The Delta independent., 1895-07-10

am myself ignorant. l can only lay
the facts before you as far us l know
them myself.
My father was, as you may have
guessed, Maj. John Sholto, once of the
Indian army. lie retired some- eleven
years ago. and came to live at Pondi.
cherry lodge in Upper Norwood. lie
had prospered in India, and brought
back with him n considerable sum of
money, large collection of valuable
curiositics and staff Of native scrv-
ants. With these advantages he bought
himself house and lived in great lux
ury. My twin brother Bartholomew
and were the only children.
u very well remember the sensation
which was caused by the disappear
ance of Capt. Morstan. We read the
details in the papers. and, knowing
that he had been n friend of our IA
ther's, we discussed the case freely in
his presence. He used to join in our
spcculations as to what could have hap
pcned. Never for an instant did we
suspect that he had the whole secret
hidden in his own brcast-that of all
men he alone knew the fate of Arthur
Morstan.
I'VE did know, however, that some
mystery-some positive danger-ovcr-
hung our father. lie was very fearful
of going out alone, and he always emi
ployed two prize fighters to act as por-
tcrs at Pondicherry lodge. Williams,
who drove you tonight, was one of
them. He was once lightweight cham
pion of England. Our father ,.ould
never tell us what it was that he feared,
but he had a most marked aver sion to
men with wooden legs. On one occa-
sion he actually fired his revolver at a
woodcn-leggcd man, who proved to be
harmless tradesman canvass:ng for
orders. We had to pay large sum to
hush the matter up. My brother and
used to think this mere whim of my
fathers. but events have since led us
to change our opinion.
Early in 1852 my father received n
letter from India which was a great
shock to him. Iencariy tainted at the
breakfast table when he opened it. and
from tina: day he siclscned to his death.
What was in the letter we could never
discover, but could see as he held 1t
that il was short and written III
scrawling hand. lie had suffered for
years from an enlarged spleen, but he
now became rapidly worse,and towards
the end of April W. were informed that
he was beyond all hope, and that he
wished to make last communication
to US.
"Whcu we entered his room he ,ras
propped up with pillows and breathing
heavily. He bcsought US to lock- the
door and to come upon either side of
the bed. Then. grasping our hands, he
made remarkable statement to US, in
n voice which was broken as much by
emotion as by pain. ! shalls try and
give it to you in his own very words.
81 have only one thing he said,
which weighs upon my mind ut this
supreme moment. 1t is my treatment
of poor MCrstan's orphan. The cursed
greed which has been my bcsctting sin
through life has withheld from her
the treasure. half at least OF which
should have been hers. And yet have
made no use of 1t myscFs-So blind and
foolish = thing is avnricc. The mere
feeling of possession has been so dear
to me that could not bear t. share it
with another. See that chaplet tipped
with pearls beside the quinine bottle?
Even that could not bear to part
with, although | had got it out with
the design OF sending it to her. You,
my CONS, will give l!cr n fair share OF
the Agra trcasurc. Int send her moth
ing-not crcn the chaplct-until ! am
gone. After all, men have been as bad
as this and have recovered.
"'I will tell you how Siorstan died.
he continued. lie had suffered for
years from a weak heart. but he con-
ccalcd it from everyone. clone knew
it. When in India, he ana |. through
remarkable chain of circumstances,
came i;.to possession of considerable
treasure. brought 1t over to Eng
land. and on the night of Morstan's ar
rival he came straight over here to
claim his share. lie walked over from
the station, and was admitted by my
faithful old Lal Chowdar, who is now
dead. Morstan and had difference
of opinion as to the division of the
treasure and we came to heated words.
Morstan had sprung out of his chair in
n pnroxysm of anger, when he sudden
ly pressed his hand to his side. his face
turned duslfy hue, and lie fell back
wards, cutting his head against the
corner Of the treasurc-chcst. When I
stopped over him found, to my horror,
that he was dead.
E" "'For long time l sat half dis
tracted, wondering what I should do.
My first impulse was, Of course. to
call for assistance; but could not but
recognize that there was every chance
that would be accused of his murder.
His death at the moment OF quarrel,
and the cash in bis head, would bc
black against me. Again, an official
I I. ...t.
bringing out some facts about. the
treasure, which ! was particularly
anxious to keep secret He had told
me that no soul upon earth knew
where he had gone. There seemed to
la no ,,n,,,e;t,y ,yb,, ms, soul ,p.r