Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-04-18

may make an inventory first. You will
have to break IL open. Where Is the
key, my man?n
Small, shortly.
'Huml There was no use you Civ
ing this unnecessary trouble We have
had work enough already through you
However, doctor, need not warn you
to be careful Bring the box back
with you to the Baker street rooms
You will find us there on our way 70
the station"
They landed me at Vauxhall with
my heavy iron box and with n bluff,
genial inspector as my companion. A
quarter of an hours drive brought US
TO Mrs. Cecil Forrester's. The servant
seemed surprised at so late a 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 I 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 q little touch of
scarlet at the neck and waist The soft
light of a shaded lamp fell upon her rs
she leaned back In the basket chair,
playing over her sweet, grave face, and
tinting with q dull metallic sparkle
the rich coils of her luxurianf hair, one
white arm and hand drooped 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 bright flush of surprise and of
pleasure colored her pale cheeks.
II heard a cab drive up" she said. "I
thought that Mrs. Forester had come
back very early, but l never dreamed
that ii might be you. What news have
you brought me?'
81 have brought something better
than news" said /, putting down the
box upon the table and speaking jov-
ially and boisterously, though my
heart was heavy within me. "I have
brought you something which Is worth
all the news In the world. have
brought you fortune"
She glanced at the iron box. ''Is
that the treasure, then?" she asked,
coolly enough.
"Yes, this is the great Agra treasure.
sholto's. You will have a couple Of
hundred thousand each. Think Of
that! An annuity Of ten thousand
pounds. There will be STEW richer
young ladies In England. Is IL not
glorious?"
think that must have been rather
overacting my delight, and that she
detected hollow ring In my congrstu-
lations, for saw her eyebrows rise Q
little, and she glanced at me curiously.
IF have it." said she, ~ owe Il to
you"
mo, no." answered, mot TO me,
but to my friend Sherlock Holmes.
With all the will In the world, / could
never have followed up clew which
has taxed even his analytical genius
AS 1t was, we very nearly lost IL at the
last moment"
pray sit down and tell me all about
IL, DIR. Watson" said she.
narrated briefly what had occurred
since had seen her last-Holmes' new
method Of search, the discovery of the
Aurora, the appearance Of Athelney
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 30
narrowly missed us, she turned 30
white that feared she was about to
faint.
1T is nothing" she said, as
hastened TO pour her some water. 81
am all right again. II was n shock TO
me to hear that had placed my friends
In such horrible peril"
THAT is all over" answered. ''It was
nothing Iwill tell you no moro gloomy
details. Let us turn to something
brighter. There Is the treasure. What
could be brighter than that? got
leave to bring II with me, thinking
that 1t would interest you to be the
first to see It,"
at would be of the greatest interest
TO me" she said. There was no eager
ness in her voice. however. IL struck
her, doubtless, that IL might seem un-
gracious upon her part to be indiffer-
ent TO prize which had cost so much
TO win.
"What a pretty boxl' she said. stoop-
ing over IL. This Is Indian work, /
supposeP"
ayes; IL IL Benarcs metal-work."
And so heavyi'' she exclaimed, try
ing TO raise 1t. "The box alone must
be of some value. Where Is the key?"
Small threw II into the Thames" l
answered. ~ must borrow Mrs For
rcster's poker" There was in the front
4 thick and broad hasp, wrought in the
image Of u sitting Buddha Under this
thrust the end of the poker and
twisted IL outward rs a lever. The hasp
sprang open with n loud snap. With
trembling fingers ! flung back the lid.
We both stood gazing In astonishment.
The box was emptyl
No wonder that II was heavy. The
iron work was two-thirds OF an inch
thick all round. II was massive, well
made and solid, like chest constructed
to carry things of great price, but not
ono shred or crumb OF metal or jowelry
lay within IL. IL was absolutely and
empty.
''The treasure In lost" said Miss
Morstan, calmly.
As listened to tho words, and real
lied what they meant. n great shadow
seemed to pass from my soul. did
not know how this Agra treasure had
weighed me down, until now that Il |
was finally removed. IL was selfish,
no doubt, disloyal, wrong, but could
realize nothing save that the golden |
barrier was gone from between ua
THANK Godi' cjaculatcd from my
very heart.
She looked at me with q quick. ques-
tioninR smile. why do you say that7"
she asked.
because you are within my reach
again." I said, taking her hand.
She did not withdraw H. because !
love you, Mary, as truly ms ever man
loved n woman. Because this treasure,
dfN1 kIs.SI;M,h |