The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-10-12

y
lodge" said Mr.. Thaddcus Sholto, %
he handed her out.
CHAPTER v.
THE TRAGEDY OF PoNDrCBERRy LODGE.
II WAS nearly eleven o'clock when we
reached this fnal stage of our nights
adventures. We had left the damp fog
Of the great city behind us, and the
night was fairly flne. a warm wind
blew from the westward, and heavy
clouds moved slowly ncross tho sky,
with half a moon peeping occasionally
through the riffs 1t was clear enough
to see for some distance, but Thaddcus
Sholto took down one OF the side-lamps
from the carnage TO give us better
light upon our way.
pondichcrry lodge stood In its own
grounds, and was girt round with n
very high stone wall topped with
broken glass. A single narrow IRON
clamped door formed the only means
of entrance. On this our guide knocked
with peculiar postman-lile rat-tat.
"Who is thcrc?r cried gruff voice
from within.
ut Is /, McMurdo. You surely know
my knock by this time"
There was a grumbling sound and
clanling and Earring Of keys. The
door swung heavily back, and n short.
deep-chestcd man stood in the opening
with the yellow light Of the lantern
shining upon his protruded face and
twinlxling, distrustful eyes.
'sThat you, Mr.. Thaddeus? But who
are the others? ! had no orders about
them from my master"
mo, McMnrdo? You surprise mel !
told my brother last night that
should bring some friends"
"He hain't been out o. his room to-
day, Mr.. Thaddcus. and have no or
dcrs You know very well that must
stick TO regulations. can let you In,
but your friends they must just stop
where they are"
This was an unexpected obstacle.
a perplexed and helpless manner.
This Is too bad OF you, McMurdols ne
said. IF ! guarantee them, that Is
enough for you. There is the young
lady, too. She cannot wait on the pub
lie road at this hour"
Every sorry, Mr.. Thaddcus," said the
porter, inexorably "Follx may be
friends o. yours, and yet no friends o.
the masters. lie pays me well TO do
my duty, and my duty I'll do. don't
know none o your friends"
"Oh, yes. you do, McMurdo," cried
Sherlock Holmes, gcnially. II don't
think you cnn have forgotten me.
Don't YOU remember the amateur who
fought three rounds with you nt Ali
sons rooms on the night of your bcne-
flt four years baclr?"
mot Mr.. Sherlock Holmcsl'' ronred
the prize fighter. Gods truth how
could ! have mistoolx you? If instead
o. standin' there 50 quiet you had just
stepped mp and given me that cross hit
Of yours under the jaw, Id ha' known
you without question. All, you're
one that has wasted your gifts, you
havel You might have aimed high, II
you had joined the fancy"
"You see, Watson, IL nll else fails me
| have still one Of the scientific profess
sions open To me-" said Holmes, laugh
ing. ''Our friend won't keep us out in
the cold now, am sure"
I'm you come, sir, In you comc--you
and your friends" he answered. VERY
sorry, Mr.. Thnddcus, but orders are
very strict Had to be certain Of your
friends before let them in"
Inside, a gravel path wound through
desolate grounds TO a huge clump Of
house, square and prosaic, all plunged
Ia shadow save whore n moonbeam
strucls ono corner and rlimmerod In
garnet window. The vast size OF the
building, with its gloom and It's dcathly
silence, struck a chill 20 the heart.
Even Thnddcus Sholto seemed III at
onsc, and the lantern quivcred and rat
tied IN his hand
~ cannot understand IT," lac said.
There mast bo some mistake. dis
tinctly told bartholomew that we
should be here. and yet there Is no
light In his window. | do not know
whit to make Of IT,
Docs he always guard the promises
In this way?" asked Holmes.
"Ycs; he has followed my fathers
custom lIc was the favoritc son, you
know. and Aolnetlmcs thiulF that my
father may have told him more than
he ever told me. That Is Darthol-
omcws window up there where the
moonshinc strikes. Il Is quite bright,
bat there Is no light from within.
think"
None" said Holmes. "Dut sec
the CLINT OF light In that little win
dow Iceilo The door,
"A