The sailor thought for little Then he struck his leg great sunburned hand

"I'll chance it," he cried "I believe man of your word, and white man, and I'll tell you the whole story But say first as concerned, nothing and nothing, and all again and be proud job Damn the beast, if he had lives as cat, owe them all ! But it's the lady, MaryMary Fraserfor never will I call her accursed name When of getting her into trouble, I give my life just to bring one smile to her dear face, it's that that turns my soul into water And yetand yetwhat less could ? I'll tell you my story, gentlemen, and then I'll , as man to man, what less could ?

" go back bit You seem everything, so I expect that that I met her when she was passenger and first officer ROCK OF GIBRALTAR first day I met her, she only woman Every day voyage I loved her more, and many time since have I kneeled down darkness night watch and kissed the deck ship because her dear feet had trod it She was never engaged She treated me as fairly as ever woman treated man no complaint all love on my side, and all good comradeship and friendship on hers When we parted she was free woman, but never again be free man

" back from sea, I heard of her marriage Well, why shouldn't she marry whom she liked ? Title and moneywho could carry them better than she ? She was born for all beautiful and dainty I didn't grieve over her marriage not such selfish hound I just rejoiced that good luck had come her way, she thrown herself away on penniless sailor That's how I loved Mary Fraser

"Well, I never thought her again, but last voyage promoted, new boat was not yet launched, so I had to wait for couple of months with my people at Sydenham One day out in country lane I met Theresa Wright, her old maid She told me all about her, about him, about everything I tell you, gentlemen, it nearly drove me mad This drunken hound, that dare to raise his hand to her, whose boots not worthy to lick ! I met Theresa again Then I met Mary herself and met her again Then meet me no more But the other day I had notice that to start on my voyage within week, and I determined that see her once before I left Theresa was always my friend, for she loved Mary and hated this villain almost as From her I learned the ways house Mary used to sit up reading in her own little room downstairs I crept round there last night and scratched window At first not open , but in her heart that now she loves me, and leave me frosty night She whispered round big front window, and it open before me, so let me dining-room Again I heard from her own lips things that made my blood boil, and again I cursed this brute who mishandled the woman I loved Well, gentlemen, standing with her just inside the window, in all innocence, as God is my judge, when he rushed like madman room, called her the vilest name that man could use to woman, and welted her across the face stick he had hand I had sprung poker, and fair fight See here, on my arm, where his first blow fell Then my turn, and I went through him he rotten pumpkin sorry ? Not I ! his life or mine, but far more than that, his life or hers, for how could I leave her power madman ? That was how I killed him Was I wrong ? Well, then, what would either of you gentlemen , in my position ? "

"She had screamed when he struck her, brought old Theresa down room above bottle of wine sideboard, and I opened it and poured little between Mary's lips, for she was half dead with shock Then drop myself Theresa was as cool as ice, and her plot as mine make it appear that burglars had done the thing Theresa kept on repeating our story to her mistress, while I swarmed up and cut the rope bell Then I lashed her in her chair, and frayed out the end rope it look natural, else wonder how burglar got up there to cut it Then I gathered up few plates and pots of silver, to carry out the idea robbery, and there I left them, with orders the alarm when I had quarter of an hour's start I dropped the silver pond, and made off for Sydenham, feeling that for once in my life I had done real good night's work 's the truth whole truth, Mr Holmes, costs me my neck "

Holmes smoked for in silence Then he crossed the room, and shook our visitor hand

"That's what ," said he " that every word is true, for hardly said word which know No one but an acrobat or sailor got up bell-rope bracket, and no one but sailor made the knots the cord was fastened chair Only once had this lady been brought into contact with sailors, was on her voyage, and someone of her own class of life, since she was trying hard to shield him, and so showing that she loved him how easy to lay my hands upon you when once I had started right trail "

" the police never seen through our dodge "

" police haven't, nor will they, best belief Now, look here, Captain Crocker, very serious matter, though willing to admit that you acted under the most extreme provocation any man subjected not sure that in defense of your own life your action pronounced legitimate However, for British jury to decide Meanwhile sympathy that, choose to disappear next twenty-four hours, promise you that no one will hinder you "

"And then all come out ? "

"Certainly come out "

The sailor flushed with anger

"What sort of proposal man ? enough of law to understand that Mary held as accomplice leave her alone the music while I slunk away ? No, sir, let them do their worst upon me, but for heaven's sake, Mr Holmes, find some way of keeping my poor Mary courts "

Holmes for second time held out his hand sailor

" only testing you, and you ring true every time Well, great responsibility that I take upon myself, but Hopkins an excellent hint and if 't avail himself of it do no more See here, Captain Crocker, we'll in due form of law the prisoner Watson, British jury, and I never met man who was more eminently fitted to represent one the judge Now, gentleman jury, heard the evidence find the prisoner guilty or not guilty ? "

"Not guilty, my lord," said I

"VOX POPULI, VOX DEI acquitted, Captain Crocker law find some other victim safe from me Come back lady in year, and may her future and yours justify us judgment which pronounced this night ! "