Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-07-04


brought you in that sudden way. No,
1 must prepare you by showing you
how we all stand to each other. In the
first place, must tell you that there
are several points in the story of which
am myself ignorant. 1 can only lay
the facts before you as far as know
them myself
My father was, as you may have
guessed, Maj. John Sho1to, once of the
Indian army. He retired some eleven
years ago, and came to live at Pondi-
cherry lodge in Upper Norwood. He
had prospered in India, and brought
back with him a considerable sum OF
money, large collection of valuable
scuriosities and staff of native serv-
ants With these advantages he bought
himself house and lived in great lux
ury. My twin brother Bartholomew
and were the only children.
Il very we'll remember the sensation
which was caused by the disappear
ance of Capt. Morstan. We read the
details in the papers, and, knowing
that he had been a friend of our IA
theirs, we discussed the case freely in
his presence. He used to join in our
speculations as to what could have hap
pened. Never for an instant did we
suspect that he had the whole secret
hidden in his own breast-that of all
men he alone knew the fate of Arthur
Morstan.
I'VE did know. however, that some
mystery-some positive danger-over-
hung our father. He was very fearful
of going out alone, and he always EN-
ployed two prize fighters to act as por"
tiers at Pondicherry lodge. Williams,
who drove you tonight, was one OF
them. He was once lightweight cham
pion of England. Our father would
never tell US what it was that he feared,
but he had a most marked aversion to
with men wooden legs On one occa-
sion he actually fred his revolver at a
wooden-legged man, who proved to be
harmless tradesman canvasslng for
orders. We had to pay a large sum to
hush the matter up. My brother and l
used to think this a mere whim of my
fathers, but events have since led US
to change our opinion.
EARLY in 1892 my father received a
letter from India which was a great
shock to him. He nearly tainted at the
breakfast table when he opened it, and
from that day he sickened to his death.
What was in the letter we could never
discover. but l could see as he held it
that it was short and written in a
scrawling hand. He had suffered for
years from an enlarged spleen, but he
now became rapidly worse and towards
the END of April we were informed that
he was beyond all hope. and that he
wished to make a last communication
to US.
when we entered his room he was
propped up with pillows and breathing
heavily. He besought US to lock the
door and to come upon either side OF
the bed Then, grasping our hands, he
made a remarkable statement to US, in
voice which was broken as mneh by
emotion as by pain I shall try and
give it to you in his own very words
81 have only one thing he said,
| which weighs upon my mind at this
supreme moment It IS my treatment
of poor Morstan-s orphan The cursed
| greed which has been my besetting sin
| through Life has withheld from her
| the treasure, half at least of which
| should have been hers And yet have
| made no use of il myseh-so blind and
/ foolish thing IS avariec- The mere
| feeling of possession has been so dear
! to r1e that could not bear to share it
/ with another See that chaplet tipped
with pearls beside the quinine bottle7
| Even that could not bear to part
with. although had got 1t out with
| the design of sending it to her. You,
my sons, viii give her q fair share of
/ the Agra treasure But send her moth
! ing-not even the ehaplet-untn ! am
| gone After all, men have been as bad
as this and have recovered.
| ITO BE CoS1INUEof