Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-03-28


HE HELD VI THE LANTNHN
trouble our hands ilistnclivtly sought
for each other ! have narvelcd at it
since, but Mt the time it seemed the
most natural thing that should go
out tp her 50, and, us she has often told
me, tilerc was In her also the instinct
to turn to me for comfort and protec-
tlon So we stood hand in hand, like
two children, and there was peace IN
our hearts for all the dark things that
surrounded VA.
what Il strange place. she said,
looking around.
ut looks as though oil the moles In
England had been let loose in 1t. |
have seen something Of the sort on the
side Of lill near Ballarat, where the
prospcctors had been Mt work.
"And from the same enuse." said
Holmes. "Thcse are the traces OF
trcasure-scekers You must remember
that they were SIX years looking for 1t.
No wonder that the ground looks like
o gravclpit. "
At that moment the door burst open,
and 1haddeus Sholto came running
out, with his hands thrown forward
and terror in his eyes.
There is something amiss with Bar
tholomcw!' he cried. ~ am fright
encdl My nerves cannot stand it, lie
was. indeed, half-blubbeving with fear,
und his twitching, feeble tace, peeping
ont from the grent Astrakhan collar,
had the helpless, appealing expression
of terrified child.
"Come into the house, said Holmes,
in his crisp. firm way,
"yes, dol" pleaded Thaddcus Sholto.
~ really do not fcclequal to giving d.
rections."
| We all followed him into the house.
keepers room, which stood upon the
left-hand side Of the passage. The old
woman wns pacing up and down with
a scared look and restless, picking
fingers, but the sight Of Miss Morstau
appeared to have q soothing effect upon
her.
God bless your sweet calm facet"
she cried, with q historical sob. 1T
does me good to see you. Oh, but I
have been sorcly tired this day.
Our companion pattcd her thin, work.
worn hand and murmured some few
words Of kindly womanly comfort
which brought the color back into the
others bloodless cheeks,
Master has locked himself In and
will not answer me- she explained.
AN day hive waited to hear from
him, for ho often likes to be alone; but
an hour ! feared that something was
amiss, SO | went up and peeped through
the keyhole, You must go up, Mr.,
rhaddeus--you must go up and look
for yourself have seen Mr.. Barthol.
omcw Sholto in joy and In sorrow for
ten long years, but never saw him
with such face on him as that"
Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and
led the way, for Thaddeus Sholtos
teeth were chattering in his head. So
shaken was he that | had to pass my
hand under his arm as we went up the
stairs, for his knees were trembling
under him, Twice as we assembled
Holmes whipped his lens out Of his
pocket and carefully examined marks
which appeared to me to be mere
shapcless smudges Of dust upon the
cocoa-nut mating which served as Q
stair-carpet. He walked slowly from
step to step, holding the lamp low, and
shooting keen glanccs to right and
left Miss Morstan had remained be-
hind with the frightened housekeeper.
The third flight of stairs ended in q
straight passage Of some length, with
great picture in Indian tapestryupon
the right of II and three doors upon the
left Holmes advanced along 1t in the
same slow and methodical way, while
we kept close ut his heels, with our
long black shadows streaming back
wards down the corridor, The third
door was that which we were seeking.
Holmes knocked without receiving my
answer, and then tried to turn the
handle and force it open. 1t was
locked on the inside, however, and by
broad and powerful bolt, as we could
see when we set our lamp up against
1t. The key being turned, however,
the hole was not entirely closed. Sher-
lock Holmes bent down to II, and In
stantly rose again with a sharp intak.
Ing Of the breath.
"There is something devilish in this,
Watson" said he, more moved than l
had ever before seen him. What do
yoa make Of ltp'
stopped to the hole, and recoiled In
horror. Moonlight was streaming into
the room, and II was bright with q
vague and shifty radiance. Looking
straight at me, and suspended, as It
were, In the air, for all beneath was in
shadow, there hung face-the very
face Of our companion Thaddeus.
There was the same high, shining
head, the same circular brlstle Of red
hair, the same bloodless countenance.
The features were set, however, In o
horrible smile, fixed and unnatural
grin, which In that still and moonlit
room was more Earring to the nerves
than any scowl or contortion, So like
was the face to that Of our little friend
that ! looked round at him TO make
sure that he was indeed with us, Then
recalled TO mind that he had men
toned to US that his brother and he
were twins.
"This Is terrible!s said to Holmes.
a l.. A l.. 4 nj