The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-09-07

is forgery
How can you say that. sir2''
You have presented an inch or Swo
of IL TO my examination all the time
that you have been talking. II would
be a poor expert who could not give
the date of a document within a de-
cade or So You may possibly have
read my little monograph upon the
subject. l put that al 1880"
THE exact date is 1742." DR.. Morti-
mer drew il from his breast pocket.
This family paper was committed 10
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 well
as his medical attendant. He was a
strong minded man, sir, shrewd. prac-
teal and as unimaginative as / am
myself. Yet he took this document
very seriously. and his mind was pre-
pared for just such an end as did
eventually overtake him"
Holmes stretched out his hand for
the manuscript and fiattened 1t upon
his knee.
You will observe, Watson, the al
tentative use of the long s and the
short. It is one of several indications
which enabled me to fix the date.
l looked over his shoulder at the yell
low paper and the faded script. At the
head was written: baskerville hall,
and below. In large. serawling figures,
''1742."
1T appears to be a statement OF
some sort
Yes, il is a statement of a certain
legend which runs in the Baskerville
family"
But 1 understand that it is some
thing more modern and practical upon
which you wish TO consult me?'
Most modern. A most practical,
pressing matter, which must be decided
within twenty-four hours. But the
manuscript is short and is intimately
connected with the affair. With your
permission l viii read ii TO you"
Holmes leaned back in his chair.
placed his finger-tips together, and
closed his eyes. with an air of resigna-
ton. DR.. Mortimer turned the manu-
script to the light and read in 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 ] come in direct
line from Hugo Baskerville. and as
had the story from my father. who also
had il from his. have set it down with
all belief that ii occurred even as Is
! here set forth. And l would have you
believe. my sons. that the same JUS
| tice which Furnishes sin may also most
/ graciously forgive il, and that no ban
| is so heavy but that by prayer and
repentance it may be removed. Learn
l 81 -
I fruits of the past, but rather to be cir
cumspect in the future, that those foul
passions whereby our family has SUI
/ fered so grievously may not again be
lOosed to our undOing.
Know. then. that in the time Of the
great rebellion (the history of which
by the learned Lord Clarendon ! mast
earnestly commend to your attention.
this manor of Baskerville was held by
Hugo OF that name, nor can il he gain
said THAI he was a most wilI profanC
and goddess man. This. in truth. his
neighb0rs might have pardOued, seeing
that saints have never flOuriShed N
those parts. but there was in him a
certain wanton and cruel hum0r which
made his name a byword through tbs
west 1t CHANGED that this Hugo came
/ to love Of. indeed, so dark passion
may be Fnown under so bright a name)
the daughter of a yeomaa who held
lands near the Baskerville estate. But
the young maiden, neing Discreet and
of good repute. would ever avoid him,
/ for sne feared his evil name. So IL
came to pass that one Michaelmas this
| Hugo, with five or six IF his idle and
wicked companions, stole down upon
the farm and carried off the maiden,
/ her father and brothers being from
home, as he well knew. When they
/ had brought her TO the nall the maiden
was placed in an upper chamber, while
Hugo and his friends sat down 10 a
| long carouse, as was their nightly Gus
tom. Now, the poor lass upstairs was
/ like to have her wits turned az the
singing and shouting aad terrible oaths
which came up TO her from below, for
/ they say that the Wor Is used by Hugo
] Baskerville, when he was in wine, were
such as might blast the man who said
! them. ~ last in the stress of REL
/ fear she did that which might have
daunted the bravest or m0sc active
man. for by the aid of the growth OF
/ ivy which covered (ani still coversl
the south wall she came down from
under the caves, and so homeward
across the moor. there being three
leagues bt twixt the hall and her faith
er's farm.
1T CHANGED that some little time later
/ Hugo let his guests 20 carry food and
/ drink-with other worse things, ger
4 haps-to his captive. and 80 found thC
cage empty and the bird escaped. Then
as II would seem, ne became as one
that hath a devil for rushing doWr
the stairs into the dining hall. HI
sprang upon the great table. fiagon:
and trenchers flying before him, anC
he cried aloud before all the company
that he would that very night rendel
his body and soul 10 che powers Of evi
If he might but oVeTCake the wench
And while the jewellers stood agnas
at the fury OF the man, one more wick
| ed. or, IL may be. more drunken thar
the rest. cried out that they should pu
the hounds upon her. Whereat Huge
ran from the house, crying 10 hi
grooms that they should saddle Iii
mare and unkennel the pack, and. Civ
ing the hounds a kerchief OF The maids
he swung them TO The line and so of
full cry in the moonlight over Ih'
moor.
Now, for some space the reveler:
! stood aga pc, unable 10 understand al
that had been done in such haste. BG
anon their bemused wits awoke 20 th'
| nature OF the deed whica was like I,
be done uUOn the mooriandS- Every
thing was now in an uproar some call
ing for their pistols, some for tEei
horses, and some for another flask o
wine But at length some sense came
back to their crazcd minds, and IL
whole Of them, thirteen In number. tool
horse and started n pursuit. n,
moon shone clear above them and the!
rode swiftly abreast. taking that ce1rs
which he maid must needs have takel
if she were 10 reach her own home.
They had gone a mile or two whei
they passed one Of tbs night sneIherd
upon the mOOrlands. and they crie1 q
him to know II he had seen the hunt