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I A STUDY IN SCARLET. By Sir A. ( \>nan Doyle. Chapter X 11 1. lio found evil tidings awaiting him. There had boon a schism among tlie Oh even People a few months before, me of the younger members of the church having rebelled against the nut! ority of the elders, and the result v w >.\uoo o\ i oiiuumu puq j?>qqoj<j Veq 't)9)j(KLu jouiu^j '.nioi pr.q aoqi jvimq.w a\oun olio oil puu uosioijut.'i^j had been the secession ol a certain raw her cf the malcontents, who had , 10(4. I'tah i ml become ('.entiles. A?*ong these had be ui Drebber and I "Man led yesterday ? that's what those flags are lor on the Endowment House. There was some words between young Probber and young Stanperson as to which was to have her. They'd both been in the party hat followed them, and Stanperson had shot her fatlnr, which seemed to give him the best claim; hut when !they argued it out in council 1 bobber's party was the stronger, so the prophet gave her over to him. No * one won't have her very long, though, j for 1 -aw death in her face y> sterday. frhc Is more like a ghost than a wo i tii.ii. f\ 1e yuu on, men: ' "V? s. I'm off," said Je ferson Hope, who lir?el vis "1 from his sent. Mis fsyo might hes boon chiseled out of in irhlo, i > hard and so sot , * as its r\- resslon, wh'le his eyei; I glowed with a b.uiiui light. "Where aro you going?" "Never mind," he answered; and, slinging his weapon on his shoulder, strodo off down the gorge and so away into the heart of the mountains to the haunts of the wild beasts. Among them all there was none so fierce and so dangerous as himself. The prediction of the Mormon was only too well fulfilled. Whether it was the terrible death of her father or the effects of the hateful marriage into which she had been forced, poor [J-iiicy never held up her head again, but pined away and died within a month. Her sottish husband, who 1 1 ! ^ ' nau married nor principally for tlio sake of John Forrior's property, did not atToct any groat grief at his bereavemont; but his , otlier wives mourned over lior and sat up with lier the night before the burial, as is the Mormon custom. They were grouped round the bier in the early hours of the morning, when, to their inexpressible fear and astonishment, the door was flung open, and a savnge loking, weather-beaten man in tattered garments strode into the room. Without a glance or a word to the cowering women he walked up to the white, silent figure which had once contained the pure soul of Lucy Ferrier. Stooping over her, he pressed his lips reverently to her cold forehead, and then, smithing up her hand, he took the wedding-ring from her finger. "She shall not he buried in that," lie cried with a fierce snarl, and before an alarm could he raised sprang down the stairs and was gone. So strange and so brief was the episode that the watchers might have found it hard to believe it themselves or persuade other people of it, had it not been for the undeniable fact that the circlet of gold which marked her as having been a bride had disappeared. For some months Jefferson Hope 11 "* ? nugereu among me mountains, loading a strange, wild life, and nursing in his heart the fierce desire for vengeance which possessed him. Tales were told in the city of the wierd figure which was seen prowling about the suburbs, and which haunted the lonely mountain gorges. Once a bullet whistled through Stangerson's window and flattened Itself upon the wall within a foot of him. On another occasion, as Drebber passed under a cliff, a great bowlder crashed down on him, and he only escaped a terrible death by throwing himself upon bis face. The two young Mormons were not long in discovering the reason of these attempts upon their lives, and led repeated expeditions into the mountains in the hope of capturing or killing their enemy, but always without success. Then they adopted the precaution of never going out alone or after nightfall, and of having their houses guarded. After a time they were able to relax these measures, for nothing was either heard or seen of their opponent, and they hoped that time had cooled bis vindictiveness. ? r i i- - * * - - i in Hum uoing so, 11 naa, 11 anything, augmented it. Tlio hunter's mind was of a hard unyielding nature, and the predominant idea of revenge had taken such complete possession of it that there was no room for any other emotion. He was, however, above all things practical. He soon realized that even his iron constitution could not stand the incessant strain which Jie was putting upon it. Exposure and want of wholesome food were wearing him out. If he died like a dog among the mountains, what was to become of his revenge then? And yet such a death was sure to overtake him if ho persisted. He felt that that was to play his enemy's game, so he reluctantly returned to the old Nevada mines, there to recruit his health and to amass money enough to allow him to pursue his object without privation. His intention had been to bo absent a year at the most, but a combination I of unforeseen circumstances prevented his leaving the mines for nearly Ave. At the end of that time, however, his memory of his wrongs and his cravings for revenge were quite as keen as on that memorable night when he hud stood by John Ferrler's grave. Disguised, and under an assumed name, lie returned to Salt Lake City, careless what became of his own life as long as he obtained what he knew to be justice. There large part of his property into money, and that he had departed u wealthy man, while his companion, Staugerson, was comparatively poor. There was 110 clow ut nil, however as to their whereabouts. Many a man, however vindictive, would have abandoned all thought of revenge in the face of such a difllculty, hut Jefferson Hope never faltered for a moment. With the small competence he possessed, eked out by such employment as he could pick up, he traveled from town to town thru the United States in quest of his enemies. Year passed into year, his black hair turned to grizzled, but still he wandered on, a human bloodhound, with his mind wholly set upon (lie one objeat to which lie had devoted his life. At last his perseverance was rewarded. It was but a glance of a face in n window, but that one glance told him 1 lint Cleveland, in Ohio, possessed the men whom he was in pursuit of. He returned to his mi ( rahlo lodgings with his plan of vengeance all arranged. It chanc d, howovor, that Drebber, looking from l'is window, had recognized the vagrant in the street and had read murder in his eyes, lie hurried before a juctico of the peace, accompanied by Stangerson, who had become his private secretary, and represented to him that they were in danger of their lives from the jealousy and hatred of an old rival. That, evening Jefferson Hope was taken into custody, and, not being able to find sureties, was detained for some weeks. When at last he was liberated it was only to find that Drebbor's bouse was deserted, and that he and bis secretary had departed for Europe. Again the avenger had been foiled, and again his concentrated hatred urged him to continue the pursuit. Funds were wanting, however, and for some time he bad to return to work, saving every dollar for his approaching journey. At last, having collected enough to keep life in him, ho departed for Europe, and tracked bis enmies from city to city, working his way in any menial capacity, but never overtaking tin1 fugitives. When llA OA I* A t *1 u. nm iu*u 01. i cnTsuurg ilioy Mad departed for Paris; and when lie followed tlicm there he learned that they had just set off for Copenhagen. At the Danish capital he was again a few days late, for they had journeyed on to London, where he at last succeeded in running them to earth. As to what occurred there, we can not do hotter than quote the old hunter's own account, as duly recorded in Dr. Watson's journal, to which we are already under such obligations. A Continuation of the Keniiniscences of John II. Watson, M. I). Our prisoner's furious resistance did not apparently indicate any ferocity in his disposition toward ourselves, for, on finding himself powerless, ho smiled in an affable manner, and expressed his hopes that he had not hurt any of us in the suffle. "1 guess you're going to take me to the police station," he remarked to Sherlock Holmes. "My cab's at the door; if you'll loose my legs I'll walk down to it. I'm not so light to lift as 1 used to be." Gregson and Lestrade exchanged glances as if they thought this proposition rather a hold one; but Holmes at once took the prisoner at his word, and loosed the towel which he had hound round his ankles. He rose and stretched his legs, as though to assure himself that they were free once more. I remember that I thought to mvself. as T eved htm th*f t tm/ii seldom seen a more powerfully built man; and bis dark, sunburned face bore an expression of determination and energy which was as formidable as bis personal strength. "If there's a vacant place for a chief of the police, T reckon you are the man for it," be said, gazing with undisguised admiration at my fellowlodger. "The way you kept on my trail was a caution." "You had better come with me," said Holmes to the two detectives. "I can drive you," said Lestrade. "C.ood! and flregson can come inside with me. You too, doctor; you have taken an interest in the case, and may as well stick to us." I assented gladly, and we all descended together. Our prisoner made no attempt at escape, but stepped calmly into the cab which had been his, and we followed him. Lestrade mounted the box, whipped up the horse, and brought us in a very .short time to our destination. We wore ushered into a small chamber, where a police inspector noted down our prisoner's name and the names of the men with whoso murder he had been charged. The official was a white faced, unemotional man, who went through his duties in a dull, mechanical way. "The prisoner will be put before the magistrates in the course of tho week," ho said. "In the meantime, Mr. Jefferson Hope, have you anything that you wish to say? I must warn you that your words will bo taken down and may be used against you." "I've a good deal to say," our prisijj ; Jt' ' . i'fV wklttfoafe oner said, slowly. "I want to tell you gentlemen all about It." "Hadn't you better reserve thnt for your trial?" asked the inspector. "I may never be tried," he answered. "You needn't look startled. It isn't suicide I am thinking of. Are you a doctor?" He turned his fierce, dark eyes upon me as he asked this last question. "Yes, T am," I answered. "Then put your hand here." he said, with a smile, motioning with his manacled wrists toward his chest. 1 did so, and became at once conscious of an extraordinary throbbing and commotion which was going on inside. The walls of his chest seemed to thrill and quiver as a frail building would do inside when some powerful engine was at work. In the silence of the room I could hear a dull humming and buzzing noise which proceeded from the same source. "Why." I cried, "you have aoitic aneurism! " "That's what they call it," ho said, placidly. "I went to a doctor last week about it, and he told me that it I was hound to burst before many days passed. It has been getting worse] for years. I got it from over-exposuro and underfeeding among the Salt Lake mountains. I've done my work now. and I don't care how soon 1 go, hut I should like to leave some account of the business behind me. 1 don't want to be remembered as a common cut-throat." The inspector and the two detectives had a hurried discussion as to the advisability of allowing him to tell his story. "Do you consider, doctor, that there is immediate danger?" the former asked. "Most certainly there is," T answered . "In that case it is clearly our duty, in the Interests of justice, toke his' statement," said the inspector. "You are at, liberty, sir, to give your ac-1 count, which I again warn you will he taken down." "I'll sit. down, with your leave," the prisoner said, suiting the action to the word. "This aneurism of mine makes nie easily tired, and the tussle we had half an hour ago has not mended matters. I'm on the brink of the grave, and I am not likely to lie to you. Every word 1 say is the absolute truth, and how you use it is a matter of no consequence to me." With these words Jefferson Hope leaned back in his chair and began the following remarkable statement, lie spoke in a calm and methodical manner, as though the events with he narrated were commonplace enough. I can vouch for the accuracy of the subjoined account, for I have had access to Lestrade's notebook. in which the prisoner's words were taken down exactly as they wero uttered. "It. doesn't matter much to you why I bated these men," he said; "it's enough that they were guilty of the death of two human beings?a father and a daughter?and t bev had, therefore*, forfeited their own lives. After the lapse of time that has passed since their crime, it was impossible for me to secure a conviction against them in any court. I knew of their guilt, though, and 1 determined that I should he judge, jury, and executioner all rolled into one. You'd have done the same, if you have any manhood in you, if you had been in my place. "That girl that 1 spoke of was to have married mo twenty years ago She was forced into marrying that same Drebher, and broke her heart over it. I took the marriage ring) from her dead finger and 1 vowed that his dying eyes should rest upon that very ring, and that his last thought should be of the crime for which he was punished. I have carried it about with me, and have followed him and his accomplice over two continents until I caught them. They thought to tire me out, but they could not do it. If I die to-morrow, as is likely enough, 1 die knowing that my work in this world is done, and well done. They have perished, and by my hand. There is nothing left for me to hope for or to desire. "They were rich and I was poor, so that it was no easy matter for me to follow thorn. When 1 got to London my pocket was about empty, and I found that I must turn my hand to something for my living. Driving and riding are as natural to me as walking, so 1 applied at a cab-owner's otlice and soon got employment. I was to bring a certain sum a week to the owner, and whatever was over that I might keep for myself. There was seldom much over, but I manag eu to scrape along somehow. The hardest job was to learn my way about, for I reckon that of all the mazes that were ever contrived, this city is the most confusing. T had a map beside me, though, and when once T had spotted the" principal hotels and stations I got on pretty well. "It was some time before T found out where my two gentlemen were living; but T inquired and inquired until at last I dropped across them. They were at a hoarding house at Camberwoll, over on the other side of the river. When once T found them out I knew that T had them at my mercy. I had grown my heard, and there was no chance of their recognizing me. I would dog them and follow them until T saw my opportunity. I was determined that they should not escape me again. "They were very near doing it, for all thnt. Do where they would about I London. I was always at their heels. Sometimes 1 followed theui on my cab, and soinetimes on foot, but the former was the best, for then they could not pet away from me. It wus only early in the morning or late at night that I could earn anything, so that 1 bogaa to got behindhand with my employer. I did not mind that, however, a* long as 1 could lay my hand upon the men I wanted." "They were very cunning, though. They must have thought that there was some chance of their being followed, for they would never go out alone, and never after nightfall. During the two weeks I drovo behind them every day, and never once Haw thr m separate. Drebber himself was drunk half the time, but Stangerson was not to be caught napping. I watched them late and early, but never saw the ghost of u chance: but T was not discouraged, for something told me that the hour had almost come. My only fear was that this thing in my chest might burst a little too soon and lonve my work undone. "At last, one evening, ! was driving up and down Torquay Terrace, as the street was called In which they hoarded, when I saw a cab drive up to their door. Presently some luggage was brought out. and after a time Drebber and Stangerson followed it and drove off. T whlnnnri nr. ? - r *. k my horse and kept within sight of thorn, fooling ill at ease, for T feared that thoy wero going to shift their quarters. At Huston Station thoy pot out, and I loft a hoy to hold my horso and followed thorn on to tho platform. I hoard thorn ask for tho Liverpool train, and tho guard answered that one had lust, gone, and tliero would not bo another for some hours. Stangerson Boomed to ho put out at that, hut Drebher was rather pleased than otherwise. 1 got so close to them in tho bustle that I could hear every word that passed between them. Drebher said that he had a little business of his own to do, and that if tho other would wait for him lie would soon rejoin him. llis companion remonstrated with him, and reminded him that they had resolved to stick together. Drebher answered that the matter was a dellcafe one, and that he must go alone. I could not catch what Stangerson said to that, but the other burst out swearing and reminded him that ho was nothing more than his paid serv:i T1 t Mill] flint 1? n ill not ... - .?% iiniot iiwt, J/I rnu im* to dictate to him. On that the secretary gave it up as a had job, and simply bargained with him that, if lie missed the last train he should rejoin him at TTalliday's Private Hotel to which Drebber answered that he would he hack on the platform before eleven, and made his way out of the station. Tho moment for which I had waited so long had at last come. I had my enemies within my power. Together they could protect each other, but singly they were at my mercy. I did not act, however, with undue anticipation. My plans were already formed. There is no satisfaction in vengeance unless the offender has time to realize who it is that strikes him, and why retribution has come upon him. I had my plans arranged by which I shoyld have the opportunity of making the man who wronged mo understand that his old sin had found him out. It chanced that some days before a gentleman who had been engaged in looking over some houses in the Brixton Koad had dropped the key of one of them in my carriage. It was claimed that same evening and returned; but in the interval I had taken a molding of it, and had a duplicate constructed. By means of this I had access to at least one spot in this great city where 1 could rely upon being free from interruption. How to get Drebber to that house was the difficult problem which 1 now had to solve. "He walked down the road and went into one or two liquor shops, staying for nearly half an hour in the last of them. When he came out he staggered in his walk, and was evidentlv pretty well on. There was a hansom just in front of me, and he hailed it. T followed it so close, that the nose of my horse was within a yard of his driver tho whole way. We rattled across Waterloo Bridge and through miles of streets, until, to my astonishment, we found ourselves hack in the terrace in which he had hoarded. I could not imagine what his intention was in returning there, | but I went on and pulled up my cab a hundred yards or so from the house. He entered it and his hansom drove away. Dive me a glass of water, if j you please. My mouth gets dry with the talking." j T handed him the glass, and he drank it down. "That's bettor," he said. "Well, T waited for a quarter of an hour or more, when suddenly there came a j noise like people struggling inside the house. Next moment the door j was flung open and two men appeared, one of whom was Drobbor and the other was a yoning chap whim I had never seen before. This fellow had Drobbor by the collar, and when they came to the head of the steps he gave him a shove and a kick which sent him half ?.cross the road. 'You hound" he cried, shaking his stick at him, ^'11 teach you to insult an honest girl!' He was so hot that T think he would have thrashed Drobbor with his cudgel only that the cur staggered away down the road as fast as his legs would carry him. He ran as far as the corner, and then, seeing my cab, he hailcil me and jumped in. 'Drive me to Halliday's Private Hotel, aaid he. "When I had him fairly Inside my cab my heart Jumped so with joy that I feared lent at this last moment my aneurism might go wrong. I drove along slowly, weighing in my own mind what it was best to do. 1 might take him right out into the country, and there in some deserted lune have my Inst interview with him. I had almost decided upon this, when he salved the problem for me. The craze for drink had seized him again, and he ordered me to pull up outside a gin palace, lie went In. leaving word that I should wait for him. There he remained until closing time, and when lie came out lie was so far gone that I knew the game was in my own hands. "Don't imagine that 1 intended to kill him in cold blood. It would only have been rigid justice if I had done so, hut I could not bring myself to do it. I had long determined that lie should have a show for his life if he chose to take advantage of it. Among tho many billets which I have filled in America during my wandering life, I was once a janitor and sweeper-out of tho laboratory at Y'ork College. One day the professor was lecturing en poisons, and lie showed his students some alkaloid, as he called it, which ho had extracted from some South American arrow poison, and which was so powerful that the least grain meant instant death. 1 spotted the bottle in which this preparation was kept, and when they were all gone I helped myself to ^little of it. 1 was a fairly pood dispenser, so 1 worked this alkaloid into small, soluble pills, and each pill 1 put in a box with a similar pill wifhout poison. I determined at the time that, when 1 had my chance, my pent lemon should each have a draw out of one of these boxes, while I eat the pill that remained. It would be quite as deadly, and a pood deal less less noisy than firinp across a handkerchief. From that day I had always my pill boxes about with me, and the time had now come when T was to use them. 'It was nearer one than twelve, and a wild, bleak nipht, blowing hard and raininp in torrents. Dismal as it was outside, I was plad within?so glad that I could have shouted out from pure exultation. If any of you gentlemen had ever pined for a thing and longed for it during twenty long years, and then suddenly found it wjthin your reach, you would understand my feelings. 1 lighted a cigar and puffed at it to steady my nerves, but my hands were trembling, and mv temples throbbing with excitement. As I drove T could see old John Ferrier and sweet Lucy looking at me out of the darkness and smiling at me, just as plain as I see you all in this room. All the way they were ahead of me. one on nnoli of the horse, until I pulled up at the house In the Brixton Road. "There was not a soul to he seen, nor a sound to he heard, except the dripping of the rain. When I looked in at the window 1 found Drebher nil huddled together in a drunken sleep. 1 shook him by the arm: 'It's time to go out,' I said. " 'All right, cabby,' said he. "T suppose he thought we had come to the hotel that he had mentioned, for he got out without another word and followed me down the garden. T had to walk beside him to keep him steady, for he was still a little top-heavy. When he came to the door I opened it and led him into the front room. I give you my word that,* all the way, the father and daughter were walking in front of us. " 'It's infernally dark,' said he, stamping about. " 'We'll soon have a light,' I said, striking a match and putting it to a wax candle which 1 had brought with me. 'Now, Enoch Drebher,' I continued, turning to him and holding the light to my own face, 'Who am I?' "lie gazed at me with bleared, drunken eyes for a moment, and then i saw a norror spring up in thorn and convulse his whole features, which showed me that he knew mo. lie staggered hack with a livid face, and I saw the perspiration break ont upon his brow, while his teeth chattered. At tho sight T leaned my back against the door and laughed loud nn.l long. I had always known th.it vengeance would bo sweet, but had never hoped for the contentment of soul which now possessed me. " 'You dog!' T said, 'I have hunted you from Salt Lake City to St. Petersburg, and you have always escaped me. Now at last your wanderings have come to an end, for either you or I shall never see to-morrow's sun rise.' Tie shrunk still further away as I spoke, and I could see on his face that he thought I was mad. So 1 was, for the time. The pulses in my temples beat like sledgehammers, and T believe T would have had a fit of some sort if the blood had not pushed from my^ nose and relieved nie. " 'What do you think of "Lucy Ferrier now?' T cried, locking the door and shaking the key in his face. 'Punishment has been slow in coming, but it has overtaken you at last.' T saw his coward lips tremble as T spoke. Ho would have hepped for his life, but he knew well that it was useless. " 'Would you murder me?' ho stammered. " 'There is no murder,' T answered. 'Who talks of murdering a mad dog? What mercy had you upon iny poor darling when you drag. ged her from her slaughtered father j and bore her away to your accursed and shameless harem?' " 'It was not I who killed lior father,' ho cried. " 'But it was you who broke her innocent heart,' I shrieked, thrusting j the box beforo him. Bet the high j God judge between us. Choose and ; eat. There is death in one and life ! in the other. 1 shall take what you ' leave. I>et us see if there is justice 1 upon the earth, or if we are ruled by chance.' "lie cowered away with wild cries and prayers for mercy, but I drew my knife and held it to his throat until he had obeyed me. Then I swallowed the other, and we stood facing each other in silence for a minute or more, waiting to seo which was to livo and which was to die. Shall I ever forget the look which came over his face when tlio first warning pangs told him that tlio poison was in his system? I laughed as I saw it, and hold Lucy's marriage ring in front of his eyes. It was but for a moment, for the action of the alkaloid is rapid. A spasm of pain contorted his features; he threw his hands out in front of him, staggered, and then, with a hoarse cry, fell heavily upon tlio iloor. 1 turned him over with my foot and placed my hand upon his heart. There was no movement. IIo was dead! "The blood had been streaming from my nose, hut I had taken no notice of it. I don't know what it was that put it into my head to write upon tlio wall with it. Perhaps it i wns snifio mlfiHovnns Irion of settim* - ~ * :-> tlio police upon a wrong track, for I felt light-hearted and cheerful. I renioinhrred a German being found in New York with 'Radio' written upon above him, and it was argued at the time in the newspapers that the secret societies must have done it. T guessed that what puzzled the New Yorkers would puzzle the Londoners, so T dipped my finger in my own blood and printed it on a convenient place on the wall. When I walked down to my cab and found that there was nobody about, and that the night was still very wild. I had driven some distance, when I put my hand into the pocket in which I usually kept Lucy's ring, and found that it was not there. T was thunderstruck at this, for it was the only memento that I had of her. Thinking that I might have dropped it when I stooped over Drebbcr's body, I drove back, and leaving my cab in a side street, I went boldly up to the house?for I was ready to dare anything rather than lose the ring. When I arrived there I walked right into the arms of a police officer who was coming out, and only managed to disarm his suspicions by pretending to bo hopelessly drunk. "That was how Enoch Drebber came to his end. All I had to do then was to do as much for Stangerson, and so pay off John Ferricr's debt. I knew that he was staying at llalliday's Private Hotel, and I hung about all day, hut he never came out. I fancy that he suspected something when Drebber failed to put in an appearance. Ho was cunning, was StanPT>rKI"m n tl /I nlu-nvo li < a rr,,n,wl TP ho thought ho could keep me off by staying indoors he was very much mistaken. I soon found out which was the window of Ids bedroom, and early next, morning I took advantage of some ladders which were lying in tho lane behind the hotel, and so made my way into his room in tho gray of tho dawn. I woke him up, and told him that the hour had come when ho was to answer for tho life he had taken so long before. I described Drebber's death to him, and I gave him tho same choice of tho poisoned pills. Instead of grasping at. the chance of safety which that offered him, he sprang from his bod and (lew at my throat. Tn self-defense I stabbed him to the heart. It would have been the same in any case, for Providence would never have allowed his guilty hand Jo pick out anything but the poison. "I have little more to say, and it's as well, for I am about done up. I wont on cabbing it for a day or so, in tending to keep at it until I could save enough to take mo back to America. I was standing in the yard when a ragged youngster asked if there was a cabby there called Jefferson IT ope, and said that his cab was wanted by a gentleman at 2221 R Raker Street. 1 went round, suspecting no harm, and the next thing I knew this young man hero had the bracelets on my wrists, and as neatly shackled as ever I was in my life. That's the whole of my story, gentlemen. You may consider mo to be a murderer, but I hold that I am just as much an otlicer of justice as you are.' So thrilling had the man's narra tivo boon, and his matin or was so impressive, that wo had sat silent and absorbed. Even the professional detectives, blaso as they were in every detail of crime, appeared to be keenly Interested In the man's story. When be finished we sat for somo minutes In a stillness which was only broken by the scratching of I,estrade's pencil as he gavo the finishing touches to bis shorthand account. "There is only ono point on which I should like a little more Information," Sherlock Holmes said at last. "Who was your accomplice who eaino for the ring which I advertised?" The prisoner winked at. my friend jocosely. , (To Ik: continued.)