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up earth and sky so that it was （in the familiar phrase） almost
possible to read by it。 Only a few moments had elapsed since the
rout of Logan Black's ruffians； but in the vicinity of this
remarkable island such sudden meteorological changes are anything
but rare； geographers and travelers know。
Lady Agatha had gone into the cabin to resuscitate Miss Pringle
and； as she said； 〃have it out with her。〃 Cleggett； gazing from
the deck towards Morris's； in the strong moonlight； wondered when
the attack would be renewed。 He thought； on the whole； that it
was improbable that Loge would return to the assault while this
brightness continued。
Suddenly three figures appeared within his range of vision。 They
were running。 But running slowly； painfully； lamely。 In the
lead were the two men whom he had first seen hazed up and down
the bank of the canal by Wilton Barnstable； and whom he had seen
the second time chained in the great detective's boat。
They were shackled wrist to wrist now。 To the left leg of one of
them was attached a heavy ball。 A similar ball was attached to
the right leg of the other。 They had picked these balls up and
were struggling along under their weight at a gait which was more
like a staggering walk than a trot。
They were pursued by the man whom Cleggett had seen attempt to
escape from Morris's。 This man still wore his suit of baby blue
pajamas。
He wore nothing else。 He was stiff。 He moved as if the ground
hurt his bare feet。
He especially favored； as Cleggett noticed； the foot on which
there was a bunion。 He was lame。 He crept rather than ran。 But
he seemed bitterly intent upon reaching the two men in irons who
labored along twenty or thirty feet ahead of him。 And they； on
their part； casting now and then backward glances over their
shoulders at their pursuer。
Cleggett divined that the men in irons had escaped from the
Annabel Lee； and that the man in the baby blue pajamas was loose
from Morris's。 But why the man in the pajamas pursued and the
others fled he could not guess。
They passed within fifty yards of the Jasper B。 But the men in
irons were so intent upon their own troubles； and the pursuer was
so keen on vengeance； that none of them noticed the vessel。 As
they limped along； splashing through the pools the rain had left；
the pursuer would occasionally pause to fling stones and sticks
and even cakes of mud at the fugitives； who were whimpering as
they tottered forward。
The man in the baby blue pajamas was cursing in a high…pitched；
nasal； querulous voice。 Cleggett noticed with astonishment that
a single…barreled eyeglass was screwed into one of his eyes。
Occasionally it dropped to the ground； and he would stop and
fumble for it and wipe it on his wet sleeve and replace it。 Had
it not been for these stops he would have overtaken the men in
irons。
〃Clement！〃 Lady Agatha laid her hand upon his arm。 〃Miss Pringle
wants to see you in the cabin。〃
〃Wellimposter！〃 laughed Cleggett。 〃Is she able to talk to you
yet？ And what on earth did she mean by her plum preserves？〃
〃That is what she wants to tell； evidently；〃 said Lady Agatha。
And she went aft with him。
Miss Pringle； who had been rubbed dry by Lady Agatha； and was now
dressed in some articles of that lady's clothing； which were much
too large for her； sat on the edge of the bed in Lady Agatha's
stateroom and awaited them。 Her appearance was scarcely
conventional； and she seemed to feel it； nevertheless； she had a
duty to perform； and her innate propriety still triumphed over
her situation and habiliments。
〃Mr。 Cleggett；〃 she said； pointing to the box which contained the
evidence against Logan Black； which was exactly similar to the
box of Reginald Maltravers； and which had been placed in this
inner room for safe…keeping； 〃what does that box contain？〃
Cleggett was startled。 He and Lady Agatha exchanged glances。
〃What do you think it contains？〃 he asked。
〃That box；〃 she said； 〃was shipped to me from Flatbush； and was
claimed in my namein the name of Genevieve Pringleat the
freight depot at Newark； New Jersey； by this lady here。 Deny it
if you can！〃
〃I do deny it； Miss Pringle；〃 said Lady Agatha； accompanying her
words with a winsome smile。 But Miss Pringle was not to be won
over so easily as all that； she met the smile with a look of
steady reprobation。 And then she turned to Cleggett again。
〃Mr。 Cleggett；〃 she said； 〃my birthday occurred a few days ago。
It wasI have nothing to conceal； Mr。 Cleggettit was my
forty…ninth birthday。 Every year； for many years past； a niece
of mine who lives in Flatbush sends me on my birthday a box of
plum preserves。
〃These preserves have for me； Mr。 Cleggett； a value that they
would not possess for anyone else； a value far above their
intrinsic or； as one might say； culinary value。 They have a
sentimental value as well。 I was born in Flatbush； and lived
there； during my youth； on my father's estate。 The city has
since grown around the old place； which my niece now owns； but
the plum trees stand as they have stood for more than fifty
years。 It was beneath these plum trees。 。 。 。〃
Miss Pringle suddenly broke off； her face twitched； she felt for
a handkerchief； and found none； she wiped her eyes on her sleeve。
In another person this action might have appeared somewhat
careless； but Miss Pringle； by the force of her character；
managed to invest it with propriety and dignity； looking at her；
one felt that to wipe one's eyes on one's sleeve was quite proper
when done by the proper person。
〃I will conceal nothing； Mr。 Cleggett。 It was under these plum
trees that I once received an offer of marriage from a worthy
young man。 It was from one of these plum trees that he later
fell； injuring himself so that he died。 You can understand what
these plum trees mean to me； perhaps？〃
Lady Agatha impulsively sat down beside the elder woman and put
her arm about her。 But Miss Pringle stiffly moved away。 After a
moment she continued：
〃The preserved plums； as I have said； are sent me every year on
my birthday。 This year； when I received from my niece a
notification that they had been shipped； I called for the box
personally at the freight office。
〃What was my astonishment to learn that the box had been claimed
in my name； not a quarter of an hour before； and taken away。
〃I obtained a description of the person who had represented
herself as Miss Genevieve Pringle； and of the vehicle in which
she had carried off my box。 And I followed her。 The paltriness
of the theft revolted me； Mr。 Cleggett； and I determined to bring
this person to justice。
〃The fugitive； with my plum preserves in her possession； had
left； goodness knows； a broad enough trail。 I found but little
difficulty in following in my family carriage。 In fact； Mr。
Cleggett； I discovered the very ch