The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-20
CHAPTER ~.
Continued from last Sunday)
SIR HENRY BASKERVILLE.


early, and Holmes waited in his dress
ing gown for the promised interview.
Our clients were punctual to their ap-
pointment, for the clock had just
struck ten when DIR. Mortimer was
shown up, followed by the young baro-
net. The latter was a small, alert,
dark-eyed man about thirty years of
age. very sturdily built, with thick
black eyebrows and a strong, pug
nacious face. He wore a ruddy-tinted
tweed suit. and had the weather-beat-
en- appearance of one who has spent
most of his time in the open air, and
yet there was something in his steady
eye and the quiet assurance of his
bearing which indicated the gentle
man.
This is Sir Henry Baskerville" said
DR.. Mortimer.
why, yes,'' said he, land the
strange thing is, Mr.. Sherlock Holmes,
that if my friend here had not pro-
posed coming round to you this morn
ing l should have come on my own
account. 1 understand that you think
out little puzzles, and I've had one
this morning which wants more think
ing out than l am able to give to it,"
Pray take a seat, Sir Henry. Do
understand you to say that you have
yourself had some remarkable ex-
perience since you arrived in Lon
oon?"
Nothing of much Importance, Mr.,
Holmes. Only joke, as like as not.
1t was this letter, il you can call it
letter, which reached me this morn
ing"
He laid an envelope upon the table,
and we all bent over it. 1t was of
common quality, greyish in colour
The address, Sir Henry Baskerville,
Northumberland Hotel" was printed
in rough characters; the post-mark
"Charing Cross" and the date of post
ing the preceding evening.
Who knew that you We're going to
the Northumberland Hotel?" asked
Holmes, glancing keenly across at our
visitor.
mo one could have known. We
only decided after I met DIR. Morti-
mer."
But DR.. Mortimer was no doubt al
ready stopping there?"
mo. 1 had been staying with
friend" said the doctor. There was
no possible indication that we intend
ed to go TO this hotel"
Hum! Someone seems to be very
deeply interested in your movements"
Out of the envelope he took half
sheet of foolscap paper folded into
four. This he opened and spread fat
upon the table Across the middle of
1t a single sentence had been formed
by the expedient of FASTING
printed words upon it, 1t ran:
"As you value your life
or your reason keep away from the
moor" The word moor only was
printed in ink.
Now" said Sir Henry Baskerville,
perhaps you will tell me, Mr.. Holmes,
what in thunder is the meaning of
that, and who it is that takes so much
interest in my affairs?'
What do you make of It, DR.. Morti-
mer? You must allow that there is
nothing supernatural about this, at
eny rate?"
No. sir, but it might very well come
from someone who was convinced that
the business Is supernatural"
What BUSINESS asked Sir Henry,
sharply. 1T seems to me that all you
gentlemen know a great deal more
than / do about my own affairs"
You shall share our knowledge be-
fore you leave this room. Sir Henry.
! promise you that" said Sherlock
Holmes. 1--WE will conflne ourselves
for the present with your permission
TO this very interesting document,
which must have been put together
and posted yesterday evening. Have
you yesterdays Times. Watson?"
1T is here in the corner"
might 1 trouble you for 1.-THE in
side page, please, with the leading ar
ticles?" He glanced swiftly over it,
running his eyes up and down the col
umns, Capital article this on Free
Trade. Permit me to give you an ex-
tract from it. You may be cajoled
into imagining that your own special
trade or your own industry will be
encouraged by protective tariff, but
1t stands to reason that such legisla-
ton must in the long run keep away
wealth from the country, diminish the
value of our imports, and lower the
general conditions of life in this island.
What do you think of that, Watson ?"
cried Holmes. in high glee. rubbing
his hands together with satisfaction.
Don't you think that is an admirable
sentiment"
DR.. Mortimer looked at Holmes with
an air of professional interest, and Sir
Henry Baskerville turned a pair of
puzzled dark eyes upon me.
Il don't know much about the tariff
and things of that kind" said he: but
1t seems to me we've got a bit off the
trail so far as that note is concerned. .
"On the contrary. 1 think we are
particularly hot upon the trail Sir
Henry. Watson here knows more
about my methods than you do, but l
fear that even he has not quite grasped
the significance of this sentence"
No, l confess that 1 see no connec-
lion
And yet. my dear Watson. there is
80 very close a connection that the one
is extracted out of the other You,
our your life reason, value,
keep away. from the. Don't you see
now whence these words have been
taken?"
by thunder. you're right Well, if
that isn't smart" cried Sir Henry.
IF any possible doubt remained it
is settled by the fact that keep away
and from the are cut out in one
piece"
well, now-so IL Isl"
Really. Mr.. Holmes. this exceeds
anything which 1 could have imagin-
ed" said DR.. Mortimer, gazing at my
friend in amazement. Il could I'M
derstand anyone saying that the words
were from a newspaper; but that you
Should name which, and add that it
came from the leading article is really
one of the most remarkable things
which / have ever known. How did
you do it2"
II presume, doctor, that you could
tell the skull of a negro from that
Of an EsQuimaux
Most certainly"
But how"
Because that is NV special hobby