The Irish standard., 1895-05-04
CHAPTER v.

lodge said Mr.. Tnaddeus. sholto, as
he handed her out.
..: CHAPTER "
TIE TRAGEDY OF PoNpICHERRY LODGE.
It was nearly eleven o'clock when we
reached this final stage of our nights
adventures. We had left the damp fog
Of the great city behind us, and the
night was fairly fine. A warm wind
Blew from the westward, and heavy
clouds moved slowly across the sky,
with half moon peeping occasionally
through the riffs It was clear enough
to see for some distance, but Thaddeus
Sholto took down one of the side-lamps
from the carriage to give US q better
light upon our way.
Pondicherry lodge stood in it's own
grounds, and was GRIT round with a
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-like rat-tat.
s'Who is there?" cried a grutf voice
from within.
: ''Itis I, McNfurdo. You surely know
my knock by this time"
:; There was grumbling sound and a
clanking and EARRING of keys. The
door swung heavily back, and q short,
deep-chested man stood in the opening
with the yellow light of tho lantern
shining upon his protruded face and
-'twinkling, distrustful eyes.
''That you, Mr.. Thaddeus? But who
are the others? I had no orders about
them from my master
s'No, McMurdo? You surprise me! I
told my brother last night that I
should bring some friends
''He hain't been out O his room to-
day, Mr.: Thaddeus, and have no Or
ders. 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.
Thaddeus .Sholto looked about him in
a perplexed and helpless manner.
This is too bad Of you, McMurdo!'' he
said. eff ] 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.. Thaddeus,' said the
porter, inexorably. "Folk may be
friends O. yours, and yet no friends O
the masters. He pays me well to do
my duty, and my duty I'll do. I don't
know none o, your friends
]; 'Oh, yes, you do, McMurdo," cried
Sherlock Holmes, geniany. II don't
think you can have forgotten me.
Don't you remember the amateur who
fought three rounds with you at ALI
sons rooms on the night Of your bene.
st four wears back?"
!: s.Not AIr, Sherlock Holiness roared
the prize fighter. Goods truth! how
could I nave nistook you? If instead
10 standin' there go quiet you had just
stepped Up and given me that cross hit
,,of yours under the jaw, I'd ha' known
you without a question. All, you're
one that has wasted your gifts, you
have! You might have aimed high, if
you had joined the fancy
.sYou see, Watson, if all else fails me
i have still ono of the scientific profess
sions open to me- said Holmes, laugh.
ing. 'sOur friend won't keep lis out in
the cold now, am sure"
! elm you come, sir, in you come-you
and your friends, !" he answered. every
sorry, Mr.. Thaddeus, 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 cls1mp Of
house, square and prosaic, all plunged
in shadow save where a. moonb beam
struck one corner and glimmared in
garnet window. The vast size Of the
building, with its gloom and it's deathly
silence, struck a chill to the heart.
Even Thaddeus Sholto seemed ill at
ease, and the lantern quivered and rat
tied in his hand.
4 ST cannot understand it," he said.
4''There must be some mistake. dis
tinctly told Bartholomew that we
should be here, and yet there is no
light in his window. I 60 not know
what to make Of It."
s'Does he always guard the premises
In this way?" asked Holmes.
.sYes; he has followed my fathers
custom. He was the favorite son, you
know, and sometimes think that my
father may have told him more than
he ever told me- That is Barthol-
onew's window up there where the
moonshine strikes. It is quite bright,