The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-13

soaked in water. There" said he, put
ting new wedding ring upon the top of
the pile. is little nut for you 10 crack,
Master Holmes"
'-oh. indeed" said my friend. blowing
blue ring. into the air. You dragged
them from the Serpentinei"
No, they were found floating near the
margin By q park-Seepe-. They have been
identified as her clothes. and it seemed 20
NE that Il the clothes were there the body
would not be far OF.
BY the same brilliant reasoning every
mans body is 10 be found in the neigh
boraood Of his wardrobe. And pray
what did you hope TO arrive at through
this?"
AT some evidence duplicating Flora
Miller in the disappearance"
II am afraid that you viii find it diff
cult"
Are YOU, indeed. nowr' cried Lest-ade.
with some bitterness. Il am afraid,
Holmes, that you are not very practical
with your deductions and your differences.
You have made two blunders in as many
minutes. This dress does implicate Miss
Flora Miller"
And how?"
is a card case. In the card.case is a note
And here is the very note" He slapped it
down on the table in front of him. Listen
to this You viii see me when all IS
ready. Come at once. F. Fl. M Now,
my theory all along has been that lady ST.
Simon was decoyed away by Flora Miller,
and that she, with coufederates no doubt
was responsible for her disappearance.
Here, signed with her initials. is the note
which was no doubt quietly slipped into
her hand al the door, and which iured her
within their reach -
very good. Lestrade." said Holmes.
laughing. You really are very fine in
=
paper in alistless way. but his attention in
stantly became riveted, and he gave a little
cry OF satisfaction. This is indeed in
portant," said he.
'Hal you md il sop
Extremely so. congratulate you
warmly"
Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent
his head to look. Why" he shrieked,
you're looking at the wrong side"
ON the contrary, this Is the right side"
The right side! You're mad Here is
the note, written in pencil, over here"
And over here is what appears 70 be the
fragment Of an hotel bill, which interests
me deeply"
There's nothing in it. I looked at it
before" said Lestrade. October 1, rooms
shillings, breakfast ? and 8, cocktail l
shilling, lunch and 8. glass of sherry s
i pence / see nothing in that"
Very likely not. 1t is most important
all the same. As TO the note. it is import
ant also. or at least the initials are, so |
congratulate you again.
I've wasted time enough" said Les
trade. rising. II believe in hard work, and
not in sitting by the fire spinning fine
theories. Good day, Mr.. Holmes, and We
shall see which gets TO the bottom OF the
matter first He gathered up the gar
nents, thrust them into the bag and made
/ for the door.
Just one hint TO YOU, Lestrade. q"
/ drawled Holmes, before his rival vanished.
81 will tel you the true solution of the
matter. Lady ST. Simon is a myth. There
= Is not, and there never has been, any such
( person
/ Lestrade looked sadly at my companion.
/ Then he turned TO me, tapped his forehead
/ three times shook MS head sOlemnly ana
| hurried away. He had hardly shut the
| door behind him when Holmes rose and
put on his overcoat. There is something
/ IN what the fellow says about outdoor
I work" ne remarked. so | think Watson,
( that must leave you TO your papers for
/ little while"
( Il was after O'Clock when Sherlock
/ Holmes left me. but / had no time 10 be
! lonely, Tor within an hour there arrived a
! confectionery man with very large fat
! box. This he unpacked with the help OF
! youth whom he had brought with him,
{ and presently 70 nv very great astonish-
6
/ began 20 be laid ont upon our humble
/ iodglng-hOuse mahogany. There were a
/ couple Of brace of cold goodcock, q pleas
! ant, pate de foie gras pie, with group
/ of ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having
/ laid out ali these luxuries my two visitors
| vanished away, like the genIi of the Ara
/ ban Nights, with no explanation, save
/ that things had been paid for and were
/ ordered 10 this address.
Just before 9 O'Clock Sherlock Holmes
| stepped briskly into the room. His feat
| ures were grsvely set. but there was a
/ light III his eve which made me think that
/ he had not been disappointed in his con-
/ clusions. They have laid the supper,
! then" he said, rubbing his hands.
! You seem 10 expect company. They
! have LAID for i've
! Yes, fancy that we may have some
/ company dropping in" said ne. Il am
/ surprised that Lord ST. Simon has not al
| ready arrived. Ha. fancy that l hear his
| step now upon the stairs"
| 1t was indeed our visitor of the morning
who came busting in dangling his glasses
more vigorously than ever, with very