Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-02-14

brass salver.
 "A young lady for you, sir" she said, addressing my companion.
 Miss Mary Morstan," he read. Hum. have no recollection of the name. Ask the young lady to step up, Mrs. Hudson. Don't go. doctor shall prefer that you remain"
 CHAPTER II.
 Miss Morstan entered the room with a firm step and m outward composure of manner, Shc was blond young lady. small, dainty, well glovcd and dressed in the most perfect taste. There was, how sver a plainncss and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means The dress was n somher grayish beige untrimmcd and unbraided, and she wore n small turban of the same dull hue, relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. Her face had neither regularity of feature nor bcauty of complexion, but her expression was sweet and amiable, and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympa- thetic. In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three sep arate continents l have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature. I could not
  Sherlock Holmes placed for her her lip trembled, her hand quivered, and she showed every sign of intense inward agi. tation.
 II have come to you, NIT. Holmes, she said, "because you oncc enabled my Cm- ployer, Mrs. Cecil Forester, to unravel a little domestic complication. She was much impressed by your kindness and skill"
 Mrs Cecil Forester, he repeated thoughtfully. T believe that l was of some slight service to her. The case, how ever, as l remember it, was very simple one"
 ''She did not think SO But at least you cannot say the same of mine. l can hard ly imagine anything moro strange, moro utterly incxplicable, than the situation in which find myself
 Holmes rubbed his hands, and his eyes glistcned. lie leaned forward in his chair with an expression of extraordinary con ccntration upon his clear cut, hawklike features "Stato your case" said he in brisk business tones
 felt that my position was an embar- rassing one. You will. I am sure, cx- cuso me, " said, rising from my chair.
 To my surprise the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me If your 
 to stop. he might be of ineStimable service to mo.
 l rclapscd into my chair Briefly" she continued, the facts are these: My father was an officer in an In dian regiment who sent m3 home when 1 was quite child. My mother was dead, and had no relative in England was placed, however, in n comfortable board ing establishment at Edinburgh, and there I remained until was l7 years of age In tho year 1878 my father, who was sen | Tor captain of his regiment, obtained l2 months leave and camc home. Hc tele- graphed to me from London that he had arrived all safe and directed mo to como town at once giving the Langham hotel ! as his address His message, as l rcmcm- I Der, was full of kindness and love On | reaching London l drove to the Langham | and was informed that Captain Morstan | was staying there, but that ho had gone out the night before and had not returned | I waited all day without news of him. | That night, on the advice of the manager | of the hot, l, communicated with the DO, lice, and next morning We advertised in all the papers. Our inquiries led to no result, and from that day tu this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father He came homo with his heart full I and instead"- She put her hand to her throat, and choking sob cut short tho | Entcnce
 The date: anhrd Holmes, opening his notebook
 He disappeared on the Sd of December. 1878, nearly ten years ago
 His luggage
 Remained at the hotel There was l .1- clothes. some books and 0 considerable number of curiosirl.s from the Alderman | islands He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict guard there "
 Had he any friends in town:'
 Only one that We know of-MajOr Sholto of his own regiment, tho Thirty. fourth Bombay infantry. The major had retired some little time before and lived at Upper Norwood We communicated with him, of course, but he did not even know that his brother officer was in Eng land"
 "A singular case" remarked Holmes.
 II have not yet described to you the most singular part, About six years ago ito be cxact upon the 4th of May, lSS2- an advertisement appeared in The Times asking for the address of Miss Mary 1 Morstan and stating that it would he tC her advantage to come forward There was no name or addrcsS appended. had at that time just entered the family oi Mrs. Cecil Forester in tkc capacity oi govcrncss By her advice published my address in tho advertisement column. The sa6ne day there arrived through the post ( small car?board box addressed to me which found to contain n very large and lustrous pearl.
 No word of writing was incloScd. Since I fhpN hn ,1 1ufn bnr, has always appeared n similar box con taining similar pearl without any cleN as to tine sender. They have been pro l nounced by an expert to he of a rare varie ty and of considerable value You can SC, for yourselves that they arc very hand some" She opened flat box as she spokt
 and showed mo six of the finest pearl
 that had ever seen.
 Your statement Is most interesting, said Sherlock Holmes Has anything elso occurred to youf"
 "Yes, and no later than today. Tha
 is why have come to you. This morning
 I received this letter. which you will per
 haps read for yourself"
 Thank you." said Holmes. Tho cn \ veIope. too please. Postm.rk London, s
 w, date July . Hum! Mans thuml
 mark on corner-prohably postman. Bes i quality paper. Envelopes at sixpcnce
 packet. Particular man in his stationery | No address. Be at the third pillar iron the left outside tho Lyceum theater to
 night at o'clock. If you arc distrustful bring two friends. You arc a wrongc' woman and shall have justice. Do no
 bring police. If you do, all will be in vain Your unknown friend We'll, really, thi is 0 very pretty little mystery. What d
 you intend to do, Miss Morstans" That Is exactly what want to as you"
 "Then we shall most certainly go. Yo : and I and-yes. why, Dr. Watson Is tn .. | very man. Your correspondent says tw .. friends. He and I have worked togethe before