The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-06-28
CHAPTER TX.


II was late in the afternoon before
woke, strengthened and refreshed
Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as
had left him, save that he had laid
aside his violin and was deep in a book
He looked across at me as stirred, and
| noticed that his face was dark and
troubled.
You have slept soundly," he said
Il feared that our talk would wake
YOU" -.
"Iheard nothing" answered. "Have
you had fresh news, them"
Unfortunately, no. confess that
am surprised and disappointed. ! ex-
pected something definite by this time.
Wiggins has just been up to report.
He says that no trace can be found OF
the launch. Il is provoking check,
for every hour is of Importance"
Can l do anything? l am perfectly
fresh now, and quite ready for another
nights outing"
mo; we can do nothing. We can
only wait. Ii we go ourselves, the mes
sage might come in our absence, and
delay be caused, You can do what you
will but must remain on guard"
Then l shall run over to Gambler
well and call upon Mrs. Cecil Forester.
She asked me to, yesterday"
''On Mrs. Cecil Forrester?" asked
Holmes, with the twinkle of a smile in
his eyes.
well. of course, on Miss Morstan
too. They were anxious to hear what
happened"
Il would not tell them too much, -
said Holmes. s''Women are never to be
entirely trusted-not the best of them. "
did not pause to argue over this
atrocious sentiment. Il shall be back
in an hour or two" remarked.
.'All right! Good luckl But. say,
if you are crossing the river you may
as well return Toby, for don't think
it is at all likely that we shall have
any use for him now"
took our mongrel accordingly, and
/ LETT him. together with half sovereign,
at the old natura lists in Pinchin lane.
At Camberwell | found Miss Morstan a
little weary after her nights adven-
lures, but very eager to hear the news.
Mrs. Forester, too, was full of curioS-
| ity. / told them all that we had done,
suppressing, however, the more dread
ful parts of the tragedy. Thus, al
| though l spoke of Mr.. Sholto's death, /
said nothing of the exact manner and
method of it. With all my omissions,
however, there was enough to startle
and amaze them.
1T is romance" cried Mrs. Forres-
ter. AN injured lady, half million
in treasure, a black cannibal and a
woodeh-legged ruffian. They take the
place of the conventional dragon or
wicked earl"
And two knight-errants to the res
cue" added Miss Morstan, with a
bright glance at me.
why, Mary, your fortune depends
upon the issue of this search. | don't
think that you are nearly excited
enough. Just imagine what it must
be TO be so rich aad to have the world
at your feet!''
Ii. sent thrill of Joy to my heart to
notice that she showed no sign of Ella
ton at the prospect. On the contrary,
she gave a toss of her proud head, as
| though the matter were one in which
she took small interest.
1T is for Mr.. Thaddeus Sholto that l
am anxious" she said. Nothing else
is of any consequence; but l think
that he has behaved most kindly and
honorably throughout. 1t is our duty
to clear him of this dreadful and un-
founded charge"
1t was evening before / left Gambler
well, and quite dark by the time l
reached home. My companions book
and pipe lay by his chair, but he had
disappeared. l looked about in the
hope of seeing d note, but there was
none.
81 suppose that Mr.. Sherlock Holmes
has gone OUT" said to Mrs. Hudson as
she came up to lower the blinds.
No, sir. He has gone to his room,
sir. Do you know, sir" sinking her
voice into an impressive whisper, Il am
afraid for his health?"
why so, Mrs. Hudson?"
swell, he's that strange, sir. After
you was gone he walked and he
walked, up and down, and up. and
down, until 1 was weary of the sound
of his footstep. Then l heard him
talking to himself and muttering, and
every time the bell rang out he came
on the stair-head with: What is that,
Mrs. Hudson?' And now he has
slammed off to his room, but l can hear
him walking away the same as ever. 1
hope he's not going to be i'll, sir. 1
ventured to say something to him about
cooling medicine, but he turned on me,
sir, with such look that don't know
how 1 ever got out of the room"
Il don't think that you have any
cause to be uneasy, Mrs Hudson" l
answered. 81 have seen him like this
before. He has some small matter up
Oh his mind which makes HIM restless" F"
tried to speak lightly to our worthy
landlady, but l was myself somewhat
uneasy when, through the long night,
1 still from time to time heard the dull
sound of his tread, and knew how his
keen spirit was chatting against this
involuntary inaction-
At breakfast time he looked worn
and haggard, with a little fieck of
feveriSh color upon either cheek.