The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-03

date as to all that has occurred in this
most God-forsaken corner OF the world.
The longer one stays here the more does
the spirit of the moor sink into ones soul,
its vastness and also its grim charm. When
you are once out upon its bosom you have
left all traces of modern England behind
you, but, on the other hand, you are con-
sicous everywhere of the homes and the
work OF the prehistoric people. on all
sides OF you as you walk are the houses
of these forgotten folk. with their graves
and the huge monolithS which are sup
posed to have marked their temples.
As you look at their grey stone nuts
against the SCARED hillsides you leave your
own age behind you. and If you were 10 see
a skIn-clad, hairy man crawl out from the
low door, fitting a fiint-tipped arrow on TO
the string OF his bow. you would feel that
his presence there was more natural than
your own. The strange thing - tnat they
should have lived so thickly on what must
always have been most unfruitful SOIL l
am no antiquarian. but l could imagine
that they were some unwarlike and harrled
race who were forced to accept mat "hlcL
none other would occupy.
AL this. however. is foreign to the mis-
sion on which you sent me, and will probd-
bly, be very undressing to your sevsreiy
practical mind. | can stu remember your
complete indifference as to whether the sun
moved round the earth or the earth round
the sun. Let me. therefore, return to the
facts concerning Sir Henry baskerville.
If you have not had any report within
the last few days 1t is because up to to-
day there was nothing Of Importance to re-
late. Then a very surprising circumstance
occurred. which ! shall tell you in due
couse. But. first of all. 1 must keep you
In touch with some of the other factors IN
the situation
One of these, concerning which l have
said little. is the escaped convict upon the
moor. There is strong reason now to De
lieve that he has got right away. which IS
a considerable relife TO the lonely house
holders of this district. A fortnight has
passed since his flight. during which he has
not been seen and nothing has been heard
Of him. 1t is surely inconceivable that he
could AVE held out upon the moor during
all this time. OF course. 50 far as his con-
cealment goes. there is no difficulty at all
Any one Of these stone huts would give
him a hiding place. But there ID nothing TO
eat unless he were 10 catch and slaughter
one of the moor sheep. We think there
fore. that he has gone and the outlying
farmers sleep the better in consequence
We are four able-bodied men in this house
hold. so that we could take good care OF
ourselves. but I confess that I nave had IN
easy moments when I have thought of the
Stapletons. They live miles from n help.
There are one maid. an old man-servant,
the sister and the brother. the latter not a
very strong man They would be helpless
in the hands Of a desperate fellow like this
Noting Hill criminal. IL he could once ef-
feet an entrance. Both Sir Henry and I
were concerned at their situation. and It
was suggested that Perkins. the groom.
should go over to sleep there. but Staple
ton would not hear Of It.
The fact IS that our friend, the baronet,
begins to display a considerable interest in
our fair neighbor. 1t is not to be wondered
at. for time hangs heavily In this lonely
spot to an active man like him. and she is a
very handsome and beautiful woman. There
is something tropical and exotic about her
which forms q singular contrast to her
cool and Unconditional brother. Yet he also
gives the idea OF hidden fires. He has GER
tainly a very marked influence over her. for
I have seen her continually glance at him
as she talked as If seeking appreciation for
what she said I trust that he is kin to
her. There is a dry glitter in his eyes. and
q firm set Of his thin lips. which goes with
q positive and possibly a harsh nature. You
would find him an interesting study.
He came over to call upon Baskerville on
that irst day, and the very next morning
he took Is both to show US the spot where
the legend OF the wicked Hugo Is supposed
to lave had its origin. It was an excur-
sion of some miles across the moor TO a
place which Is so dismal that 1t might
have suggested the story. We found a short
valley between rugged tors which led to an
open. grassy space iecked over with the
white cotton grass. In the middle OF II rosa
two great stones, worn and sharpened at
the upper end. until they looked like the
huge corroding fangs of some INDUSTRIOUS
beast. In every way 1t corresponded with
the scene of the old tragedy. Sir Henry
was much interested. and asked Stapleton
more than once whether he did really be-
lieve in the possibility of the interference
OF the supernatural in the affairs OF men.
He spoke lightly. but It was evident that
he was very much in earnest. Stapleton was
guarded in his replies. but 1t was easy to
see that he said less h he might. and
that he would not express his whole opinion
out OF consideration for the feelings of
the Baronet. He told US Of similar cases.
where families had suffered from some evil
and he left us with the impression
that he shared the popular view upon the
On our way back We stayed for lunch
at Merripit House. and It was there that
Sir Henry made the acquaintance of Miss
Stapleton. From the first moment that he
saw her he appeared to be strongly attached
by her, and I am much mistaken II the
feeling was not mutual. He referred to her
again and again on our walk home. and
since then hardly a day has passed that
nave not seen something Of the brother
and sister. They dine here tonight. and
there Is some talk OF our going to them
next week. One would imagine that such
a match would be very welcome to Staple
ton, and yet 1 have more than once caught
4 look OF the strongest disapprobation in
his face when Sir Henry has been paying
attention to his sister. He is much
to her. no doubt. and would lead
4 lonely life without her. but II would seem
he height of se~lfishness II he were to stand
n the way of her making so brilliant a
marriage. Yet / am certain that he does
not wish their intimacy to ripen into love.
and nave several times observed that
ne has taken pains TO prevent them from
being t~ete-a-tete. BY the way. your in
70 go out alone will become very much
more onerous II a love affair were to be
added to our other difficulties. My popu-
Iarity would soon suffer if 1 were to carry
put your orders to the letter.
The other day-Thursday. to be more ex-
act-Doctor Mortimer lunched with us. He
has been excavating a barrow at Long
Down, and has got a prehistoric skull whicn
oils him with great JOY. Never was there
yuch a single-minded enthusiast as hei
The Stapletons came in afterwards. and the
good doctor took US all to the Yew Alley,
It Sir Henry's request. to show US exactly
low everything occurred upon that fatal
1t is a long. dismal walk, the Yew
Alley, between two high walls of clipped
hedge. with a narrow band Of grass upon
either side. At the far end Is an old tum-
ole-down summer-house. Half way down