The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-08
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CHAPTER ".
TEE STORY OF TEE RALD-HEADED MAN.
We followed the Indian down the
-sordid and common passage, i'll lit and
worse furnished, until he came to a
door upon the right, which he threw
open. A blaze of yellow light treamed
out upon us, and in the center Of the
glare there stood a small man with
q 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 he stood, and his
features were in a perpetual jerk, now
smiling, now sowing, but never for
an instant in repose. Nature had given
him a pendulous lip, and a 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 he had
just turned his thirtieth year.
"Your servant, Miss Morstan," 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 bowling 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 a setting of brass.
The richest and glossiest of curtains
and tapestries draped the walls, Topped
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 a
bed of moss. Two great tiger-skins
thrown athwart it increased the sug-
gestion Of eastern luxury, as did a
huge hookah which stood upon a mat
in the corner. Alamp in the fashion Of
a silver dove was hung from an almost
invisible golden wire il the center Of
the room. AS it burned it filed the air
with a 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? i have grave doubts as to
my mitral valve, il you would be SO very
good The aortic 1 may rely upon, but
I should value your opinion upon the
mitral."
i 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. 81 am
a great sufferer, and I have long had
suspicious as to that valve. l am de-
lighted to hear that they are unwar-
raneed. Had your father, Miss Nor
stan, refrained from throwing a strain
upon his heart he might have been
alive now"
I.could have struck the man across
the face, SO hot was l at this callous
and of-hand reference to so delicate a
matter Miss Morstan sat down ano
her face grew white to the lips II
knew in my heart that he was dead"
said she.
81 can give you every information"
said he, land. what is more. I can DO
you justice; and 1 will. too, whatever
Brother Bartholomew may say. am
so glad to have your friends here. no:
only as an escort TO you, but also as
witnesses to what am about to do and
say. The three of us can show a bold
ZULU w OlOIA1CA od4 DoC NV
Us have no outsiders-no police or Off
Gals. We can settle everything salts
factori,y among ourselves, without any
interference. Nothing would annoy
Brother Bartholomew than any
publicity" He sat down upon a low
settee and blinked at us inqu;ringly
with his weak. watcrv blue eyes.
For my part" said Holmes. what
ever you may choose to say will go no
further"
nodded to show ny agreement.
THAT is we'll. That is we'll" said he
.sMay I offer you a glass Of Chant,
Miss Morstan? Or of Tokay? keep
no other wines. Shall I open & flask?
No? Well, then, I trust that you have
no objection to tobacco smoke, to the
mild balsam;c odor of the eastern to-
bacoo. / am a little nervous, and find
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