
the top of his head he was extremely,
almost ffagrantly, respectable.
Il am taking great liberty, Sir"
he said humbly, but you are, as 1t
were, straw to one who Is sinking
beneath the waters of affection. DO
you. by chance, know the town OF
Brendon?"
Il have never been so fortunate as
to visit it," told him.
Il understand from the police off,
Ger here that you have travelled
abroad. Accustomed, therefore. to
the corruption that ta1nts the NUM-
cipal life of other cities, you can
scarcely comprehend the whole-souled
enthusiasm with which we of Brendon
approach the duties, may l say the
sacred trust, Of administering to the
sanitary and moral welfare OF our
county. Those whom we select must
be OF unstained reputation. From
place on the sports committee of the
flower show I myself have risen
through successive grades until even
the houses of parliament seemed
within the limit of legitimate ambi-
ton. But now, sir, now it seems that,
through boyish tndiscretion when a
student at the Regents street poly
technic, may be denounced in my ad-
vanc1ng years as roysterer, a tippler.
almost convicted criminal. They
would not hesitate. Mark my words,
sir, If Horledge and Panton-my oppo-
nent's chief supporters In Saturdays
election-are Informed of these facts,
they will mention them on platforms,
they may even display them on hoard
ings."
He paused, sighed deeply, and
wiped his face with large silk pock-
ct handkerchief. The situation was
ridiculous enough, yet not without q
certain pathos underlying the humor,
for the man was sincerely In earnest.
IF / can help you, Mr.. Coran, ami
at your disposal" l told him.
TT is matter of considerable DELI
cacy," he said "My younger daugh-
ter, Emily, has formed an attachment
"AASA Is uIOSI UlSdST0SaDl0 TO me-.
Indeed" murmured.
The young man, Thomas Appleton
by name, is of more than doubtful
character. Miss Rebecca, my sister,
has seen him boating on the Thames
In the company OF ladies whose ap-
pearance was-er-distinctly theatri-
cal"
You surprise me-"
"He has been known to VISIT music
halls"
Did Miss Rehecca see him there,
too?"
Certainly not. sir; but she has it
from q sure source. It was obviously
my duty to forbid him the house. l
performed that duty, and extorted a
promise from my daughter that she
would cease to communicate with him.
In my belief, It Is he who has d1scov-
~ se~s~AA