Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-05-16


him a pendulous lip, and too visible
line of yellow and irregular teeth,
which he strove feebly to conceal by
constantly passing his hand over the
lower part of his face. In spite of his
obtrusive badness, he gave the impress
sion of youth. In point Of fact he had
just turned his thirtieth year.
Your servant, Miss Morstan," he
kept repeating in thin, high voice.
''Your servant, gentlemen. Pray step
into my little sanctum- A small place,
miss, but furnished to my own liking.
An oasis of art in the bowling desert Of
| South London
We were all astonished by the ap-
pearance of the apartment into which
| he invited u.s. In that sorry house it
| looked as out of place as a diamond of
| the first water in a setting OF brass
The richest and glossiest of curtains
| and tapestries draped the walls, looped
back here and there to expose some
richly mounted painting or Oriental
lsyase. The carpet was Of amber and
black, so soft and so thick that the
| foot sank pleasantly into it. as into
| bed of moss. Two great tiger-skins
thrown athwart it increased the sug-
| gestion of eastern luxury, as did -
7
in the corner. A lamp in the fashion Of
silver dove was hung from an almost
invisible golden wire in the center OF
| the room. AS it burned it filed the air
| with a subtle and aromatic odor.
''Mr. Thaddeus Sholto, said the little
! man, still jerking and smiling. THAT
| is my name. You are Miss Morstan, OF
course. And these gentlemen"
''This is Mr.. Sherlock Holmes, and
this DIR. Watson"
"a doctor, eh?" cried he, much ex-
cited. "Have you your stethoscope?
Might ask you-would you have the
kindness? I have grave doubts as to
my mitral valve, if you would be so very
good. The aortic may rely upon, but
| should value your opinion upon the
mitra1."
/ listened to his heart as requested,
but was unable to find anything amiss,
save indeed that he was in an ecstasy
of fear, for he shivered from head to
foot. 1T appears to be normal, 1
said. You have no cause for uneasi-
ness"
You will excuse my anxiety, Miss
Morstan,' he remarked, airily. 81 am
a great sufferer, and l have long had
suspicious as to that valve. I am de-
lighted 70 near that they are unwar-
ranted. Had your father, Miss Nor
stan, refrained from throwing q strain
upon his heart he might have been
alive now"
| I could have struck the man across
the face, so hot was I at this callous
and off-hand reference to so delicate a
matter. Miss Morstan sat down and
her face grew white to the lips. 81
knew in my heart that he was dead, -
said she.
81 can give you every information, -
said he, land, what is more, l can do
, you justice; and 1 will, too, whatever
Brother Bartholomew may say. am
so glad to have your friends here, not
only as an escort to you, but also as
: witnesses to what 1 am about to do and
say. The three of US can show bold
< front to Brother Bartholomew. But let
l US have no outsiders-nop police or Off
, Gals. We can settle everything salts
? factorily among ourselves. without any
&. interference. Nothing would annoy
= Brother Bartholomew more than any
S publicity" He sat down upon low
: settee and blinlked at US inquiringly
:. with his weak, watery blue eyes.
r For my part said Holmes, what
D ever you may choose to say will go nc
;, ! further"
!. I nodded to show my agreement.
: THAT is welli That is well!' said he
4 ''NIay offer you a glass of Chianti
: Miss Morstan? Or of Tolzay? I keeE
no other wines. Shall open a flask;
i No? Well, then, trust that you have
no objection to tobacco smoke, to the
mild balsamic odor of the eastern to
bacco. 1 am little nervous, and fine
my hookah an invaluable sedative.
He applied a taper to the great bowl
and the smoke dubbed merrily through
the rose water. We sat all three in {
semicircle. with our heads advanced
and our chins upon our hands, while
the strange, jerlzy little fellow, with
his high, shining head, pulled uneasily
in the center.
when first determined to make
this communication to ycu," said he
81 might have given you my address
but feared that you might disregard
my request and bring unpleasant PEG
pie with you. 1 took the liberty, there
fore, of making an appointment in sucl
a way that my man Williams might b
able to see you first I have complet
confidence in his discretion, and he haa
orders, if he Were dissatisfied, to pro
coed no further in, the matter. YO
will excuse these precautions, but an
a man of somewhat retiring, and
i. might even say refined, tastes, an
)" there is nothing more unesthetic tina,