The Irish standard., 1895-05-04

great rubbish heaps which numbered
the grounds. Miss Morstan nd stood
together, and her hand was in mine. A
wondrous subtle thing is love, for here
were we two who had never seen each
other before that day, between whom
no word or even look of affection had
trouble our hands instincfively sought
for each other. I have marveled at it
since, but at the time it seemed the
most natural thing that should go
out to her SO, and, as she has often told
me-, there was in her also the instinct
to turn to me for comfort and protec~
ton. So we stood hand in hand, like
two children, and there was peace IN
our hearts for all the dark things that
surrounded us.
What strange PLACED" she said,
looking around. t's,,
''It looks as though all the ,noles in
England had been let loose III it. I
have seen something; Of the sort on the
side of a hill near Ballarat where the
prospectors had been at work.
"And from the same cause,'' said
Holmes. 'These are the traces of
treasure-seekers. You must remember
that they were six years looking for it.
No wonder that the ground looks like
a gravelpit."
! At that moment the door burst open,
and Thaddeus Sholto came running
out, with his hands thrown orvard
and terror in his eyes.
t'There is something amiss with Bar
tholonew!'' he cried. t'I am fright
enedl MY nerves cannot stand it,. Ha
was, indeed, lf-blubbering with fear,
and his twitching, feeble face, peeping
out from the great Astrakhan collar,
had the helpless, appealing expression
of terrified child.
s'Come into the house, said Holmes,
in his crisp, firm way.
Eyes, dol" pleaded Thaddeus Sholto.
81 really do not feel equal to giving di-
rectipns."
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
a scared look and restless, picking
fingers, but the sight Of Miss Morstah
appeared to have a soothing effectupon
her. !;
t'God bless your sweet calm faceHA
she cried, with historical sob. ''It
does me good to see you Oh, but /
have been sorcly tired this day. -
Our companion patted her thin, work
worn hand, and nur;n,1red s'Fne few
words of kindly womanly comfort
which brought the color back into the
others b1oodless cheeks.
'sMaster has locked himself in and
will not answer me" she explained.
''All day have waited to hear from
him, for he often likes to be alone; but
an hour ago feared that some thing twas
aniss, So I went UP and peeped through
the keyhole. You must go up, Mr..
Thaadeus-you mustago Zip and. look
for Yourself. I have seen Mr.. Barthol-
o1new sholto in JOY ana in sorrow for
ten long years, but never saw him
with such a face on him as that" IN
Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and
led the way, for Thaddeus sholto's
teeth were chattering in his head. So
shaken was he that had to pass my
hand under his arm as 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 to me to be mere
shapeless smudges Of dust upon the
cocoa-nut mating which served as q
stair-carpet. he walked slowly from
step to step, holding the lamp low, and
shooting keen glances to right and
left. Miss Morstan had remained be-
hind with the frightened tousekeeper.
The third fight Of stairs ended in a
straight passage Of some length, with
great picture In Indian tapestry'upon
the right Of it and three doors upon the