Evening star., 1920-02-22
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mitted the error Of the police in as
suming he was a cracksman TO con-
tihue. 1T was better for him; better
for his friends. He knew his friends
would help him later on, If that were
possible. 1t became possible. They
found YOU"
Found me?"
Precisely. They wanted Branna
out-very much. They looked around.
probably all over the country, for
one who should resemble him in
fashion sufficient to answ er their pur-
pose. This is theory, but am con-
WINGED of it's truth because 1t un-
locks the puzzle as nothing else can
do. They took note Of you. You
were confronted with a most extraor-
dinary, most sensational, a most
tempting offer You were invited to
serve the remainder Of Branna's time
In prison. And you were paid for
this, whether before or after 1 can
not tell. fortune"
"A tissue Of lies" said Bartle,
breathing with difficulty.
Urged, possibly, to it by woman
member Of the gang. BY a very beau
tiful woman with black eyes. with a
crown of magnificent red-gold hair;
with lips--"
stop" flashed out Bartle. "Stop,
] say! I want proofs. 1t is impossi-
bic that you can prove such an in
sane assertion
Here is one" continued Tredways,
taking out his pocketbook. ut Is a
note to the effect that II do not in
stantly drop my investigation either
you, or me, or Miss Caseldy will be
shot dead within twenty-four hours
True. that interval has lapsed;
still--"
MY soul" calculated Bartle. star
ing at the letter as il it were a rear
ing adder.
He tried to pull himself together.
Look here, Mr.. Tredways" he went
on, endeavorlng to scoff, you know,
more than any one else, how impossi-
BILE, wildly impossible. it is for one
man to take the place of another in
such circumstances. 1t is unthink-
able!'
ITO my undying astonishment
have discovered that 1t Is thinkable,"
answ cred Tredways with admiration.
Let me refresh your ailing memory,
Bartle. by telling you Of the proceed
ure. Having prepared their plan to
deliver Branna by substitution, they
must have got into communication
with him at Blckmoor prison. A
warder hugely bribed? Questionable.
Maj. Stark having mentioned to me
that the man had knowledge Of fruit
tree grating. and was sometimes so
employed, it is likely that message
In cipher reached his hands via q
consignment Of trees; suppose we say
apple trees, Cox's Orange, the gov
ernors favorite kind! ,-. ....
"Branna undoubtedly got the in
structions. 1t was known that on
Wednesday mornings he worked with
the outside gang on the moors. His
instructions were blissfully simple:
On the edge of certain quarry he
was to slip. to roll down, to vanish.
The sequel had been arranged to the
last detail.
"Of that sequel You were the pivot.
On the night previous you were taken
to the spot, to the quarry on the
moor. There was no moon that night.
and the plain was black as the pit.
You were led down the sides OF the
quarry; you were shown a big hole.
a hole almost large enough to be
called a cave. and which was prac
tically concealed by dead thorn
bush. Here you were left to carry
out the rest Of the program.
1T was simple and very plucky.
You took of every stitch of cloth
ing. and you exchanged it for the
convict's full garb, which had been
made for you and left with you. t
was an exact duplicate Of that worn
by Branna, Of the Blackmoor prison
garb, with the necessary badge.
When you had changed yeu burned
your own clothes in the cave.
'"rhe night passed; what a night for
you! The dawn came. Presumably
you proceeded to soil your brand-ne W
suit and to infiict plenty Of scratches
upon hands, etc. The outside gang at
length passed by the edge Of the
quarry. Down fell Branna with yell
Of we'll feigned terror. pitched over
and over, came to the bottom muddy
and scratched, and was promptly
t,~A-