St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1895-08-17

words of affection upon my lips. She
was weak and helpless, shaken in mind
and nerve. It was to take her at dis
advantage to obtrude love upon her al
such time. Worse, still, she was
rich. If Holmes researches were sue.
cessful she would be an heiress. Was
it fair; was it honorable, that half.
pay surgeon should take such advan.
tage of an intimacy which chance had
brought about? Might she not look
upon me as mere vulgar fortune
| seeker? I could not bear to risk that
such thought should cross her mind.
This Agra treasure intervened like an
impossible barrier between us.
1t was nearly two o'clock when we
reached Mrs. Cecil Forrester's The
servants had retired hours ago, but
Mrs. Forester had been so interested
by the strange message which Miss
Morstan had received that she had sat
up. in the hope of her return. She
opened the door herself, a middle-aged,
graceful woman, and it gave me joy to
see how tenderly her arm stole round
the others waist and how mother1y
was the voice in which she greeted her.
She was clearly no mere paid depend
ent, but an honored friend. ! was in
troduced, and Mrs. Forester earnestly
begged me to step in and to tell her our
adventures. | explained, however, the
Importance of my errand, and prom
ised faithfully to call and report any
progress which we might make with
the case. AS we drove away I stole a
glance back. and / still seem to see
that little group on the step, the two
graceful, clinging figures, the half
opened door, the hall light shining
through stained glass, the barometer,
and the bright stair rods. It was sooth-
ing to catch even that passing glimpse
of tranquil English home in the midst
of the wild, dark business which had
absorbed u.s.
And the more thought Of what had
happened, the wilder and darker it
grew. / reviewed the whole extraor-
dinary sequence of events as I ratified
on through the silent gas-lit streets.
There was the original problem; that
at least was pretty clear now. The
death of Capt. Morstan, the sending of
the pearls, the advertisement, the let
ter-we had had light upon all those
events They had only led us, how
ever, to a deeper and far more tragic
mystery. The Indian treasure. the
curious plan found among Morstan's
baggage, the strange scene at Maj.
Sholtos death, the rediscovery of the
treasure Immediately followed by the
murder of the discoverer, the very sin
gular accompaniment to the crime, the
footsteps, the remarkable weapons, the
words upon the card. corresponding
with those upon Capt. Morstan's chart
here indeed was labyrinth in which
a man less singularly endowed than my
fellow lodger might well despair of
ever finding the clew.
Pinchin lane was a row of shabby
two-storied brick houses in the lower
quarter of Lambeth. / had to knock
for some time at No. before could
make any impression. At last, how
ever, there was the CLINT of candle
behind the blind, and face looked out
at the upper window.
TO on, you drunken vagabond,a said
the face. IF you kick up any more
row I'll open the kennels and let out
forty-three dogs upon you.'
''If you'll let one out it's just what
have come for" said I.
go ont" yelled the voice . so help
me gracious, ] have a wiper in this bag,
an I'll drop it on you're 'ead if you
1on't hook it"
But want dogi" Icried.
II won't be argued with" shouted
Mr.. Sherman. "Now stand clear; for
when I say three, down goes the
wiper
"Mr. Sherlock Holmes ! began, but
5he words had a most magical effect,
sor the window instantly slammed
1own, and within minute the door
vas unbarred and open. Mr.. Sherman
vas a lanky, lean old man, with stoop-
ng shoulders, a stringy neck and blue
,inted glasses.
"A friend of Mr.. Sherlock is always |
Welcome. " said he. stStep in, sir. Keep
lear of the badger; for he bites. All,
naughty, naughty, would you take a
lip at the gentleman" This to stoat |
which thrust its wicked head and red
yes between the bars of its cage.
Don't mind that, sir; it's only slow
worm. 1t hain't got no fangs, so I
sives it the run o. the room, for it
zeeps the beetles down. You must not
mind my bein' just little short WI
'ou at first. for Pm guyed at by the
hi1dren, and there's many one just
omes down this lane to knock me mp.
What was it that Mr.. Sherlock Holmes
wanted, sir?''
He wanted a dog of yours
.Ah! that would be Toby"
Yes, Toby was the name.
Toby lives at No Z on the left
ere" He moved slowly forward with
lis candle among the queer animal
amily which he had gathered round
i'm. In the uncertain, shadowy light
could see dinly that there were
lancing, glimmering eyes peeping
own at ms from every Granny and
orner. Even the rafters above our
eads were lined by solemn fowls, who
azily shifted their weight from one
ag to the other as our voices dis
urbed their slumbers.
Toby proved to be an ugly, long
aired, lop-eared creature, half span
i and half lurcher, ,brown-and-whitein in
olor, with q very clumsy waddling
ait It accepted, after some hesita-
ion, lump Of sugar which the old
aturalist handed to me, and, having
hus sealed an alliance, 1t followed me