The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-04-06
The Blind Mans Eyes

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"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 a
shock. HE recognized me?" he
asked quietly.
mo, he didn't; he couldn't place
you," Connery granted. HE epuldn't
tell whether you were somebody that
was wanted or someone well known
someone famous, maybe; but ]
ought TO have kept my eye on you
because Of that, from the very start.
Now, this morning you claim a 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 ne read the telegram to you 2"
Eaton asked. 1T was in code. If 1t
was meant for him, he ought to be
able TO read it."
mo, he didn't. VIII your
Eaton halted while he recalled the
exact wording Of the message. mo"
Connery paused and looked to
Avery and the girl. You'll wait a
minute, Mr.. Avery; and you, Miss
Santoine. l won't be long"
He left the Mushroom, and the
sound Of the closing Of a door which
came to Eaton a half-mlnute later
told that he had gone out the front
end OF the car.
AS the three sat waiting In the
Mushroom, no one spoke. Eaton IN
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
vlously too certain OF their conclusion
for that; rather, as it was being
given thus under Avery'S direction. II
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
S%antoine's bell, realizing that if he
denied it and it 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 Mushroom 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 States?" the conductor de-
manded.
Eaton reflected. my own" he
said. "Philip u. Eaton"
mr.. Standish"-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 paSsengersT"
NO"
"Do you know he was not among
the passengers"
Yes, / do"
How do you known"
The ~Englishman took a folded pa
pen from his pocket, opened it. and
landed II to the conductor. Connery,
taking it, held 1t out TO Eaton.
Here, Mr.. Eaton" he said. as the
printed passenger list Of the people
aboard the Tamba Maru prepared
after leaving Yokohama for dlstribu-
ton among the passengers. It's un-
q~uestjonably. correct. Will 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,
SoDIcIy hdIlucu IL Ddch 10 the Eng
lishman.
That's all, Mr.. Standish," he said.
Eaton sat silent as the Engllshman,
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 were on it under
some other name than Eaton. Which
was it,"
II never said I was on the Tamba
Maru." Eaton returned steadily. 81
said l came from Asia by steamer.
You yourself supplied the name Tam
ba Maru."
I'm case Of questioning like that,
Mr.. Eaton, 1t makes no difference
whether you said 1t or I supplied I,
In your hearing. If you didn't. correct
me, 1t was because you wanted me to
get a wrong impression about you.
You weren't on the Tamba Maru.
were you?"
mo. l was not"
"You did come from Asia. though,