The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-24
me Into trouble. l beg you. sir. to say
nothing to the police

me Into trouble. beg you. sir. to say
nothing to the police "
What do you say. Watson7'
l shrugged my shoulders III he were
safely out OF the country 1t would re-
lieve the taxpayer OF a burden.
but how about the chance OF his
holding someone up before he goes?
HE would not do anything so mad.
sir We have provided him with XII
that he can want. To commit a cri'ae
would be to show where he was hiding.
THAT is true" said Sir Henry. We'll.
Barrymore
God bless you. SIR. and thank you
from my heart! It would have killed
my poor wife had he been taken again.
II guess we are aiding and ahetting q
felony, Watson? But, after what we
have heard, don't feel as II could
give the man up. so there Is an end Of
It. All right. Barrymore. you can 60.
With a few broken words OF gratitude
the man turned, but he hesitated ana
then came back.
you've been so kind to us. sir. that
should like to do the best can .of
you In return. know something, 81
Henry, and perhaps shouio nay. ~ Sd o.
It before. but 1t was long AFTER the III
ouest that l found It out I've never
b, eathed a word about 1t yet to morta
man. IT'S about poor Sir Charles
The baronet and were both upon our
feet. do you know how he died!
..No, sir, don't know that.
"What then?''
~ know why he was at the gate al
that hour 1t was to meet woman
ITO meet woman! Her
Eyes, sir"
~ can't give you the name, sir. but
can give you the initials. Her initials
were l. L.
How do you know this Barrymorer'
well. Sir Henry. your uncle had
letter that morning: He had usually
great many letters. for he was a public
nan and well known for his kind heart.
so that everyone who was In trouble
was glad to turn to him. But that
morning. as 1t CHANGED there was only
this one letter, so ! took the more notice
of It. It was from Coombe Tracey. and
il was addressed In woman's hand
"Well?"
"Well. sir. thought no more Of the
matter. and never would have done so
,, had it not been for my WIFE, Only
few weeks ago she was cleaning out
Sir Charles study-it had never been
touched since his death-and she found
the ashes of burned letter In the back
Of the CRATE. The greater part OF It
vas charred to pieces. but one little
slip, the end of a page. hung together.
and the writing could still be read.
though it was grey on black ground
1t seemed to US to be postscript at the
end of the letter. and 1t said: Please.
| please, as you are gentleman. burn
this letter, and be at the gate by ten
O'clock Beneath it were signed the
initials l.. L."
Have you got that slip?"
mo. sir. it crumbled all to bits after
we moved it.
Had Sir Charles received any other
letters in the same writing?'
We'll, sir. took no particular notice
| o. his letters. l should not have noticed
this one only it happened to come
| alone"
And you have no idea who L. L. ls7'
mo, sir No more than you have
But I expect If we could lay our hands
Upon that lady we should know more
about Sir Charles. DEATH
Il cannot understand, Barrymore. how
! you came to conceal rhis important In
formation"
"Well, sir. it was Immediately after
that our own trouble came to US. And
then, again. sir. we were both of us
| very fond of Sir Charles. as we well
might be, considering all that he has
! done for us. To rake this up couldn't
| help our poor master, and It's we'll to
go carefully when there's a lady in the
case Even the best of US"
You thought 1t might injure his repu-
! tation?
well. sir. thought no good could
come Of it. But now you have been
kind to US. and feel as If 1t would oe
/, treating you unfairly not to tell you all
that I know about the matter
Very good. Barrymore: you can co.
When he butler had left US Sir Henry
turned to me. well, Watson. what do