The Irish standard., 1895-05-04

grUous IN this oriental figure framed in
the commonplace doorway Of third
ratessuburhan dwelling house. =.
'f'sFhe sahib awaits you" said he, and
even as he spoke there came high
piping voice from some inner room.
"Show them in to me, khitnutgar,' it
cried. "Show them straight in to me"
CHAPTER Nv.
TEE STORY OF THE BALD-nEADED MAN.
We followed the Indian down the
sordid and common passage, ill lit and
worse furnished, until he came to a
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 small man with
q very high head, a bristle of red
hair all round the fringe Of it, and
n bald shining scalp, which shot
>out from among it like a mountain
heak3Ifroln fir trees. He writhed his
hands together as he stood, and his
featineswere.s ina perpetual jerk, now
smiling, now scowlihg, bat never for
an instant in repose. Nature had given
him .pendulous lip, and too visible
limo of yellow and Irregular teeth,
which he strove feebly to conceal by
constantly passing his hand over the
lower part If his face. In spite Of his
obtrusiye badness, he gave the impress
sion of youth. In point of fact he had
just turned his thirtieth year.
.'Yonr servant, Miss Morstan," he
kept repeating in a thin, high voice.
a'Your servant, gentlemen. Pray step
Unto thy little sanctum. A small place,
miss, but Furnished to my own liking.
IAN ossis Of art ia the bowling desert Of
South London mss,
We were all astonished by the OPP
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
fnd 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-skins
thrown athwart it increased the s,r-
gestion OF eastern luxury, as did q
huge hoolxah which stood upon a mat
an; the corner. a lamp in the fashion of
B silver dove was hung from an almost
invisible golden wire in the center Of
the room. AS it burned it filled the air
with subtle and aromatic odor.
ssMr. Thaddeus Sholto," said the little
man, still jerking and smiling. s'That
is my name. You are Miss Morstan, Of
course. And these gentlemen--''
s'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.''
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. s'It appears to be normal, I
/ said. You have no cause for uneasi-
ness
You will excuse my anxiety, Miss
Morstan, he remarked, airily. I am
!. o great sufferer, and have long had
suspicious as to that valve. / am, de-
! lighted to hear that they. are INV
/ ranted Had your father. Miss Nor
3 stan, refr aimed from throwing s. strain
I.ssnpon his hear he been
Il ilve n,ss IS