The Delta independent., 1895-07-17
"what strange pIace!" she said.

"What strange placer she said,
looking around.
at looks us thougli all the molcs in
England had been let loose in it. I
have seen something of the sort ON the
side of hill near iiallarat, where the
prospcctors had been at work"
And from the same cause" said
Holmes. "These are the traces Of
trcnsure-seekcrs. You must rcmcm ber
that they were six years looking for it.
No wonder that the ground looks like
q gravelpit."
at that moment the door btrst oper,
and Thnddeus Sholto came running
out, with his hands thrown forward
and terror in his eyes.
There is something amiss with Bar
tholomcw!" he cried. II am fright
cned! My nerves cannot stand it." lie
was. indeed, half-blubbcring with fear,
and his twitching, feeble face. pccping
out from the great Astralihan collar,
had the helpless, appealing expression
of terrified child.
Come into the house," said Holmes,
in his crisp, firm way.
'Ycs, do" pleaded Thaddcus Sholts.
~ really do not feel equal to giving di-
rcctions."
We all followed him into the house.
keepers room, which stood upon the
lcft-hand side Of the Passage. The old
woman wns Facing up and down with
a scared look and restless. picking
fingers, but the sight of Miss Morstan
appeared to have u soothing effect upon
her.
'Gol bless your sweet calm face"
she cried, with hystcrical sob. ut
does me good to see you oh. but
have been sorely tired this day.
Our companion pat.cd her thin, work
worn hand, and murmurcd some few
which brough; the color back into. the
others bloodless checks.
Muster has locked himself in and
will not answer me-" she explained.
IAN day ] have waited to hear from
him, for he often likes to he alone: but
an hour ago feared that mc.ling was
nmiss, so l went up and pccpcd through
the kcyholc. You must 20 up. Mr..
Thaddcus-you must go up and look
for yourself. l have seen Mr.. I;arthol-
omcw Sholto in joy and in sorrow for
ten long years, but l never saw him
with such n face on him as that
Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and
led the way. for Thaddcus Sholto's
teeth were chattcring in his head. So
shaken was he that l had to pass my
hand under his arm rs we went up the
stairs, for his knees were trembling
under him. Twice us we asccrdcd
Holmes whipped his lens out of his
pocket and carefully examined marks
which appeared to me To bc mere
shapclcss smudges of dust upon the
cocoa-nut mating which served ns n
stair-carpct. lie walked slowly from
step 10 step. holding the lamp low. and
shooting keen glanccs to right and
left. Miss Morstan had remained be-
hind with the frightened housclsecpcr.
The third flight of stnirs ended in Il
straight passage of some length. with
great picture in Indian tapestry.up
the right Of it and three doors upon the
left Holmes advanced along II In the
same slow and mcthodicul why. while
we kept close Mt 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 to turn the
handle and force II open. 1T was
locked on the inside, however, and by u
broad and powerful bolt, us we could
see when we set our lamp up against
IL. The key ocing turned. however,
the hole was not entirely closed. Shcr-
lock Holmes bent down to It, and in.
stnntly rose again with sharp intals-
ing Of the breath.
There is something dcvilish In this.
Watson" said he. more moved than
had ever before seen him. what do
you make OF it?''
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