ab was
identical to that on the roll this man stated he had used; moreover, he
identified Beamish and Bulla as the purchasers.

Willis had a routine search made of the restaurants of Soho, and at last
found that in which the conspirators had held their meetings previous to
the murder. There had been two. At the first, so Willis learned from the
description given by the proprietor, Coburn had been present, but not at
the second.

In spite of all his efforts he was unable to find the shop at which
the pistol had been bought, but he suspected the transaction had been
carried out by one of the other members of the gang, in order as far as
possible to share the responsibility for the crime.

On the Girondin was found the false bulkhead in Bulla's cabin, behind
which was placed the hidden brandy tank. The connection for the shore
pipe was concealed behind the back of the engineer's wash-hand basin,
which moved forward by means of a secret spring.

On the Girondin was also found something over 700,000 pounds, mostly
in Brazilian notes, and Benson admitted later that the plan had been to
scuttle the Girondin off the coast of Bahia, take to the boats and row
ashore at night, remaining in Brazil at least till the hue and cry had
died down. But instead all seven men received heavy sentences. Archer
paid for his crimes with his life, the others got terms of from ten to
fifteen years each. The managers of the licensed houses in Hull were
believed to have been in ignorance of the larger fraud, and to have
dealt privately and individually with Archer, and they and their
accomplices escaped with lighter penalties.

The mysterious Morton proved to be a private detective, employed by
Archer. He swore positively that he had no knowledge of the real nature
of the syndicate's operations, and though the judge's strictures on his
conduct were severe, no evidence could be found against him, and he was
not brought to trial.

Inspector Willis got his desired promotion out of the case, and there
was someone else who got more. About a month after the trial, in the
Holy Trinity Church, EASTBOURNE, a wedding was solemnized--Seymour
Merriman and Madeleine Coburn were united in the holy bonds of
matrimony. And Hilliard, assisting as best man, could not refrain from
whispering in his friend's ear as they turned to leave the vestry,
"Three cheers for the Pit-Prop Syndicate!"

End of Project Gutenberg's The Pit Prop Syndicate, by Freeman