Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-03-07
To my surprise the young lady held


up her gloved hand to detain me. IF
your friend" she said, would be good
enough to stop, he might be of inestim-
able service to NE"
relapsed into my chair.
Briefly" she continued, ''the facts
are these: My father was an officer in
an Indian regiment who sent me home
when was quite n child. My mother
was dead, and l had no relative in Eng
land. l was placed. however, in
comfortable boarding establishment at
Edinburgh, and there | remained until
I was seventeen years Of age. In the
year 1878 my father, who was senior
captain of his regiment, obtained
twelve months leave and came home.
He telegraphed to me from London
that he had arrived all safe, and di-
rected me to come down at once, giving
the Langham hotel as his address. His
message, as | remember. was full Of
kindness and love. On reaching Lon
don | drove to the LaaghaIl, and was
informed that Capt. >iorstan was stay
ing there, but that be had gone out the
night before and had not returned. |
waited all day without rows Of him.
That night, on the advice Of the man
ager of the hotel. communicated with
the police. and next morning we adver-
tised in all the papers. Our inquiries
led to no result: and from that day to
this no word has ever been heard of
my unfortunate father. He came home
with his heart full Of hope, to find
some peace, some comfort, and in
stead" She put her hand to her
throat, and a choking sob cut short the
sentence.
''The date?" asked Holmes, opening
his notebook.
''He disappeared upon the Sd of De-
cember, 1S7s-nearly ten years ago"
His luggage"
Remained at the hotel. There was
nothing in it to suggest a clew-some
books, and d considerable number of
curiasities from the Andaman islands.
He had been one of the officers in
charge of the convict guard there"
''Had he any friends in town?"
"Only one that we know of-Maj.
Sholto, of his own regiment, the Thir-
ty-fourth Bombay infantry. The ma
ior had retired some little time before,
and lived at Upper Norwood. We COM
municated with him, of course, but he
did not even know that his brother Of
ficer was in England"
"A singular case" remarked Holmes.
II have not yet described to you the
most singular part. About six years
ago-to be exact, upon the 4th of May,
1ss2-an advertisement appeared in the
Times asking for the address of Miss
Mary Morstan, and stating that it
would be to hepadvantage to come for
ward. There was no name or address
appended. | had at that time just en-
tered the family of Mrs Cecil Forester
in the capacity of governess. BY her
advice | published my address in the
advertisement column. The same day
there arrived through the post a small
cardboard box addressed to me, which
! found to contain very large and lus-
trous pearl. No word of writing was
inclosed. Since then, every year, upon
the same date, there has always ap-
peared similar box, containing SIM
liar pearl, without any clew as to the
sender They have been pronounced
by an expert to be of rare variety and
of considerable value. You can see for
yourselves that they are very hand
some'' She opened fiat box as she
spoke, and showed me six of the finest
pearls that / had ever seen.
Your statement is most interest
ing," said Sherlock Holmes. Has any
thing else occurred TO you?'
''Yes, and no later than to-day. That
is why | have come to YOU. This morn
ing | received this letter, which you
will perhaps read for yourself"
''Thank YOU" said Holmes. The
envelope, too, please. Postmarlt, Lon
don, S. w; date, July :. Hum! Mans
thumbmarll on corner-probably post
man. Best quality paper. Envelopes
at siXpence packet. Particular man
in his stationery. No address. BE at
the third pillar from the left outside
the Lyceum theater tonight at seven
o'clock If you are distrustful, bring
two friends. You are wronged wom-
an, and shall have justice. Do not
bring police. If you do, all will be in
vain. Your unknown friend Well,
really, this is very pretty little mys-
terry. What do you intend to do, Miss
Morstan?"
THAT is exactly what want to ask
you"
Then we shall most certainly go.
You and | and-yes, why, DIR. Watson
is the very man. Your correspondent
says two friends. He and l have
worked together before"
But would he Gomez" she asked,
rauIinrr II, har y-pioa
and expression.
II should be proud and happy"
said /, fcrvently, If l can be of any
service"
You are both very kind, she an
swered. Il have led retired life, and
have no friends whom | could appeal
to. If am here at six it viii do, sup
pose?'
lyon must not be later" said
Holmes. There is one other point
Is this handwriting the same as that
upon the pearl-box addresses
Il have them here" she answered,
producing half n dozen pieces of paper
You are certainly model client
You have the correct intuition. Let
us see, now" He spread out the paper
upon the table, and gave little darting
glances from one 20 the other "They
are disguised hands, except the letter."
he said, presently, but there can be no
question as 10 the authorship. See how
the irrepressibic Greek viii break
out, and see the twirl on the final 3.
They are undoubtedly by the Same per-
son. should not like to suggest false
hopes, Miss Morstan, but is there any
resemblance between this hand and
that of your father"
Nothing could be more unlike"
Il expected to hear you say so. We
shall look out Tor you. then, at six.
Pray allow me 20 keep the papers. ]
may look into the matter before then