The Press., 1895-04-25

the most perfect taste There was, how ever, plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it suggt stion of limited means. The dress was somher grayish beige, untrimmed and unbraided, and she wore small turban of the same dull hue relieved only by suspicion of white feather in the side. Her face had neither regularity of feature nor beauty 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 have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature. could not but observe that as she took the seat which 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, MT. Holmes, she said, because you once enabled my em- 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 II believe that I was of
 
 ever, as I 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 more strange, more F utterly ineXplicable, than the situation in which find myself. '
 Holmes rubbed his hands, and his eyes glistened He leaned forward in his chair with an expression of extraordinary con- centration upon his clear cut, hawklike features "State your case, said he in brisk business tones.
 felt that my position was an embar- raSsing one. You will, I am sure, ex cuse me-" said, rising from my chair
 To my surprise the young lady held up her gloved hand to dctain me. If your Giend,' she said, would be good enough to stop he might be of inestimable service to me.
 relapsed into my chair.
 Briefly" she continued, the facts are these: My father was an officer in an In dian regiment who sent me home when was quite child. My mother was dead, and had no relative in England. was placed, however, in comfortable board ing establishment at Edinburgh, and there ! remained until I was 17 years of age. In the year 1878 my father, who was sen for captain of his regiment, obtained 12 months leave and came home. He tele- graphed to me from London that he had arrived all safe and directed me to come down at once, giving the Langham hotel as his address His message, as remem Der, was full of kindness and love. On reaching London drove to the Langham and was informed that Captain Morstan was staying there, but that he had gone ho mi hofO 1 bo1 0f waited all day without news of him. That night on the advice of the manager of the hotel, 1 communicated with the DO lice, and next morning we advertised in all the papers. Our inquiries led to no result, and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. He came home with his heart full of hope to find some peace, some comfort, and instead''- She put her hand to her throat, and choking sob cut short the sentence
 "The date?" asked Holmes, opening his notebook.
 "He disappeared on he 3d of December, 1878, nearly ten years ago."
 His luggage?"
 Remained at the hotel There was nothing in it to suggest a clew-some clothes, some books and a considerable number of curiositiCs from the Andaman 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 regil.tent, the 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 hot ko oSc land.'
 "A singular case, remarked Holmes.
 II have not yet described to you the most singular part. About six years ago ito be exact, upon the 4th of May, 1882 an advertisement appeared ill The Times asking for the address of Miss Mary Morstan and stating aEl- 5 t~ her advantage to come forward There was no name or address appended. I had at that time just entered the family oi Mrs. Cecil Forester in the capacity oi goVerness. By her advice published my address in the advertisement column. The same day there arrived through the post 8 small cardboard box addressed to me, which found to contain a very large and lustrOus pearl.
 No word of writing was inclosed. Since then every year upon the same date there mas always appeared similar box con- taining similar pearl without any clew as to the sender. They have been pro nounced by an expert to be of a rare varie- ty and of considerable value You can see for yourselves that they are very hand some." She opened a fiat box as she spoke and showed me six of the finest pearls that had ever seen.
 Your statement is most interesting, '' said Sherlock Holmes Has anything else occurred to you9''
 "Yes, and no later than today That Is why have come to you. This morning l received this letter, which you will per haps read for yourself
 "Thank you," said Holmes. 1.-The en velope, too, please. Postmark London, s. w., date July 2. Hum! Mans thumb mark on corner-probably postman. Best quality paper. Envelopes at sixpencc a packet. Particular man in his stationery. No address Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum theater to- night at o'clock. If you are distrustful, bring two friends. You are a wronged woman and shall have justice. Do not bring police. If you do, all will be in vain Your unknown friend. Well, really, this is very pretty little mystery What dc you intend to do, Miss Morstan9"
 That is exactly what I want to ask you"
 "Then yo ehnIl most certainly Oo YOu