The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-05-28

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me no more. But the other day had
notice that l was to start on my
voyage within week, and determin-
ed that would see her once before I
left. Theresa was always my friend,
FOR she loved Mary and hated this
villain almost as much as | did From
her Islearned the ways of-the house.
Mary used to sit up reading in her
town little room downstairs | crept
round there last night and scratched
at the window. At first she would not
open to me, but in her heart I know
that now she loves me, and she could
not leave me in the frosty night She
whispered to me to come round to the
big front window, and found it open
before me. so as to let me into the
ldining-room. Again / heard from her
own lips things that made my blood
boil, and again cursed this brute, who
mishandled the woman loved Well.
gentlemen, | was standing with her
just inside the window, in all innocence
as God is my judge, when he rushed
like mailman into the room, called
her the vilest name that a man could
use to woman, and welted her across
the face with the stick he had in his
hand. had sprung for the poker, and
it was fair fight between us. See
here, on my arm, where his first blow
j fell. Then it was my turn, and / went
through him as if he had been rotten
pumpkin. Do you think l was sorry?
Not /! 1t was his life or mine. but
far more than that. it was his life or
hers, for how could | leave her in the
power of this mailman? That was
how killed him. Was 1 wrong? Well,
then. what would either of you gentle
men have done, if you had been in
my position?
She had screamed when he struck
her, and that brought old Theresa
down from the room above There
was bottle of wine on the sideboard.
and l opened it and poured a little be-
tween Mary's lips. for she was half
dead with shock Then | took a drop
myself. Theresa was as cool as ice,
and it was her plot as much as mine.
We must make it appear that burglars
had done the thing. Theresa kept on
repeating our story to her mistress,
while I swarmed up and cut the rope
of the bell. Then l dashed her in her
chair. and frayed out the end OF the
rope to make it look natural, else they
would wonder how in the world a
burglar could have got up there to cut
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and pots of silver, to carry out the
idea Of the robbery, and there | left
them, with orders to give the alarm
when | had quarter of an hours
. . start. I dropped the silver into the
pond. and made off for Sydenham
! feeling that for once in my life I had
done a real good nights work. And
that's the truth and the whole truth,
Mr., Holmes, if it costs me my neck"
/, Holmes smoked for some time in
silence. Then he crossed the room
and shook our visitor by the hand.
, That's what I think said he Il
, know that every word is true, for you
have hardly said a word which / did
j., not know. No one but an acrobat or
sailor could have got up TO that bel.
rope from the bracket, and no one but
sailor could have made the knots
with which the cord was fastened to
the chair Only once had this lady
been brought into contact with sailors
|, and that was on her voyage, and ii
: was someone of her own class of life,
since she was trying hard 10 shield
him, and so showing that she loved
him. You see how easy it was for me
; to lay my hands upon you when once
had started upon the right trail"
Il thought the police never could
have seen through our dodge
And the police haven't, nor will
they, to the best of my belief Now
look here, Captain Croker, this is a
!, very serious matter, though am
willing to admit that you acted under
the most extreme provocation to which
: any man could be subjected. | am not
sure that in defence of your own life
your action will not be pronounced
= legitimate. However, that is for a
: British jury to decide. Meanwhile,
have so much sympathy for you that
, if you choose to disappear in the next
twenty-four hours, will promise you
= that no one will hinder YOU
. And then it will all come OUT
"Certainly it will come out"
The sailor flushed with anger.
What sort of proposal is that to
; make a man? l know enough Of law
: to understand that Mary would be held
as accomplice. Do you think I would
leave her alone to face the music
while l skunk away? No sir, let them
do their worst upon me, but for
: Heavens sake. Mr.. Holmes, find some
way of keeping my poor Mary out of
the courts"
Holmes for a second time held out
his hand to the sailor.
Il was only testing you. and you
ring true every time. Well. it is a
great responsibility that | take upon
myself. but l have given Hopkins an
excellent hint. and If he can't avail
himself of it | can do no more See
here. Captain Crocker we'll do this
in due form of law. You are the
prisoner Watson, you are British
jury, and I never met man who was
more eminenuy fitted to represent
one. ! am the judge. Now, gentle
man of the jury. you have heard the
evidence. Do you find the prisoner
guilty or not guilty."
Not guilty, my lord" said I.
''Vox populi vox Del. You are &C
quilted. Captain Croker So long as
the law does not find some other
victim you are safe from me. Come
back to this lady in year, and may
her future and yours justify us in the
judgment which we have pronounced