The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-09-21

II was a stranger who was pursuing
me. He was "a small. clean-shaven.
prim-faced man, fiaxen-haired and
n-jawed. between 80 and 10 years of
age, dressed in a gray suit and wear
ing a straw hat a tin box for botan-
zeal specimens hung over his shoulder
and her carried a green butterfly net in
one Of his hands.
You will, / am sure. excuse my pre-
sumption. DIT. Watson said he as he
came painting up 10 where / stood.
Here on the moor We are hOmely folk
and do not wait for formal introduce
tions You may possibly have heard
my name from our mutual friend, Nor
timer. / am Stapleton of Merripit
house"
Your net and box would have told
me as much said /. ''for ]. knew that
Mr. StapletOn was naturalist. But
how did you know me?'
Il have heen calling do Mortimer,
and he pointed you out TO me from
the window of his surgery as you
passed. AS our road lay the same way
I thought that | would Overtake you
and Introduce myself. I trust that
Sir Henry is none the worse for his
Journey"
"He Is very wei, thank you"
We were all rsaher afraid that after
the sad death OF Sir Charles the new
baronet might refuse TO live here. It
is asking much of a wealthy man 10
come down and bury himself in a place
OF this kind, but / need not tell you
that it means a very great deal TO the
country side. Sir Henry has. I sup
pose. no superstitious fears in the mat
ter?"
u do not think that it is likely"
"Of course you know the legend of
the hend dog which haunts the fam
ny?"
Il have heard it,"
1T is extraordinary how credulous
the peasants are about here! Any num-
her Of them are ready 10 swear that
they have seen such a creature upon
the moor" He spoke with a smile
but I seemed 20 read In his eyes that
he took the matter more seriously
THE story took a great hold upon the
Imagination of Sir Charles, and I have
no doubt that it led TO his tragic end"
But how?"
His nerves were so worked up that
the appearance Of any dog might have
had a fatal effect upon his diseased
heart. | fancy that he really did see
something of the kind on that last
night in the Yew alley. I feared that
some disaster might occur. for l was
very fond Of the old man. and knew
that his heart was weak"
How did you know that?"
MY friend Mortimer told me-"
You think. then. that some dog
pursued Sir Charles, and that he died
Of fright in consequence"
Have you any better explanation"
81 have not come to any conclu-
sion"
Has Mr.. Sherlock Holiness"
The words took away my breath for
an instant, but a glance at the placid
face and steadfast eyes of my com
panion showed that no surprise was
intended.
1T is useless for US 10 pretend that
we do not know you. DR.. Watson. 3"
said he. THE records of your detec-
tive have reached US here. and you
could not celebrate him without being
known yourself When Mortimer told
me your name he could not deny your
Identity. II you are here. then il fol-
lows that Mr.. Sherlock Holmes is in
teresting himself in the matter, and l
am naturally curious to know what
veiw he may take"
Il am afraid that I cannot answer
that question"
May ask if ne is going to honor
US with a visit HIMSELF"
He cannot leave town at present He
has other cases which engage his at
tention."
what "A pityl He might throw
some light on that which is so dark
10 us. But as to your own researches,
If there is any possible way in which
! can be Of service 70 you l trust that
YOU viii command me. II I had any
indication Of the nature Of your sus-
picions. or how YOU propose TO inves-
tigate the case. ! might perhaps even
now give YOU some aid or advice"
81 assure YOU that ] am simply here
upon a visit 10 my friend Sir Henry.
and that I need no help of any kind. "
Excellent" said Stapleton. you
are perfectly right 20 be wary and dis
/ Greet I am justly reProved for what
I feel was an unJustidable intrusion,
and ! promise you that / viii not men,
| ton the matter again"
We had come 10 a point where a
narrow grassy path struck OF from the
road and wound away across the moor.
A steep, boulder-spTinkled hill ;ay
upon the right which had in bygone
I days been cut into a granite quarry.
The face which was turned towards Us
formed a dark cliff with ferns AMI
/ brambles growing in its inches. From
over a distant rise where fiOated a gray
plume Of smoke.