Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-26

times bef5re. But up to now he had
held his hand-and fer two very
good reasons. In the first place, he
had not been able to bring himself
to believe that 1t was Runnells, for
he could not see where Runnells
would profit by any such game;
and. secondly, as he had already
argued with himseld. should 1t not
prove to be Runnells, he almost in
evitably disclosd his own hand and
his real purpose in coming here to
Manwa Island, and it would in that
case make a partner of Runnells-
and partners shared profits. But
! the time for hesitation on any such
score as that was gone now; not
| only because the ice he was tread
ing on. already thin, had nearly
broken through tonight, and the
promise of imminent and final dis
aster was forcing his hand. but
because, in respect of Runnells, the
absence Of apparent motive-Run-
nells would be made to explain
that!-counted for nothing now in
view of the fact that he. Newcombe,
had more to go on tonight than he
had before. Not only was Runnells
one who fitted into the role of the
unknown" on each OF the four oc-
casions. but Runnells, as though to
clear the matter of all doubt, knew
what surely no one else on the
island could possibly know-that
Mrs. Wickes actually was dead. He,
Newcombe, had himself to blame for
that, and 1t appeared now that he
had trusted Runnells too far; lbut
somebody had had to bury the old
bag. Not Captain Francis New
combe! To have left her in the
status OF pauper for the author
tiles. or the Mission Boards, or any
of that ilk to have taken care of.
and In view of the fact that it
| must have heen known among her
, neighbors that she had for a long
time received money from some
where. talk, comment. investigation,
official this and official that would
have been invited. 1t might have
| amounted to nothing--but If a rock
That Is held in ones hand is not
thrown into the calm waters of n
pool the placid surface is not dis
turbed. He had delegated Runnells
| to Interview the undertaken and ar
| range for a quiet and transformations
| disposal OF Mrs. Wickes mortal re
mains. Runnells. for the time being.
did very we'll as nephew of the
| deceased, who. though in neither
close nor loving touch with his
| somewhat questionable relation, at
| least recognized the family tie to the
extent of paying for her verv
modest and unpretentious obseuuies
| Captain Francis Newcombe crept
| quietly along the hall now. Run
| nells'~r room, thanks to the hospitable
thoughtfulness of Miss Marlin. in
| order that the man" might no
! rearer at hand and therefore the
BETTER able to serve his master
was not in the servants quarters.
Tut was at the extreme end of the
| nan here just at the head of the
| stars. captain Francis Newcombe's
hand felt along the wall to guide
| MN In the darkness. He had no
uesire TO stumble over anything
! ana arouse anybody: Locke, or Dora
Marlin, for instance-and he had
not forgotten that Polly was prob
ably lying wide awake. The only
one TO be aroused was Runnells-
ana that very quietly. Runnells
was a professional criminal. not a
| particularly clever one, but nos
sessed, where question of self
preservation was concerned, of a
certain low cunning born of his
hazardous career, a cunning that
was not to be ignored. Cornered
mere In his room, for instance. Run
nelis, though quite we'll aware that
ne. Captain Francis Newcombe
would have no more hesitat,on
about putting an end 10 him than an
end to an obnoxious fly, would he
equally well aware that here in the
rouse he was possessed of a de-
tense that rendered him invulner-
aole because no threat could he
/ put into execution in silence. and
mat cry. shout, and, IL neces
sary, TO those who came to his
succor. confession of his own mas,
misdeeds in order to prove. his al
lance with. and implicate his mas
ter in criminal intrigue, would
protect him-for the moment-utter-
~.
But he. Captain Francis New
combe. had no intention of making
any objectionable misplay as that.
Runnells would never look down the
barrel OF a revolver with a con-
fidence born of the fact that the
trigger dared not be pullek Run.
nells would never feel a grip upor
his throat and still be able to defy
the clutching fingers because he
knew they feared the cry, the gasp
the noise OF strangulatiop. II would
not be in Runnells' room that the
man would lay bare his sou
through fear tonight! Runnells
would be played as a fish Is played
| Captain Francis Newcombe was
Ia 1fwnv oynn~ fhe hell pnu IY;<