The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-13
PART SIX.


why didn't you tell her of her
danger"
Because then again, she would
have left me, and l couldn't bear 10
face that Even if she couldn't love
me, it was a great deal to me to see
her dainty form about the house, and
to hear the sound of her voice.
Well" said l, you call that love,
Mr.. Carruthers, but I should call it
selfishness"
Maybe the two things go together.
Anyhow, I could not let her go. Be-
sides, with this crowd about, it was
well that she should have someone
near to look after her. Then when
the cable came, l knew they We're
bound to make a move"
What cable?"
Carruthers took a telegram from his
pocket.
That's it" said he.
1t was short and concise:
The old man is dead"
HUM" said Holmes. Il think |
see how things worked, and I can
understand how this message would,
as you say, bring them to head. But
while we wait, you might tell me what
you can"
The old reprobate with the surplice
burst into a volley of bad language
by Heaven!" said he, if you squeal
o nus, Bob Carruthers, III serve you as
you served Jack Woodley. You can
bleat about the girl to your hart's con-
tent, for that's your own affair, but
If you round on your pals to this plain
clothes copper, it will be the worst
days work you ever did,
Your reverence need not be ex-
cited" said Holmes, lighting a ciga-
rette. THE case is clear enough
against you, and all l ask is a few
details for my private curiosity How
ever, if there is any difficulty in your
telling me, l will do the talking, and
then you can see how far you have
a chance of holding back your secrets.
In the first place, three of you came
from South Africa on this game-you
Williamson, you Carruthers, and
Woodley"
Lie No. l., said the old man; 81
never saw either of them until two
months ago, and l have never been
in Africa in my life, so you can put
that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr..
Busybody Holmes"
Couldn't read or write" said Car
ruthers.
We'll, well, two of you came over.
His reverence is our own homemade
article. You had known Ralph Smith
in South Africa. You had reason TO
believe he would not live long. You
found out that his niece would inherit
his fortune. How's that-eh?''
Carruthers nodded and Williamson
| swore.
she was next of kin, no doubt,
and you were aware that the old
fellow would make no will"
Couldn't read or write" sair Car
ruthers.
so you came over, the two of you,
and hunted up the girl. The idea was
! that one of you was to marry her, and
| the other have a share of the plumber.
For some reason Woodley was chosen
as the husband. Why was that?'
I'VE played cards for her en- the
voyage. He Won"
Il see. You got the young lady
| into your service, and there Woodley
was to do the counting. She recos-
nized the drunken brute that he was,
and would have nothing to do with
him. Meanwhile, your arrangement
was rather upset by the fact that you
/ had fallen in love with the lady. You
! could no longer bear the idea of this
ruffian owning herr"
| mo, by George, l couldn't"
There was a quarrel between you.
| He left you in a rage, and began TO
make his own plans independently OF
you"
ct strikes me, Williamson, there
isn't very much that we can tell this
gentleman" cried Carruthers, with 8
! bitter laugh yes, we quarreled, and
he knocked me down. l am level with
him on that, anyhow. Then l lost
sight of him. That was when ha