Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-02
TODANrS INSTALLMENT.

lIalf-past two had chimed, anu
We the darkest hour which precedes
dawn, when We all started as a low ou'
sharp click came from the direction
ofthe gate. Someone had entered the
drive, Again there was long silence
and | had begun to fear that II was
n false alarm. when " stCalthy step was
heard upon the other side OF the nut,
and moment later II metallic scrapins
and clinking The man was TRYING TO
force the leck, This time his Skill was
greater or his tool was better, lot
there was a sudden snap and the creak
of the hinges. Then match was struck
and next instant the steady light from
n candle filed the interior OF the hut.s
Through the gauzc curtain our eye
were all riveted upon the scene within.
The nocturnal visitor was q young
man, fraiI and thin, with black NOUS
tAche. which intensified the deadly
pallor of his face. He could not have
been much above twenty years OF agS'
| have never seen my human oeinS
who appeared Ia lac in such pltsole
fright, for his teeth were visibly chatter
ing. and he WAS shaking in every hmo'
He was, dressed ike II gentleman, III
Norfolk jacket and knleker6ocAeTs,
with cloth cap upon his head: we
watched him staring round with frighten--
pd evps. Then he laid the candle-end
upon the table. and disappeared IRON
our view into one of the corners. lie
returned with a large book, one OF the
logbooks which formed line upon the
shelves. Leaning on the table, he
rapidly turned ever the leaves OF TINS
volume until he came 10 the entry
which he sought. Then, with an angry
gesture of nj. clenched hand, he closed
the book. replaced it in the corner, ana
yut out the litht. He had hardly turned
10 leave the hut when Hopkins hand
was on the fellows collar, and | heard
his loud gasp of terror as he understood
that he WAS taken. The candle was reilt,
and there was our wretched captive,
shivering and covering IN the grasp
Of the detective. He sank down upon
the .ea-chest, and looked helpiesSly
from one OF us to the other.
Now, my fine fellow" said Stanley
Hopkins, who are you, and what 90
you want here?"
The man pulled himself together
and faced US with an effort at self
composure. -.
you are detectives, l suppose
said he. "You imagine I am connected
with the death of Captain Peter Carey.
assure YOU that ! am innocent.
We'll see about that" said Hop
kins. First of all, what is your name?'
ut is John Hopley Neligan."
i saw Holmes and Hopkins exchange
quick glAnce.
What are you doing here
Can speak confdentially?'
/. no. certainly not"
why should ! tell YOU"
IF you have no answer, il may &c
badly with you ut the trial.
The young man WINGED.
well, ] will tell YOU" he said
"Why should | not? And yet l hate
TO think OF this old scandal gaining
new lease Of life. Did you ever hear
of Dawson and Nelgan?"
could see, frGn Hopkins face
that he never had, \but Holmes wa:
keenly interested.
You mean the West-country bank
ers." said he. They dailed for G
million, ruined half the county families
VI Cornwall, and Michigan disappeared. u
Exactly, Nelgan was my father"
At last we were getting something
positive, and yet it seemed lore
gap between an absconding banker
and Captain Peter Carey pinned against
the wall with one of his own harpoons
We all listed intently to the young
mans words.
1T was nv father who was really
concerned Dawson had retired ]
was only ten years of age at the time