The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-03

it was a stranger who was pursuing
me. He was a small, slim, clean
shaver, prim-faced man, f1axen-haired
and lean-jawed, between 80 and 40
years of age, dressed in grey suit
and wearing a straw hat. tin box
for botanical specimens hung over
his shoulder and he carried a green
butterfly net in one of his hands.
You will, I am sure, excuse my
presumption, DR.. Watson" said he,
as he came painting up to where 1
stood Here on the moor we are
homely folk and do not wait for form
al introductions. You may possibly
have heard my name from our mutual
friend, Mortimer. 1 am Stapleton of
Merripit House."
Your net and box would have told
me as much" said 1, "for knew that
Mr.. Stapleton was a naturalist But
how did you know me?"
81 have been calling on Mortimer,
and he pointed you out to me from
the window of his surgery as you
passed. AS our road lay the same way
1 thought that l would overtake you
and introduce myself. 1 trust that
Sir Henry is none the worse for his
Journey"
He is very well, thank you"
eve were all rather afraid that
after the sad death of Sir Charles the
new baronet might refuse to live here.
1t is asking much of a wealthy man
to come down and bury himself in a
place of this kind, but 1 need not tell
you that it means a very great deal
to the country -side. Sir Henry has, I
suppose, no superstitious fears in the
matter?"
Il do not think that it is likely"
"Of course you know the legend of
the fond doc which hannfS tho fa
ily?"
Il have heard it,
ut is extraordinary how credulous
the peasants are about here! Any
number of them are ready to swear
that they have seen such a creature
upon the moor" He spoke with a
smile, but I seemed to read in his
eyes that he took the matter more
seriously. THE story took a great
hold upon the Imagination of Sir
Charles, and 1 have no doubt that it
led to his tragic end"
But how"
His nerves were so worked up that
the appearance of any dog might have
had a fatal effect upon his diseased
heart. 1 fancy that he really did see
something of the kind upon that last
night in the Yew Alley. 1 feared that
some disaster might occur. for l was
very IOnu Oh TIE Olu IIldIis anu L h1lSW
that his heart was weak"
How did you know that?"
My friend Mortimer told me-"
you think, then, that some dog
pursued Sir Charles. and that he died
of fright in consequence"
"Have you any better explanation >"
81 have not come to any conclusion"
HAS Mr.. Sherlock Holiness"
The words took away my breath for
<~Ir h. ,.asI
face and steadfast eyes of my COM
panion showed that no surprise was in
tended.
1T is useless for us to pretend that
we do not know you, DIR. Watson
said he. 1.-The records of your detec-
tive have reached us here, and YOU
could not celebrate him without being
known yourself. When Mortimer told
me your name he could not deny your
identity. If you are here, then it fol-
lows that Mr.. Sherlock Holmes is in
teresting himself in the matter. and
am naturally curious to know what
view he may take"
81 am afraid that I cannot answer
that question:
MAY 1 ask if he is going to honor
us with a visit himself?"
HE cannot leave town at present.
lie has other cases which engage his
attention"
What pity, He might throw some
light on that which is so dark to US
But as to your own researches, if there
is any possible way in which l can
be of service to YOU I trust that you
will command me. If I had any indi-
cation of the nature of your suspic-
ions. or how YOU propose to investi-
gate the case, I might perhaps even
now give you some aid or advice"
T IT. -
upon a visit to my friend Sir Henry.
and that 1 need no help of any kind. -
Excellent" said Stapleton. You
are perfectly right to be wary and dis
Greet. I am justly reproNed for what
1 feel was an unjustifiable intrusion.
and I promise you that I will not men
ton the matter again"
We had come to a point where A
narrow grassy path struck off from
the road and wound awav across the
moor. A steep. boulder-sprinkled hill
/ lay upon the right which hal in By
/ gone days been cut into a granite
I quarry. The face which was turned
| towards us formed a dark Cuff. with
ferns and brambles growing in its
inches. From over a distant rise there
| f1oated a grey plume of smoke.
| "a moderate walk along this moor
path brings US to MerriDit House.
| said he Perhaps you will spare an
/ hour that l may have the pleasure of
| introducing YOU to my sister"
My first thought was that 1 should
/ be by Sir Henry's side. But then I
! remembered the pile of papers and
bills with which his study table was lit
/ tered. 1t was certain that l could not
/ help him with those. And Holmes had
expressly said that I should study the
Eeighbors upon the moor. I accepted
1 Stapletons invitation. and we turned
together down the path.
1T is a wonderful place. the moor, -
! said he, looking round over the undu-