The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-06-24
CHAPTER vIII-continued
Copyright by Irving Bachelor
tWNU Service) s


their talk and their stories as the din
ner was served. He felt rather drowsy
while the men sat with their cigars
and coffee talking of local politics.
Nothing could have tempted him to
yield to this feeling. Soon they came
to the familiar theme of the murder
Of Oscar Perry.
''Are you seeking the guilty man to-
night?" Shaw asked. '' -+
The colonel answered: Strictly
between ourselves I hope to show you
the fellow that the Pinkerton men are
after. I think that he knows who
killed Perry and that's why want
him."
Shaw turned to the district attorney
and said: II guess that you know who
killed Perry"
Its difficult problem, my friend.
Twice / have thought that knew the
man. Then have had to back-water.
/ had evidence enough to convict
Bunny Brown but it was artificial al
though very well made. The master
mechanic who made it is the man we
have come here to meet. I want to
know him. He has an intellect"
Mr.. Shaw told Of an event which
had begun to be subject of gossip
in Ogdensburg.
II have heard that the bank rob-
Der disappeared from Ashfield in the
evening of the first" he said. "That
night near eleven O'Clock big stran-
ger in a long ulster came into Per-
quette's saloon in our city. He bought
drink and some cigars and inquired
how he could get across the river. A
Frenchman who works for me hap
pened to be there. The stranger made
a bargain with him to be taken across
in rowboat. I would not have heard
of It save for the fact that he gave
the Frenchman a counterfeit five-dol-
lar bill. For that reason he told me
of the incident and showed me the BILL
which the savings bank had refused to
accept. I asked the Frenchman to de-
scribe him. He said that the stranger
was about six feet tall; that his collar
was turned UP so that he didn't no.
tice his ears. He did observe that the
imam wore sandy beard. The thought
came to me that it might have been
false beard"
"You were probably right" said
Blake. II have reason to believe that
he arrived in Ogdensburg little be-
fore the hour you mention and that
he crossed the river that night"
/ At eleven o'clock all lights were ex-
tinguished on the yacht except those
behind covered windows. A little later
the colonel, and Shad in his makeup,
and the sheriff with his loaded rifles
were taken ashore in small boat.
Shaw and his men were to be on deck
at quarter of twelve ready to turn
on the searchlight when they heard
the bo'snn's whistle in Blake's possess
sion.
At last the stage was set, the actors
In their places. The weather, as 1t
had been for weeks, was remarkably
mild for the time of year. Shad re-
hearsed his part. A night boat passed.
They stood waiting. Suddenly they
heard the measured beat Of oars. Anx-
iously they listened as the sound drew
nearer. A small boat was coming.
The colonel and the sheriff stopped
down among the barrels, their rifles in
hand. Shad stood in the middle of
the dock some twenty feet from its
edge. The great trial of his life was
closing in upon him. The boat drew
near. A little way out from the dock
1t stopped.
The whistle sounded-one-two-
three-in exact compliance with di-
rections.
Shad answered with two whistles.
The boat moved forward and touched
the dock. A man came ashore.
The boy initiated Trans voice to
perfection when he said: "Let the
boat CO. A gentleman of your talents
should not be travelling in r0wb0ats.
Here he shifted and grunted as Tram
had done.l O'Brien is here with a
steam yacht. Come on"
The newcomer paid and discharged
MS DOdlUldU. ne luthcu, duuTcSSiuS
his supposed comrade with profane
and affectionate oath Of the Wild West,
Shad made no answer but started at
a fast walk toward the small custom
house. The man followed.
Precisely at this point a thing hap.
pened which was not part Of the pro-
gram. The sheriff, in rising, shout
-dered against one of the barrels and
created a startling noise. The stran-
ger turned. 1t is likely that he saw
the risen figures of Blake and Colewell
He flung off his coat. Like sped
arrow his form flashed through the
darkness to the docks edge and leaped
into the water He called to his boat.
man, now well out of sight Neither
the sheriff nor Colonel Blake had tried
to stop him. The colonel blew his
whistle. AS they stood facing the
docks edge another form darted by
them and tore into the river surface
!, with splash that wet their faces. II
was the form of Shad, who had thrown