Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-02-15

| | within, I think.
 None" said Holmes But see the glint of light in that little window be- side the door"
 "Ah, that Is the housekeeper's room. That is where old Mrs. Bernstonc sits. She can tell us all about 1t. But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two, for if we all 60 in together and she has had no word of our coming she may be alarmed, But hush What is thatg"
 | He held up the lantern, and his hand | shook until the circles of light flickeredi and wavered nil round us. Miss Morstan seized my wrist, and we all stood with humping hearts straining our cars. From the great black house there sounded through the silent night tho saddest and most pitiful of sounds-thc shrill, broken whimpering of q frightened woman.
 1t is Mrs. Bornstone," said Sholto "She Is tho only woman in the house Wait here. I shall bo he back in a mo- ment." IIo hurried for the door and knocked in his peculiar way. We could see a tall old woman admit him and sway with pleasure at tho very sight of him.
 Oh, Mr. Thadious, sir, 1 am so aiai you have come! am so glad you have come, Mir. Thaddcus, sir!" We heard her reiterated rcjuicinEs until tho door was l cluSCl, and her voice died away into a | mufllCd munOtO0c.
 Our guide had left us the lantern | Holmcs swung it slowly round and rccrcd l kccnly at the house and at the great rub biSh heaps which oumhercd the grounds. Miss MorStan and l stood together, and 1 her hand was in mine. A wOndruuS sub l tic thing k love, for herc were two who had never seCn each other before that I l,,, of affection had ever passed, and yet now in an hour of trouble our hands instinc- | lively sought for each other l have mar | veled at 1t since, but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that l should go cut to her so, and as she has often told me, therc was fin her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection. So we stood hand in hand, likc two children, and there was peace in our hearts for all the dark things that surrounded us.
 What a strange placel" she said, look ing round,
 It looks as though all the moleS in England had been let loosc in 1t. have seen something of the sort on the side of hill near Ballarat where the prospcctors had been at work
 And from the same cause" said Holmes. "These are the traces of the treasure seekers. You must remember that they were six years looking for it. No wonder that the grounds look like a gravel pit"
 | At that moment the door of the house burst open, and ThRddcus Sholto camo run ming out, with his hands thrown forward and terror in his eyes.
 "There is something amiss with Bar. tholomew, " he cried. "I am frightened. I My nerves cannot stand it." He was in- deed half blubbering with fear, and his twitching, feeble face peepng out from the great RstrRkhnn collar had the help less, appealing expression uf a terrified child.
 Como into the huusc, " said IIolmc, in his crisp, firm way.
 "Ycs, do," pleaded Thaddcus Sholto. II really do not feel equal to giving di- rcctions'
 We all followed him into the house, keepers room, which stood upon the left hand sidH of Inc passage. TEn old woman was pacing up and down. with d scared look and restless, picking hmcrrz, hut the sight of Miss Mor>,an appeared Ia have a soothing cir,,t upon Err.
 God llv,> your sMt,t, calm face she cried, with a lN.'rTi,i,l >rh It t!u,, me good tu svr !vN. Ga. but have bccn sore ly t!.vd this day.
 Our <umPaulun puttvL her thin. work worn luud ..eid intru.nl,d d susno few WuIds of kindly Wuil3uuiy vu1.:t, tN>Ai,h t.ust-ht tho Color back into tn, uIl.,r's Llr,t.lcs- cheeks
 Master l,,, locked himself In and will | not answer nIy. 70 si.r explained An day I have Mail,d to Lear from him. for ht often lihte la hc alone hut un hour ago feared Ilut somcthin@ was ami~S, so | went uP ard ltvped through the kcyholc You must go pr. Mr. IhaGtlCus You must g1 mp ard l.sok for yourself l have scCp Ar Iu.IhuioLRew Sholto in joy and !n sorrow for len long yCaIs but nuvel saw him win sueh 2 face On him as that.
 Sherlock Holmes took tko lamp and led the way, for Thaddeus Sholtos teeth wer( chattering in his head. So shaken wa: he that had to pass my hand under hi, arm as wc went up the stairs, for hi: knees wcre trembling under him. Twice as we asccnded Holmes whipped his len: ont Of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to mo to be mCr' shapeless smudges of dust upon the cocoa nut mating which served as a stair car pot We walked slowly from step to step holding the lamp low and shooting kceI glanoes to right and left. Miss Morstar had remained with the frightened house keeper.
 Tho third flight of stairs ended in straight pasSaCO of some length, with great picture in Indian tapestry upon th, right of it and three doors upon the left Holmes advanced along it in the saml slow and mcthodical way, while WIG kep close at his heels, with our long hlacI shadows streaming backward down tn, corridor Tho third door was that whicl we were seeking. Holmes knocked with out rCCCiving any answer and then tried to turn tho handlo and force it open. was locked on the inside, however, and b, a broad and powerful bolt as We coult sec when wc set our lamp up against 1t Tho key being turned, however, the hol was not entirely closed. Sherlock ben down to it and instantly rose again witt q sharp intaking of the breath.
 There is something devillsh in this watson," said he, moro moved than haG ever before seen him. What do yol make of it?"
 stepped to the hole and recuilcd il horror. Moonlight was streaming int the room, and 1t was bright with a vagu and shiftly radiance. Looking straigh ct mo and suspended, as it were, in th air, for all beneath was in shadow, ther hung n facc-thc very facc of our com | panion Thaddeus. There was the sam high, shining head, the same clrcula , 1 bristle of rcd hair, the same bloodles countenauce Tho features were set, how ever, in horrible smile, a fixed and un l natural grin. which in that still an( : monnllI room was moro jarring to th' nerves than any scowl or contortion. & : liko was the face to that of our ltttl friend that looked round at him to mak sure that he was indeed with us Then , recalled to mind that he had mentioned to us that his brother and he were twins
 "This is terrible" said to Holmes 7 What is to be dones'
 , The door must come down" he an . swered, and springing against 1t he pu 7 | all his Meipht nnon the lock IL creake,