The Delta independent., 1895-07-10

huge hoolah which stood upon Il mat
in the corner. A Alamp 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 subtle and aromatic odor.
Mr.. Thaddcus 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 DR.. Watson
"A doctor. ch?" cried he. much cx-
cited. Have you your stethoscope?
Might ask you-would you have the
kindness? l have grave doubts as to
my mi;ral valve, if you would be so very
good. The aortic | may rely upon, but
Should value your opinion upon the
mitral."
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 shivcred from head to
foot. LIT appears to be normal,
said. You have no cause for uneasi-
ness"
You will excuse my anxiety, Miss
Morstan,' he remarked. airily. Il am
q great sufferer, and l have long had
suspicious as to that valve. / am de-
lighted to hear that they are unwar-
rantcd. Had your father. Miss Nor
stan. refrained from throwing strain
upon his heart he might have been
alive now
| could have struck the man across
the face, SO hot was l at this callous
and otf-hnnd reference to so delicate
matter. Miss Morstan sat down sno
her face grew white to the lips. II
kncw in my heart that he was dead"
said she.
~ can give You every information"
said he, ''and, what is more, | can do
yon justice: and | 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 am about To do and
say. The three OF us can show n bnld
front to Brother Bartholomew. But let
us haze no outsidcrs-no police or Off
cials. We can settle everything salts
factorily among ourselves, without any
Interference. Nothing would annoy
Brother bartholomew more than any
publicity" lie sat down upon low
settce and blinkcd at us inqu:ringly
with his weak, watcry blue eyes.
Fer my part" said Holmes, what
ever yen may choose to say will go no
further
nodded to show my agreement.
THAT is we'll! That is wcli!'' said he
"May I offer you a glass OF Chianti,
Miss Morstan? Or of Tol;ny? ] keep
no other wines. Shall I open n flask?
No? Well then, trust that you l,avc
no objection to tobacco smoke. to the
mild balsa mic odor of the eastern to-
bacco. ! am little nervous. and find
my hooliah an invaluable scdative."
lie applied n taper to the great bowl.
and the smoke bubblcd incrrily through
the rose water. We sat all three in
scnicirclc. with our heads advanced,
and our chins upon our hands, while
the strange, ierky little fellow. with
his high. shining head, puffcd uucasily
in the center.
when I first determined to make
this communication to you," said he,
II might have given you my address.
but feared that You might disreg gard
my request and bring unpleasant peo-
pie with you. took the liberty, there
fore. of making an appointment in such
a way that ny man Williams might he
able to see you first. I have cor1pletc
confidence in his discretion. and he had
orders II he were dissatisfied. to pro-
coed no further in the rJatter. You
will cxcusc these precautions, but am
man of somewhat retiring. and |
might even say rcfncl tastes, and
there is nothing more uGpsthctic than
policeman. / have a natural shrink
ing from all forms of rough material
ism. ] seldom come in contact with
the rough crowd. | live. as yon see,
with some little atmosphere of Gle
gancc around me. ] may call inyGclf Z
patron of the arts. 1t is rny weakness.
The landscape is Il genuine Carrot. and,
though n connoisscur might perhaps
throw doubt upon that salvator Rosa,
there cannot be the least question about
the Bougucrcau. | am partial to the
modern French school"
"You will excuse me, Mr.. Sholto,"
said Miss fIorstan, but I am here at
your request to learn something which
you desire to tell me. 1t is very late,
and should desire the interview to be
us short as possible"
"At the best it must take some time"
he answered.; "for we shall certainly
have to go to Norwood and see Brother
Bartholomew. We shall all go and try
II we can get the better OF Brother
Bartholomew. lie is very angry with
me for taking the course which has
seemed right TO me. | had quite high
words with him last night. You can
not imagine what n terrible fellow he
is when he is angry"
''If we are to go to Norwood it would
perhaps be as well to start at once"
ventured to remark.
lie laughed until his cars were quite
red.
THAT would hardly do" he cried. ~
don't know what he would say il