The
handwriting was that of an uneducated person, and was strange to me. I
could not make out the words by the light of the tall lamp, so I lit a
wax match from my match-box, and protecting the flame in the hollow of
my hand, began studying the strange message.
The three first words sent my heart up with a bound. "On board the
'Queen.'" I had crossed the Channel in the "Queen," and this beginning
alone was enough to make me hope that the bit of paper might do more
than any detective to unravel the mystery.
"I'm taking big risks because I've got to," I read on. "It's my
only chance. And if you find this, I bet I can trust you. You're
a gentleman, and you saved my life and a lot more besides by
getting into that railway-carriage when the other chaps did. The
minute I seen them I thot I was done for, but you stopped there
game. I'm a jewler's assistant, carrying property worth
thousands, for my employers. From the first I knew 'twas bound
to be a ticklish job. On this bote I'm safe, for the villions
who would have murdered and robbed me in the train if it hadn't
been for you being there, won't have a chance, but when I get to
Paris it will be the worst, and no hope for the jewls, followed
as I am, if I hadn't already thot of a plan to save them through
you, an honest gentleman far above temptashun.
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