The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-14

ng of this letter was suggested to you by
Stapleton?
He dictated it,
II presume that the reason he gave was
that YOU would receive help from Sir
Charles for the legal expenses connected
with your divorce?"
Exactly
And then after you had sent the let
ter he disauded you from keeping the APP
pointment?
He told me that it would hurt his self
respect that any other man should find
the money for such object, and that
though he was a poor man himself. he
would devote his last penny to removing
the obstacles which divided us
He appears to be very consistent
character. And then you heard nothing
until you read the reports of the death
IT. the paper?''
No
'tAnd he made you swear to say moth
ing about your appointment with Sir
Charles?"
He did. He said that the death was
q very mysterious one, and that [ should
certainly be suspected if the facts came
out He frightened me into remaining 81
lent"
quite SO. But you had your suspt-
cions?"
II knew him.. she said. But if he had
kept faith with ME 1 should have done
SO with him.
II think that on the whole. you have
had a fortunate escape, said Sherlock
Holmes. You have had him in your
power and he knew it, and vet you are
alive. You have been walking for some
months very near to the edge of Il pre-
cipice. We must wish you good morning
- IL
you will very shortly hear from us
again
Our case becomes rounded off. and diff
fculty after difficulty thins away in
front of u.s." said Holmes, as we stood
waiting for the arrival of the express
from town. Il shall soon be in the po-
sition of being able to put into a single
connected narrative one of the most sim
guar and sensational crimes of modern
times Students of criminolosy will re-
member the analogous incidents in
Godno, in Little Russia, in the year GO
and of course, there are the Anderson
murders in North Carolina, but this case
possesses some features which are en-
tirely its own Even now we have no
clear case against this very willy man
But shall be very much surprised if it
is not clear enough before we go to bed
this night
The London express came roaring into
the station and a small. wiry bulldog
of man had sprung from a flrst-class
carriage. We all three shock hands. and
I saw at once from the reverential way
in which Lestrade SaZed at my compan-
ion that he had learned a good deal
since the GAYS when they had first worked
together I could we'll remember the
scorn which the theories Of the reasoner
used then to excite in the practical man.
Anything good?" he asked
The biggest thing for years" said
Holmes. I'VE have two hous before we
need think OF starting. 1 think we might
employ it in getting some dinner, and
then, Lestrade. we Will take the London
fog out of your throat by giving you
breath of the pure night air of Dartmoor
Never been there? All well, don't sup
pose you will forget your first visit"
One of Sherlock Holmes defects-if.
indeed, one may call it a defect-was
that he was exceedingly 10th to COM
muncate his full plans to any other
person until the instant of their full
flment- Partly it came no doubt from
his own masterful nature which loved
to dominate and surprise those who were
around him. Partly also from his pro-
fessional caution, which urged him never
10 take any chances. The result, how
ever, was very trying for those who were
acting as his agents and ASSISTANTS. I
had often suffered under it. but never
more SO than during that long drive in
the darkness. The great ordeal was
in front of us; at last we were about to
make our final effort. and yet Holmes
had said nothing, and I could onlv sur
mise what his course of action would
be. My nerves thrilled with anticipa ton
when at last the cold wind upon our
faces and the dark. void spaces on either
side of the narrow road told me that
we were back upon the moor once again,
Every stride of the horses and every
turn of the wheels was taking us nearer
to our supreme adventure
Our conversation was hampered by the
presence of the driver of the hired
wagonette. so that we We're forced to
talk of trivial matters when our nerves
were tense with emotion and anticipa-
ton. It was relief to me. after that
unnatural restraint, when we at last
passed Frankand's house, and knew that
we We're drawing nea rto the Hall. and
to the scene of action. We did, not |