Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-05-09

II we are pretty quick In catching our
men. we are not SO quick in condemn,
ing them" 1t was amusing to notice
how the consequential Jones was al.
ready beginning to give himself airs on
the strength Of the capture. From the
slight smile which played over Sher-
lock Holmes face, | could see that the
speech had not been lost upon him
I'VE will be at Vaaxhall bridge
presently" said Jones, "and shall land
YOU, DR.. Watson, with the treasure
box. need hardly tell you that | am
taking very grave responsibility upon
myself in doing this. II is most irreg-
ular; but Of course an agreement lsan
agreement. NUT, however Ms n mat
ter of duty, send an inspector with
you, since you have 70 valuable
charge You will drive, no doubt
Eyes. | shall drive"
"It Is pity there Is no key, that we
may make an inventory first. You will
have to break it open. Where Is the
key. my man."
AT taa bottom Of the river said
Small, 'hortly.
"lluE There was no use you CIV
iay this unnscs sary trouble. We have
had worl, enough already through You.
However, doctor, | need not warn You
to he curcful. Bring the box back
with you to the Baker street rooms
You will find us there on our way to
the station
They landed me at Vauxhall with
my heavy iron box and with bluff,
genial inspector as my companion, A
quarter Of I'M hours drive brought us
to Mrs. Cecil Forrester's. The servant
seemed surprised at so late visitor
Mrs Cecil Forester was out for the
evening, she explained, and likely to
be very late Miss Morstan, however,
was In the drawinG-room; so to the
/ drawing-room ! went, box In hand,
leaving the obliging inspector in the
cab,
She was seated by the open window,
dressed In some sort of white diaphan-
Gus material, with II little touch OF
scarlet Mt the neck and waist. The soft
light Of n shaded lamp fell upon her as
she leaned back in the basket chnir,
playing over her sweet, grave face and
tinting with a dull metallic sparkle
the rich coils Of herluxuriant hair, one
whlteurm and hand dropped over the
side Of the chair, and her whole pose
and figure spoke Of an absorbing
melancholy. At the sound OF my foot
fall she sprang to her feet, however,
and II bright flush Of surprise and OF
pleasure colored her pale checks.
~ heard a cab drive up" she said II
thought that Mrs Forester had come
buck very early, but | never dreamed
that it might be you. What news have
| you brought me-"
~ have brought something better
than news" said |, putting down the
box upon the table and speaking jov-
iully and boisterously, though my
heart was heavy within me. II have
brought you something which is worth
all the news in the world ! have
brought you fortune"
She glanced at the iron box. us
that the treasure then?" she asked,
coolly enough.
Eyes, this Ia the great Agra treasure.
Half Of Is yours and half Is Thaddeua
Sholto's. You will have couple OF
hundred thousand each, Think OF
that! An annuity OF ten thousand
pounds. There will be few richer
young ladies in England. Is 1t not
glorlousP"
think that ! must have been rather
oveructlng my delight, and that she
detected hollow ring in my congratu
lations, for saw her eyebrows rise q
little, and she glanced at me curiously
"If have IT," said she, " owe 1t tt
; YOU"
| mo, no." answered, mot to me
! but to my friend Sherlock Holmes
, With all the will in the world, coult
r never have followed up II clew whicl
, has taxed even his analytical genius
4 As 1t was, we very nearly lost 1t at thu
I last moment
8 pray sit down and tell me all abou
1t, DR.. Watson said she.
a | narrated briefly what had occurred
l. since had seen her last-llolmes' new
/. method Of search, the discovery of tn
Aurora, the appearance Of Athelne,
Jones, our expedition In the evening
and the wild chase down the Thames
She listened with parted lips and shin
Ing eyes to my recital Of our adventures
When spoke Of the dart which had s
narrowly missed us, she turned s
white that feared She was about t
faint.
ut Is nothing she said, Us
hastened to pour her some water. v
am oil right again. 1t was u shock t
me to hear that had placed my friend
In such horrible peril"
"Thatisall over answered. at wa
nothing. Twill tell you no more gloom
details. Let us turn to somethin
brighter, There is the treasure. Wha
could be brighter than that9 | g
leave to bring 1t with me, thinldn
that 1t would interest you to be tn
FIRST to see it.
D, ut would be Of the greatest intere'
to Inc, she said. There was no cage
! ness in her voice, however 1t strue
s. her, doubtless, that 1t might seem III
to gracious upon her part to be indiffe
no emit to prize which had cost SO niue
! to win.
III "What a pretty boxl' she said, stoo
ve ing over It. ",rhis Is Indian work,
suppose?'
id "Yes; 1t is Bepares metal-work
OF And SO heavy" she exclaimed, tr
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