The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-06

H.
THE CURSE OF THE BASKER-
VILLES.
Il have in my pocket a manuscript
said DR.. James Mortimer.
Il observed it as you entered the
ROOM said Holmes.
1T is an old Manuscript"
EARLY eighteenth century, unless IL
is a forgery"
You have presented an inch or two
of it to my examination all the time
that you have been talking. 1t would
be a poor expert who could not give
the date of d document within dec
/ ade or so. You may possibly have
read my little monograph upon the
subject. I put that at-l7O3."
The exact date is 1742." DR.. Morti-
mer drew it from his reast-pocket.
This family paper was committed to
| my care by Sir Charles Baskerville,
whose sudden and tragic death some
three months ago created so much ex-
! element in DeVonshire. l may say
that l was his personal friend as we'll
as his medical attendant. He was a
| strong minded man, sir, shrewd, prac-
! teal, and as unimaginative IS L am
myself Yet he took this document
very seriously. and his mind was pre-
pared for Just such an end as did
/
Holmes stretched out his hand for
the manuscript and fattened it upon
his knee.
You will observe, Watson, the alter
native use of the long 5 and the short.
1t is one of several indications which
enabled me to fix the date"
| 1 looked over his shoulder at the yell
low paper and the faded script. At
the head was written: Baskerville
! Hail" and below, in large, scrawling
! figures: "1742."
1T appears to be statement OF
some sort"
yes, it is a statement of certain
! legend which runs in the Baskerville
| family"
But I understand that it is some
| thing more modern and practical up
on which you wish to consult me-"
Most modern. A most practical,
messing matter, which must be decid-
| ed within twenty-four hours But the
manuscript is short and rs intimately
connected with the affair. With your
| permission l will read it to you.
Holmes leaned back in his chair,
placed his finger-tips together, and
| closed his eyes. with an air of resig-
nation. DR. Mortimer turned the
manuscript to the light and read in
a high. cracking voice the following
! curious. old-world narrative
"Of the origin of the Hound of the
Baskervilles there have been many
! statements, yet as l come IN ulrect
line from Hugo Baskerville, and as l
had the story from my father, who
also had it from his / have set II
down with all belief that it occurred
even as is here set forth. And would
have YOU believe, my sons, that the
same Justice which Furnishes sin may
also most graciously forgive 1t, ana
that no ban is so heavy but that by
r,rsver and repentance it may be re-
moved. Learn then from this story not
To fear the fruits of the past, but rath-
or to be circumspect in the future, that
those foul passions whereby our ram
ily has suffered so grievously may not
| again be loosed to our undolng.
Know then that in the time of the
Great Rebellion (the history of which
nv the learned Lord Clarendon 1 most
earnestly commend to your attention.
this Manor of Baskerville was held by
Hugo of that name, nor can 1T be gain
| said that he was a most wild, pro-
fame, and goddess man. This, in truth,
his neighbors might have pardoned,
seeing that saints have never flourish
ed in those parts, but there was in him
a certain wanton and cruel humor
which made his name a byWord
through the West. 1t CHANGED that this
Hugo came to love Gf, indeed, so dark
a passion may be known under sc
bright name), the daughter of yeo-
man who held lands near the Basker-
vile estate. But the young maiden, be-
ing discreet and of good repute, would
ever avoid him, for she feared his evil
name. So it came to pass that one
Michaelmas this Hugo. with five or six
Of his idle and wicked companions
stole down upon the farm and carried
off the maiden, her father and broth
ers being from home, as he we'll knew
When they had brought her to the
Hall the maiden was placed in an up
per chamber while Hugo and his
friends sat down to a long carouse, as
was their nightly custom. Now, thu
poor lass upstairs was like to have hel
wits turned at the singing and shout
ing and terrible oaths which came w
to her from below. for they say thai
the words used by Hugo Baskerville
when he was in wine, were such a!
might blast the man who said them
At last in the stress of her fear she die
that which might have daunted the
bravest or most active man, for by the
aid of the growth of ivy which covered
(and still covers) the south wall SHE
came down from under the caves, anC
so homeward across the moor there
being three leagues betwixt the Hal
and her fathers farm.
TT CHANGED that some little tim,
later Hugo left his guests to carry fooC
and drink-with other worse things
perchance-to his captive, and so founc
the cage empty and the bird escaped
Then, as il would SEEM he became az
one that hath devil, for, rushins
down the stairs into the dining-hall. HI
sprang upon the great table, fiagon,
and trenchers flying before him. ant
he cried aloud before all the compan,
that he would that very night rendeI
his body and soul to the Powers o
Evil if he might but overtake thu
wench. And while the jewellers stoot
aghast at the fury of the man. on
more wicked or, it may be, NOR,
drunken than the rest. cried out tina
they should put the hounds upon her
r Whereat Hugo ran from tn,
house. crying to his groom.
that they should saddle his mare anC
unkennel the pack, and giving III,
hounds a kerchief of the maids. h,
I, swung them to the line and so of
full cry in the moonlight over the
, moor.
Now, for some space the reveller,
stood agape, unable to understand al
that had been done in such haste. Blu
anon their bemused wits awoke to the
: nature of the deed which was like Il
be done upon the moorlands. Every.
thing was now in an uproar, som,
, calling for their pistols, some for theiI
horses. and some for another flask O
wine. But at length some sense came
back to their crazed minds and tn,