The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-02-08

the facts before you as far as know
them myself.
envy father was, as you may have
guessed, Maj. John Sholto, once of the
Indian army. He retired some eleven
years ago, and came to live at Pondi-
cherry lodge in Upper Norwood. He
had prospered in India, and brought
back with him considerable sum of
money, large collection of valuable
curiosities and a staff of native serv-
ants. With these advantages he bought
himself a house and lived in great lux
ury. My twin brother Bartholomew
and were the only children.
81 very well remember the sensation
which was caused by the disappear
ance of Capt. Morstan. We read the
details in the papers, and, knowing
that he had been a friend of our IA
theirs, we discussed the case freely in
his presence. He used to join in our
speculations as to what could have hap
pened. Never for an instant did we
suspect that he had the whole secret
hidden in his own breast-that of all
men he alone knew the fate of Arthur
Morstan.
eve did know, however, that some
mystery positive danger-over-
hung our father. He was very fearful
of going out alone, and he always en-
ployed two prize fighters to act as por-
ters at Pondicherry lodge. Williams,
who drove you tonight, was one of
them. He was once lightweight cham
pion of England. Our father would
never tell us what it was that he feared,
but he had a most marked aver sion to
men with wooden legs. On one occa-
sion he actually fired his revolver at a
wooden-legged man, who proved to be
a harmless tradesman canvassing for
orders. We had to pay large sum to
hush the matter up My brother and
used to think this mere within of my
fathers, but events have since led us
to change our opinion.
EARLY in 1882 my father received a
letter from India which was a great
shock to him. He nearly tainted at the
breakfast table when he opened it, and
from that day he sickened to his death.
What was in the letter we could never
discover, but l could see as he held it
that it was short and written in a
scrawling hand. He had suffered for
years from an enlarged spleen, but he
now became rapidly worse, and towards
the end of April we were informed that
he was beyond all hope, and that he
wished to make a last communication
to us.
"When we entered his room he was
propped up with pillows and breathing
heavily. He besought us to lock the
door and to come upon either side OF
| the bed. Then, grasping our hands, he
made a remarkable statement to us, in
a voice which was broken as much by
emotion as by pain. / shall try and
give it to you in his own very words.
81 have only one thing he said,
which weighs upon my mind at this
supreme moment. 1t is my treatment
of poor Morstan's orphan. The cursed
greed which has been my besetting sir
through life has withheld from he1
| the treasure, half at least of which
should have been hers. And yet have
made no use of it myself-so blind anG
| foolish thing is avarice. The mere
feeling of possession has been so deal
to me that could not bear to share i
with another. See that chaplet tipped
with pearls beside the quinine bottle
Even that could not bear to par
with, although had got it out will
the design of sending it to her. You
my sons, will give her fair share o
the Agra treasure. But send her moth
ing-not even the chaplet-until l an
gone. After all, men have been as ba'
as this and have recovered.
"I will tell you how Morstan died
he continued. He had suffered TO
years from a weak heart, but he cor
cealed it from everyone. alone kney
it. When in India, he and l, through
remarkable chain of circumstances
came into possession of considerabl
treasure. 1 brought it over to Eng
land, and on the night of Morstan's al
rival he came straight over here t
claim his share. He walked over fror
the station, and was admitted by m
faithful old Lal Chowdar, who is no.
dead. Morstan and had differenc
of opinion as to the division of til
treasure, and we came to heated word
, mOISGdn udO opA uhS OuU VI LIS ShOh
a paroxysm of anger, when he suddel
,, ly pressed his hand to his side, his fac
turned duslSy hue, and he fell bacl
, wards, cutting his head against tt
, corner of the treasure-chest. When
: stopped over him found, to my horro
, that he was dead.
: "'For a long time sat half di
, tracted, wondering what should d
My first impulse was, of course,
, call for assistance; but could not b.
: recognize that there was every chan
3 that would be accused of his murde
His death at the moment of a quarre
4 and the cash in his head, would
I black against me. Again, an offici
inquiry could not be made witho
e bringing out some facts about t
treasure, which was particular
/ anxious to keep secret. He had to
/ me that no soul upon earth kne
where he had gone. There seemed
eA,,1 on