The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-05-17
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
THE STORY OF THE BALD-HEADED MAN.
We followed the Indian down the
sordid and common passage, i'll lit and
worse furnished, until ne came TO 4
door upon the right, which he threw
open. a blaze of yellow light streamed
out upon US, and in the center of the
glare there stood a small man with
very high head, a bristle of red
hair all round the fringe of it, and
a bald shining scalp, which shot
out from among it like a mountain
peak from fir trees. He writhed his
hands together as ne stood. and his
features were in 4 perpetual jerk, now
smiling, now scOwling, but never for
an instant in repose. Nature had given
him pendulous lip, and too visible
line of yellow and irregular teeth,
which he strove feebly TO conceal by
constantly passing his hand over the
lower part of his face. In spite of his
obtrusive badness, he gave the impress
sion of youth. In point of fact ne had
just turned his thirtieth year.
Your servant, Miss Mcrstan," he
kept repeating in a thin, high voice.
Your servant, gentlemen. Pray step
into my little sanctum. A small place,
miss, but furnished to my own liking.
An oasis of art in the howling desert of
South London"
We were all astonished by the ap-
pearance of the apartment into which
he invited US. In that sorry house it
looked as out of place as a diamond of
the first water in 4 setting of brass.
The richest and glossiest of curtains
and tapestries draped the walls, looped
back here and there to expose some
richly mounted painting or Oriental
vase. The carpet was of amber and
black, so soft and so thick that the
foot sank pleasantly into it, as into
bed of moss. Two great tiger-sl1ins
thrown athwart it increased the sug-
gestion of eastern luxury, as did
huge hookah which stood upon a mat
in the corner. A lamp in the fashion of
a silver dove was hung from an almost
invisible golden wire in the center of
the room. As it burned it filed the air
with subtle and aromatic odor.
Mr.. Thaddeus Sholto. said the little
man, still jerking and smiling. That
is my name. You are Miss Morstan, of
course. And these gentlemen"
This is Mr.. Sherlock Holmes, and
this Dr. Watson"
"A doctor, eh?" cried he, much ex-
cited. Have you your stethoscope?
Might ask you-would you have the
kindness? have grave doubts as to
my mitral valve, if you would be so very
good. The aortic may rely upon, but
should value your opinion upon the
mitral"
l listened to his heart as requested,
but was unable to find anything amiss,
save indeed that he was in an ecstasy
of fear, for he shivered from head to
foot. 1T appears to be normal,
said. You have no cause for uneasi-
ness"
You will excuse my anxiety, Miss
Morstan, he remarked, airily. II am
a great sufferer, and l have long had
suspicious as to that valve. am de-
lighted to hear that they are unwar-
ranted. Had your father, Miss Nor
stan, refrained from throwing a strain
upon his heart he might have been
alive now"
l could have struck the man across
the face, so hot was 1 at this callous
and Off-hand reference to so delicate
matter. Miss Morstan sat down and
her face grew white to the lips. Il
knew in my heart that he was dead"
said she.
II can give you every information"
said he, land, what is more, 1 can do
you justice; and / will. too, whatever
Brother Bartholomew may say. 1 am
so glad to have your friends here, not
only as an escort to you, but also as
witnesses to what l am about to do and
say. The three of US can show bold
front to Brother Bartholomew. But let
US have no outsiders-no police or Off
cials. We can settle everything salts
factorily among ourselves, without any
interference. Nothing would annoy
Brother bartholomew more than any
publicity" He sat down upon low
settee and blinked at US inquiringly
with his weak. watery blue eyes.
For my part" said Holmes, what
ever you may choose to say Will go no
further"
1 nodded to show my agreement.
THAT is WE'LL That is wellI'' said he
''May offer you a glass of Chianti,
Miss Morstan? Or of Tokay? keep
no other wines. Shall open a flask?
No? Well, then. I trust that vou have
no objection to tobacco smoke, to the
mild balsamic odor of the eastern to-
bacco. l am little nervous, and find
my hookah an invaluable sedative."
He applied taper to the great bowl,
and the smoke bubbled merrily through
the rose water. We sat all three in
semicircle, with our heads advanced,
and our chins upon our hands, while
the strange, jerlky little fellow. with
his high, shining head, puffed uneasily
in the center.