The Press., 1895-05-09
told my brother last night that I should

know very well that I must stick to regu- lations. can let you in, but your friends they must just stop where they are"
 This was an unexpected obstacle. Thad- deus Sholto looked about him in per plexed and helpless manner. This is too bad of you, McMurdol" he said. If guarantee them, that is enough for you. There Is the young lady too. She cannot wait in the public road at this hour.''
 "Very sorry, MT. Thaddeus," said the porter inexorably. Folk may be friends O yours and yet no friends O the mas ter'a. He pays me well to do my duty, and my duty I'll do. don't know none O your friends.
 "Oh, yes, you do, McMurdo," cried Sherlock Holmes genially. II don't think you can have forgotten me. Don't you re- member the amateur who fought three rounds with you at Alison's rooms on the night of your benefit four years backY'
 Not MT. Sherlock Holmesl'' roared the prizeflghter. Gods truth, how could have mistook you? If instead O standin there SO quies you had just stepped up and given me that cross hit O yours under the jaw I'd ha' known you without a question. An, you're one that has wasted your gifts, you have! You might have aimed high if you had joined the fancy" You see, Watson, If all else fails me, have still one of the scientific professions open to me-" said Holmes, laughing. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now, l am sure"
 "In you come, sir, in you come, you and your friends" he answered. Every sorry, MT. Thaddeus, but orders are very strict Had to be certain of your friends before let them in."
 Inside Q gravel path wound through desolate grounds to a huge clump of a house, square and prosaic, all plunged in shadow save where a mOOnbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret | window. The vast size of the building, with its gloom and its deathly silence, 1 struck chiIf to the heart. Even Thad- 1 deus Sho1to seemed i'll at ease, and the lantern quivered and rattled in his hand.
 II cannot understand it," he said. "There must be some mistake. I dis 1 tinctly told Bartholomt W that we should be here, and yet there Is no light in his window. I do not know what to make of it."
 Does he always guard the premises in this wayf' asked Holmes.
 "Yes, he has followed my fathers GUS tom. He was the fnvorite son, you know, 1 and sometimes think that my father may have told him more than he ever told me. Tint is BartholGsnew's window mp there where the mooBshine strikes. It is l quite bright, but there is no light from 1 within, think
 "None," said Holmes But I see the glint of light in that little window be- side the door,"
 ''Ah, that is the housekeeper's room. That is where old Mrs. Bernstono sits. She can tell us all about it. But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two, for if we all go in together and she has had no word of our coming she may be alarmed. But hush. What is that?"
 He held up the lantern, and his hand shook until the circles of light flickcrcd and wavered all round us. Miss Morstan seized my wrist, and we all stood with | humping hearts straining our ears. From the great black house there sounded through the silent night the saddcst and most pitiful of sounds-the shrill, broken whimpering of a frightened woman 1t is Mrs. Bernstone," said Sholto. ''She is the only woman in the house. Wait here. shall be be back in a mo- ment." He hurried for the door and knocked in his peculiar way. We could | see tall old woman admit him and sway with pleasure at the very sight of him.
 "Oh, MT. Thaddeus, sir, am so glad you have comet lam so glad you have come, MT. Thaddeus, sir!'' We heard heI reiterated rejoicings until the door was closed, and her voice died away into a l muffled monotone.
 Our guide had left us the lantern. Holmes swung it slowly round and peered keenly at the house and at the great rub bish heaps which cumbered the grounds l Miss Morstan and stood together, and l her hand was in mine. A wondrous sub tic 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 ever passed, and yet now in an hour of trouble our hands instinc- lively sought for each other. have mar veled at 1t since, but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that l should gC out to her so, and, as she has often told 1 me, there was in her also the instinct tC l turn to me for comfort and protection. Sc we stood hand in hand, like two children l and there was peace in our hearts for al the dark things that surrounded us. What 8 strange place!" she said, look ing round.
 "It looks as though all the moles in England had been let loose in it. have seen something of the sort on tho side oi a hill near Batlarat where the prospcctors had been At work"
 And from the same cause," saiG Holmes. ''These are the traces of the treasure seekers. You must remember that they were six years looking for it. No wonder that the grounds look like 2 l gravel pit.
 At that moment the door of the house 1 hcI ming out, with his hands thrown forward l and terror in his eyes.
 There is something amiss with Bar tholomew," he cried. II am frightened My nerves cannot stand it." He was in deed half biubbering with fear, and his twitching, feeble face peeping out from the great Astrakban collar had the help l less, appealing expression of a terrified child.
 Come into the house," said Holmes 1T his crisp, firm way.
 1 ''Yes, do," pleaded Thaddeus Sholto II really do not feel equal to giving di ! pections."
 We all followed him into the house keepers room, which stood upon the Jeff hand side of the passage. The old woman was pacing up and down, with a scared look and restless, picking fingers, but tho 1 sight of Miss Morstan appeared to have soothing effect upon her.
 l God bless your sweet. calm face!.' sht cried, with hysterical sob. It does me good to sec you. Oh, but have been sore ly tried this day!'
 Our companion patted her thin, worL worn hand and lnurmured some few wo1 |. of kindly wOmanly comfort which brought the color back into the others bloodles' l cheeks. -
 Muster has locked himself in and vii not answer me-" she explained. All day l have waited to hear from him, for ht often likes to be alone, but an hour ago feared that something was amiss, so went up and peeped through the keyhole You must go up, MT. Thaddous You must go up and look for yourself. have seen MT. Bartholomew Sholto in joy unC in sorrow for ten long years, but never saw him with such face on him as that , Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and lc( l the way, for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were 1 in hoo6 Co boI ,,.,,t