The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-05-10
CHAPTER III.
IN QUEST OF A SOLUTION.


It was half-past five before Holmes
returned. He was bright, eager and
in excellent spirits-a mood which in
his case alternated with fits of the
blackest depression.
"Thers is no great mystery in this
matter" he said, taking the cup of tea
which had poured out for him. 1.-The
facts appear to admit of only one ex-
planation."
What! you have solved 1t already?"
well, that will be too much to say.
have discovered a suggestive fact,
that is all. 1t is, however, very sug-
gestive. The details are still to be add
ed. have just found, on consulting
the back files of the Times, that Maj.
Sholto, of Upper Norwood, late of the
Thirty-fourth Bombay infantry, died
upon the 2sth of April, 1882"
II may be very obtuse, Holmes, but
I fail to see what this suggests"
mo? You surprise me. Look at it
in this way, then. Capt. Morstan dis
appears. The only person in London
whom he could have visited is Maj.
Sholto. Maj. Sholto denies having
heard that he was in London. Four
years later Sholto dies. Within week
of his death Capt. Morstan's daughter
receives a valuable present, which is re-
peated from year to year, and now cul-
inmates in letter which describes her
as a wronged woman. What wrong
can it refer to except this deprivation
of her father? And why should the
presents begin Immediately after
Sholto's death, unless it is that Sholto's
heir knows something of the mystery,
and desires to make compensation?
Have you any alternativetheory which
will meet the facts?"
But what a strange compensation!
And how strangely made! Why, too,
should he write a letter now, rather
than six years ago? Again, the letter
speaks of giving her justice. What
justice can she have? 1t is too much
to suppose that her father is still alive.
There is no other injustice in her case
that you know Of"
There are difficulties; there are
certainly difficulties" said Sherlock
Holmes, pensively. But our expedi-
tion of tonight will solve them all.
All, here is a four-wheeler, and Miss
Morstan is inside. Are you all ready?
Then we had better go down, for it is
little past the hour"
picked up my hat and my heaviest
stick, but observed that Holmes took
his revolver from his drawer and
slipped it into his pocket 1t was clear
that he thought that our nights work
might be serious one.
Miss Morstan was muffled in a dark
cloak, and her sensitive face was COM
posed, but pale. She must have been
more than woman if she did not feel
some uneasiness at the strange enter
prise upon which we were embarking,
yet her self-control was perfect, and
she readily answered the few addition
al questions which Sherlock Holmes
put to her.
Maj. Sholto was a very particular
friend of papa's," she said. His let
ters were full of illusions to the major.
He and papa were in command of the
troops at the Andaman islands, so they
were thrown a great deal together. By
the way, a curious paper was found in
papa's desk which no one could under
stand. don't suppose that it is of the
slightest Importance, but thought
you might care to see it, so brought
it with me. 1t is here"
Holmes unfolded the paper careful
ly and smoothed it out upon his knee.
He then very methodically examined
it all over with his double lens.
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