The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-10-19

CHAPTER N.-CoNTfNuED
'What a strange placel" she said,
looking around.
1T looks as though all the moles in
England had been let loose in 1t.
have seen something Of the sort on the
side Of hill near Bnllarat, where the
prospectors had been at work"
''And from the same cause" said
Holmes. "These are the traces Of
trcasure-seekers. You must remember
that they were six years looking for 1t.
No wonder that the ground looks like
a grnvclpit."
Al that moment the door burst open,
and Thaddeus Sholto came running
out, with his hands thrown forward
and terror In his eyes.
"Thcrc is something amiss with Bar
tholomew!" he cried. IL am fright
enedl Ny nerves cannot stand it," lie
was. indeed half-blubbering with fear,
and his twitching. feeble face, peeping
out from the great AstralShan collar,
had the helpless, appealing expression
of terrified child.
"Come into the house," said Holmes,
In his crisp. firm way.
Eyes. dor pleaded Thaddeus Sholto
II really do not feel equal 70 giving di-
rections."
We all followed him into the house
keepers room, which stood upon the
left.hand side OF the passage. The old
woman was pacing up and down with
scared look and restless. picking
Ringers, but the sight of Miss Morstan
appeared TO have soothing effect upon
her.
God bless your sweet calm facet
she cried, with a hysterical sob. 1T
does me good 10 see you oh, but /
have been sorely tired this dayV'
Our companion pntted her thin, work.
worn hand, and murmured some few
words OF kindly womanly comfort
which brought the color back into the
others bloodlcss checks.
.Master has locked himself in and
will not answer me- she explained.
"All day / have waited TO hear from
him, for he often likes 10 be alone; but
an hour ago | feared that something was
amiss, so went upand pecped through
the xcyholc. You must go up, Mr..
Thaddeus--you must 60 up and look
for yourself. ! have seen Mr.. Barthol-
omew Sholto in JOY and In sorrow for
ten long years, but ! never saw him
with such face on him as that"
Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and
led the way, for Thaddcus Sholto's
teeth wcrc chattering IN his head. So
shaken was he that / had to pass my
hand under his arm rs we went up the
stairs. for his knees were trembling
under him. Twice as we assembled
Holmes whipped his lens out of his
pocket and carefully examined marks
which appeared 90 me TO be mere
shapelcss smndges OF dust upon the
cocoa-nut mating which served as a
stair-carpct. lie walked slowly from
step 10 step. holding the lamp low, and
shooting keen chances TO right and
left. Miss Morstnn had remained be-
hind with the frightened housclSeeper.
The third Digit OF stairs ended in a
straight passage Of some length, with
a great picture i'm Indian tapestry,upon
the right OF IL and three doors upon the
left. Holmes advanced along IL In the
anne slow and methodical way, while
we Kept close nc his heels, with our
long black shadows streaming back
wards down the corridor. The third
door was that which we were seeking.
Holmes knocked without receiving any
answer, and then tried 20 turn the
handle and force Il open. IL was
locked on the inside, however, and by n
broad and powerful bolt, as we could
sec when we set our lamp up against
II. The key being turned. however,
the hole was not entirely closed. Shcr-
lock- Holmes bent down TO 1t, and In
stantly rose again with sharp intais.
ing Of tho breath.
"Thcrc Is something dcvilish In this.
Watson" said he. more moved than !
had ever before seen him. what do
You make Of it2"
stopped 20 the hole. and rccoilcd IN
horror. Moonlight was streaming into
the room. and IL was bright with a
vague and shifty radiance. Looking
Straight az me. and suspended. as Il
we're, In the air. for all beneath was In
shadow, there hung fncc-thc very
face Of our companion Thaddcus.
There was the samc high, shining
head. the snmo circular brist.c OF red
hair the sninc bioodlcsa conntennnce.
The features werc set. however. In a
horrible smile, fixed and unnatural
grin. which In that still and mooniit
room was more EARRING TO the ncrvca
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