Putnam patriot., 1915-03-12

A -. FsN N~hIi - NS
 tarroilton. 1 see heem maybe ten lays ago leetle short man wifi bald tead
 He poured out another drink of 'ri,ndy. and. downing it. pushed back
 k hair
 Ky .ar, l talk too mooch. maybe.' U said .aWHins ''Rut eet make no
 it Ie gatitane he cop ze monies iis, ze s au eet better you know Sew li &s au sleep" He crossed
 he raiin tp his stateroom and closed
 he door
 The fdets were clear. Philip Henley vit> dead. Killed while intoxicated. ei-
 her accidentally. or for purposes of
 ulibcrY. And he had been robbed vhen picked up by the police. nothing identify him being found Beyond lnnltt this half breed brother had dis
 atelled a man north to look him up sossiby to assassiuate him if neces- ,ary i'he fellow had either done the iob. or been anticipated in his pur- pose In either case he was present 10 identify the body and had written tt once, inelosing the signet ring as proof That was the same ring we had found in the arbor, and which Vio- la had instantly recognized And those men who had made q tool of me were the robbers. They had found papers and letters which opened before them this scheme of fraud: then. with his residence address. using his keys. they had learned everything necessary for the completion of their plans. A copy of the judges will must have been in Henley's possession. and no doubt. some lawyers letter. describing the situation. received since the departure of. his wife. Apparently everything two clever crooks needed to know was in their possession. All they needed to do was pull the strings. using a fgurehead to represent Philip Henley. That was the part for which l was chosen. They had to construct lie in order to interest me, yet that WAS comparatively easy. and there was a strong probability of success but for peculiar conditions of which they could know nothing. The half breed UtNtt DtCn AiC us the monkey wrench thrown unexpect. edly into their well oiled machine. Yet even without him. the reappearanee of Philip Henley's wife was sufficient to cause disaster
 Philip Henley's wife. The magic of fhe words halted me. Then now. if all 1 had learned was true. she was his haf kat ratpa n The swift beating of my heart answer pd l knew this that, however sin rerely she might have once supposed she loved Henley. his neglect. cruelty, dissipation. had long ago driven all sen tnent from her. Before we met her girlboed affection had been utterly crushed and destroyed Loyal she was and true to every tradition of her wo- manhood Ii was 10 guard his interest, not her own, that she had accompanied me on this expedition. risking her good name In the belief that he was unable to care for his own. What would she do now? How would she feel toward pc? What change would it make in the friendly relationship between us! | longed to tell her and yet shrank from the task.
 The sunlight streaming in through the upper transom told me the sun was dipping into the west. If we were to get away when night came there were many things to consider first Espe- cially was l obsessed now with de sire 10 overhaul the captains papers and secure those which would be Of benefit We must possess more proof than the garrulous talk of the second mate. and surely that proof would be discovered in the after cabin. The noise of the stewards dish washing had ceased. and cautious investigation dis closed him sound asleep. cnrled up like a dog. on the deck. Assured as tc this. 1 ventured up the companion stairs and indnlged in glance forward. Except for group of sailors doing some sail patching in the shade of the chart house. no one was visible. The vessel rocked gently and far forward there was d sound of hammering. The mate would be there overseeing the job. whatever it might be. Surely no bet ter opportunity than this could be' given.
 l stole back. silent and unobseryed. listened an instant to Broussard $ steady breathing. then unlocked the captains door and entered his cabin His wicked eyes. blazing with hate, glared at me as 1 approached. and. i0- spired by some sudden feeling Of sym pathy. l bent over and removed the gag from his mouth The result was an outburst of profanity. bristling with threats. But these as instantly ceased as I picked up the cloth again.
 Do you mean to kill me- he asked.
 Not unless have to. but hold some things more valuable than your life Just at present 1 mean to look over your papers.