The Holly chieftain., 1923-02-01
The Blind Mans Eyes

bsAs hC oohOu Va hNNAy A'o vac icch-
ing not at the girl but at Eaton.
"At the beginniRg." Avery directed.
"Mr. Eaton, when you came to this
train, the gateman at Seattle called
my attention to you," Connery began.
"Old Sammy has recognized men with
criminal records time and again. He's
got seven rewards out of it."
Eaton felt his pulses close with
shock. HE recognized meT he
asked quietly.
mo, he didn't; he couldn't place
you," Connery granted. HE couldn't
tell whether you were somebody that
was wanted or someone well known
s-someone famous. maybe; but
ought to have kept my eye on you
because of that, from the very start.
Now, this morning you claim tele-
gram meant for another mana man
named Hillward, on this train. who
seems to be all right-that is, by his
answers and his account of himself he
seems to be exactly what he claims
to be-"
did he read the telegram to you?"
Eaton asked. ut was in code. If 1t
was meant for him, he ought to be
able to read It."
"No. he didn't. VIII youY
Eaton halted while he recalled the
exact wording of the message. mo"
Connery paused and looked to
Avery and the girl. you'll walt
minute, Mr.. Avery; and you, Miss
Santoine. won't be long"
He left the washroom, and the
sound of the closing of door which
came to Eaton half-minute later
told that he had gone out the front
end of the car.
AS the. three sat waiting in the
washroom, no one spoke. Eaton un-
derstood fully that the manner In
which the evidence against him was
being presented to him was not with
any expectation that he could defend
himself; Avery and Connery were OBJ
viously too certain of their conclusion
for that; rather, as 1t was being
given thus under Avery's direction. 1t
was for the effect upon Harriet San
tome and to convince her fully. But
Eaton had understood this from the
first. 1t was for this reason he had
not attempted to deny having rung
Santoines bell, realizing that If he
denied 1t and 1t afterward was
proved, he would appear in a worse
light than by his Inability to account
for or assign a reason for his act.
And he had proved right in this; for
the girl had not been convinced. So
now he comprehended that something
far more convincing and more impor-
tant was to come; but what that
could be- he could not guess.
The conductor appeared in the door
Of the washroom followed by the Eng
lishman from Eaton's car, Henry Stan
dish. Connery carried the sheet on
which he had written the questions
he had asked Eaton, and Eaton's an
swers.
"What name were you using, Mr..
Eaton. when you came from Asia to
the United States7" the conductor de-
manded.
Eaton reflected. "My own." he
said. philip d. Eaton"
"Mr. Standlsh"-Connery faced the
Englishman-"you came from Yoko-
hama to Seattle on the Tamba Maru,
didn't you? Do you remember this
Mr.. Eaton among the passengers?"
mo"
do you know he was not among
the passengersy
"Yes, do"
"H0w do you knowY'
The Englishman took a folded pa
per from his pocket, opened 1t. and
handed it to the conductor. Connery,
taking it. held 1t out to Eaton.
Here, Mr.. Eaton" he said, "is the
printed passenger list of the people
aboard the Tamba Maru prepared
after leaving Yokohama for distribu-
tlon among the passengers. It's un-
questionably correct VIII you point
out your name on it?"
Eaton made no move to take the
paper; and after holding it long
enough to give him full opportunity,
Connery handed 1t back to the Eng.
liShman.
.sThat's all, Mr.. Standish," he said.
Eaton sat silent as the Englishman,
after staring curiously around at them
with his bulging, interested eyes, left
the washroom.
"Now, Mr.. Eaton" Connery said, as
the sound of Standish's steps became
inaudible, "either you were not on the
Tamba Maru or you We're on 1t under
some other name than Eaton. Which
was it?"
II never said 1 was on the Tamba
Maru," Eaton returned steadily. "I
said l came from Asia by steamer.
You yourself supplied the name Tam
ba Maru."
"In case Of questioning like that,
Mr.. Eaton, it makes no difference
whether you said 1t or supplied it
in your hearing. If you didn't correct
me, It was because you wanted me to
get wrong impression about YOU