stnightdidIformmyviewsofthecase.Astheycouldnotbeputtotheproofuntilthisevening,Iinvitedyouandyourcolleaguetotakeaholidayfortheday.PraywhatmorecouldIdo?WhenIfoundthesuitofclothesinthemoat,itatoncebecameapparenttomethatthebodywehadfoundcouldnothavebeenthebodyofMr.JohnDouglasatall,butmustbethatofthebicyclistfromTunbridgeWells.Nootherconclusionwaspossible.ThereforeIhadtodeterminewhereMr.JohnDouglashimselfcouldbe,andthebalanceofprobabilitywasthatwiththeconnivanceofhiswifeandhisfriendhewasconcealedinahousewhichhadsuchconveniencesforafugitive,andawaitingquietertimeswhenhecouldmakehisfinalescape.”
“Well,youfigureditoutaboutright,”saidDouglasapprovingly.“IthoughtI'ddodgeyourBritishlawforIwasnotsurehowIstoodunderit,andalsoIsawmychancetothrowthesehoundsonceforalloffmytrack.Mindyou,fromfirsttolastIhavedonenothingtobeashamedof,andnothingthatIwouldnotdoagainbutyou'lljudgethatforyourselveswhenItellyoumystory.Nevermindwarningme,Inspector:I'mreadytostandpatuponthetruth.
“I'mnotgoingtobeginatthebeginning.That'sallthere,”heindicatedmybundleofpapers,“andamightyqueeryarnyou'llfindit.Itallcomesdowntothis:Thattherearesomementhathavegoodcausetohatemeandwouldgivetheirlastdollartoknowthattheyhadgotme.SolongasIamaliveandtheyarealive,thereisnosafetyinthisworldforme.TheyhuntedmefromChicagotoCalifornia,thentheychasedmeoutofAmericabutwhenImarriedandsettleddowninthisquietspotIthoughtmylastyearsweregoingtobepeaceable.
“Ineverexplainedtomywifehowthingswere.WhyshouldIpullherintoit?Shewouldneverhaveaquietmomentagainbutwouldalwaysbeimaginingtrouble.Ifancysheknewsomething,forImayhavedroppedawordhereorawordtherebutuntilyesterday,afteryougentlemenhadseenher,sheneverknewtherightsofthematter.Shetoldyouallsheknew,andsodidBarkerhereforonthenightwhenthisthinghappenedtherewasmightylittletimeforexplanations.Sheknowseverythingnow,andIwouldhavebeenawisermanifIhadtoldhersooner.Butitwasahardquestion,dear,”hetookherhandforaninstantinhisown,“andIactedforthebest.
“Well,gentlemen,thedaybeforethesehappeningsIwasoverinTunbridgeWells,andIgotaglimpseofamaninthestreet.ItwasonlyaglimpsebutIhaveaquickeyeforthesethings,andIneverdoubtedwhoitwas.ItwastheworstenemyIhadamongthemall—onewhohasbeenaftermelikeahungrywolfafteracariboualltheseyears.Iknewtherewastroublecoming,andIcamehomeandmadereadyforit.IguessedI'dfightthroughitallrightonmyown,myluckwasaproverbintheStatesabout'76.Ineverdoubtedthatitwouldbewithmestill.
“Iwasonmyguardallthatnextday,andneverwentoutintothepark.It'saswell,orhe'dhavehadthedroponmewiththatbuckshotgunofhisbeforeeverIcoulddrawonhim.Afterth