Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-06-27
CHAPTER III.


It was half-past five before Holmes
returned. He was bright, eager and
in excellent spirits-a mood which in
his case alternated with fits OF the
blacklist depression.
There is no great mystery in this
matter" he said, taking the cup of tea
which had poured out for him. 1.-The
facts appear to admit of only one ex-
PLANTATION"
What! you have solved it already?''
well, that will be too much to say.
1 have discovered suggestive fact,
that is all. It is, however, very sug-
gestiye. The details are still to be add
ed. have just found, on consulting
the back files of the Times, that Maj.
Sholto, of Upper Norwood, late of the
Thirty-fourth Bombay infantry, died
upon the 2sth of April, 1sS2.'
L may be very obtuse, Holmes, but
fail to see what this suggests"
No? You surprise me. Look at it
in this way. then. Capt. Morstan dis
appears. The only person in London
whom he could have visited is Mai.
Sholto. Maj. Sholto denies having
heard that he was in London. Four
years later Sholto dies. Within a week
of his death Capt. Morstan's daughter
receives a valuable present, which is re-
peated from year to year, and now cul-
inmates in letter which describes her
as a wronged woman. What wrong
can it refer to except this deprivation
of her father? And why should the
presents begin immediately after
Sholtos death, unless it is that Sholto's
heir knows something of the mystery,
and desires to make compensation?
Have you any alternative theory which
will meet the facts?"
But what a strange compensation!
And how strangely made! Why. too,
should he write q letter now, rather
speaks of giving her justice. What
justice can she have? 1t is too much
to suppose that her father is still alive.
There is no other injustice in her case
that you know Of"
''There are difficulties; there are
certainly difficulties said Sherlock
Holmes, pensively. But our expedi-
ton of tonight win solve them all.
All, here is four-wheeler, and Miss
Morstan is inside. Are you all ready?
Then we had better go down, for it is
little past the hour
picked up my hat and my heaviest
stick, but observed that Holmes took
his revolver from his drawer and
slipped it into his pocket. 1t was clear
that he thought that Our nights work
might be 4 serious one.
Miss Morstan was muf11ed in a dark
cloak, and her sensitive face was COM
posed, but pale. She must have been
more than woman if she did not feel
some uneasinesS at the strange enter
prise upon which we were embarking,
yet her self-control was perfect, and
she readily answered the few addition
al questions which Sherlock Holmes
put to her.
Maj. Sholto was very particular
friend of papa's," she said. His let
tiers were full of illusions to the major
He and papa were in command of the
troops at the Andaman islands, so they
We're thrown 4 great deal together. BY
the way, a curious paper was found in
papa'S desk which no one could under
stand. 1 don't suppose that it is of the
slightest Importance, but I thought
you might care to see it, so l brought
it with me. 1t is here
Holmes unfolded the paper careful
ly and smoothed it out upon his knee
He then very methodically examined
it all over with his double lens.
ITO BE CONTINUED