"In a region full of rioting derelicts crazed with the lawless excitement of their dash after gold," he had said, "identities and names are easily lost.Temple Barholm himself was a derelict and in a desperate state.He was in no mood to speak of himself or try to make friends.He no doubt came and went to such work as he did scarcely speaking to any one.A mass of earth and debris of all sorts suddenly gives way, burying half-a-dozen men.Two or three are dug out dead, the others not reached.There was no time to spare to dig for dead men.Some one had seen Temple Barholm near the place; he was seen no more.Ergo, he was buried with the rest.At that time, those who knew him in England felt it was the best thing that could have happened to him.It would have been if his valet had not confessed his trick, and old Temple Barholm had not died.My theory is that he may have left the place days before the accident without being missed.His mental torment caused some mental illness, it does not matter what.He lost his memory and wandered about--the Lord knows how or where he lived;he probably never knew himself.The American picked him up and found that he had money.For reasons of his own, he professed to take care of him.He must have come on some clue just when he heard of his new fortune.He was naturally panic-stricken; it must have been a big blow at that particular moment.He was sharp enough to see what it might mean, and held on to the poor chap like grim death, and has been holding on ever since.""We must begin to take steps," decided Palford & Grimby."We must of course take steps at once, but we must begin with discretion."After grave private discussion, they began to take the steps in question and with the caution that it seemed necessary to observe until they felt solid ground under their feet.Captain Palliser was willing to assist them.He had been going into the matter himself.He went down to the neighborhood of Temple Barholm and quietly looked up data which might prove illuminating when regarded from one point or another.It was on the first of these occasions that he saw and warned Burrill.It was from Burrill he heard of Tummas Hibblethwaite.
"There's an impident little vagabond in the village, sir," he said, "that Mr.Temple Barholm used to go and see and take New York newspapers to.A cripple the lad is, and he's got a kind of craze for talking about Mr.James Temple Barholm.He had a map of the place where he was said to be killed.If I may presume to mention it, sir,"he added with great dignity, "it is my opinion that the two had a good deal of talk together on the subject.""I dare say," Captain Palliser admitted indifferently, and made no further inquiry or remark.
He sauntered into the Hibblethwaite cottage, however, late the next afternoon.
Tummas was in a bad temper, for reasons quite sufficient for himself, and he regarded him sourly.
"What has tha coom for?" he demanded."I did na ask thee.""Don't be cheeky!" said Captain Palliser."I will give you a sovereign if you'll let me see the map you and Mr.Temple Barholm used to look at and talk so much about."He laid the sovereign down on the small table by Tummas's sofa, but Tummas did not pick it up.
"I know who tha art.Tha'rt Palliser, an' tha wast th' one as said as him as was killed in th' Klondike had coom back alive.""You've been listening to that servants' story, have you?" remarked Palliser."You had better be careful as to what you say.I suppose you never heard of libel suits.Where would you find yourself if you were called upon to pay Mr.Temple Barholm ten thousand pounds' damages?
You'd be obliged to sell your atlas."
"Burrill towd as he heard thee say tha'd swear in court as it was th'
one as was killed as tha'd seen."
"That's Burrill's story, not mine.And Burrill had better keep his mouth shut," said Palliser."If it were true, how would you like it?
I've heard you were interested in 'th' one as was killed.'"Tummas's eyes burned troublously.
"I've got reet down taken wi' th' other un," he answered."He's noan gentry, but he's th' reet mak'.I--I dunnot believe as him as was killed has coom back.""Neither do I," Palliser answered, with amiable tolerance."The American gentleman had better come back himself and disprove it.When you used to talk about the Klondike, he never said anything to make you feel as if he doubted that the other man was dead?""Not him," answered Tummas.
"Eh! Tummas, what art tha talkin' about?" exclaimed Mrs.
Hibblethwaite, who was mending at the other end of the room."I heerd him say mysel, `Suppose th' story hadn't been true an' he was alive somewhere now, it'd make a big change, would na' it?' An' he laughed.""I never heerd him," said Tummas, in stout denial.
"Tha's losin' tha moind," commented his mother."As soon as I heerd th' talk about him runnin' away an' takin' th' mad gentleman wi' him Iremembered it.An' I remembered as he sat still after it and said nowt for a minute or so, same as if he was thinkin' things over.Theer was summat a bit queer about it.""I never heerd him," Tummas asserted, obstinately, and shut his mouth.
"He were as ready to talk about th' poor gentleman as met with th'
accident as tha wert thysel', Tummas," Mrs.Hibblethwaite proceeded, moved by the opportunity offered for presenting her views on the exciting topic."He'd ax thee aw sorts o' questions about what tha'd found out wi' pumpin' foak.He'd ax me questions now an' agen about what he was loike to look at, an' how tall he wur.Onct he axed me if I remembered what soart o' chin he had an' how he spoke.""It wur to set thee goin' an' please me," volunteered Tummas, grudgingly."He did it same as he'd look at th' map to please me an'