The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-10


horizon I could not but marvel at what
could have brought this highly edu-
Gated man and this beautiful woman
TO live in such place.
Queer SPOT to choose, is if not? ?" said
ne, as If in answer to my thought.
And yet we manage to make our
selves fairly happy, do we not, Beryl?'
quite happy" said she, but there
was no ring of conviction in her words
1 had school," said Stapleton. 1T
was in the north country. The work
10 man of my temperament was me-
chanical and uninteresting, but the
privilege of living with youth, of help
ing to mould those young minds and
OF impressing them with ones own
character and ideals, was very dear to
me. However, the fates were against
us. A serious epidemic broke out in
the school and three of the boys died.
L never recovered from the blow and
much of my capital was irretrievably
swallowed up. And yet, if it were not
for the loss of the charming compan-
lonship of the boys, 1 could rejoice
over my own misfortune, for, with my
strong tastes for botany and zoology,
l find an unlimited field of work here,
and my sister is as devoted to nature
as l am. All this, DIR. Watson, has
been brought upon your head by your
expression as you surveyed the moor
out Of our window"
1T certainly did cross my mind that
it might be a little dull--less for you,
perhaps, than for your sister"
NO. no, l am never dull" said she,
quickly.
I'VE have books, we have our stud
les, and we have interesting neighbors.
DIR. Mortimer is a most learned man
in his own line. Poor Sir Charles was
also an admirable companion. We
knew him we'll, and miss him more
than l can tell. Do you think that I
should intrude if 1 were to call this
afternoon and make the acquaintance
of Sir Henry?"
Il am sure that he would be delight
ed"
Then perhaps you would mention
that L propose to do so. We may in
our humble way dc something to make
things more easy for him until he be-
comes accustomed to his new surround
ings. viii you come upstairs DR.. Wat
son, and inspect my collection of lep-
idoptera? 1 think it is the most COM
plete one in the southwest of England.
By the time that you have looked
through them lunch will be almost
ready"
But I was eager to get back to my
charge. The melancholy of the moor,
the death of the unfortunate pony, the
weird sound which had been associated
with the grim legend of the Basker-
villes, all these things tinged my
thoughts with sadness. Then on the
top of these more or less vague i'm
pressions there had come the definite
and distinct warning of Miss Staple
ton, delivered with such intense earn
estnesS that l could not doubt that
some grave and deep reason lay behind
it. 1 resisted all pressure to stay for
lunch, and set off at once upon my
return journey, taking the grass grown
path by which we had come
1t seems, however, that there must
have been some short cut for those
who knew it, for before had reached
the road l was astounded to see Miss
Stapleton sitting upon rock
by the side of the track.
Her face was beautifully flushed
with her exertions, and she held her
hand to her side.
Il have run all the way in order to
cut you off. Dr. Watson" said she. II
had not even time to put on my hat.
l must not stop, or my brother may
miss me. l wanted to say to you how
sorry l am about the stupid mistake
I made in thinking that you were Sir
Henry. Please forget the words l said,
"AAASAA AAeVfS AAO c1pPl1NeullOA whatever
to you"
But 1 can't forget them, Miss
Stapleton," said /. Il am Sir Henry's
friend, and his welfare is a very close
concern of mine. Tell me why it was
that you were so eager that Sir Henry
should return to London"
"A woman's within, DIR. Watson
When you know me better you will un-
derstand that 1 cannot always give
reasons for what 1 say or do
mo, no. l remember the thrill in
your voice. l remember the look in
your eyes. Please, please, be frank
with me, Miss Stapleton, for ever since
l have been here 1 have been conscious
of shadows all round me. Life has
become like that great Grimpen Mire,
with little green patches everywhere
into which one may sink and with no
guide to point the track. Tell me then
what 1t was that you meant, and 1 will
promise to convey your warning to Sir
Henry"
An expression of irresolution passed
for an instant over her face, but her
eyes had hardened again when she
answered me.
You make too much of it, DR.. Wat
son." said she. MY brother and
were very much shocked by the death
of Sir Charles. We knew him very in
timately, for his favorite walk was
over the moor to our house. He was
deeply impressed with the curse which
hung over his family, and when this
tragedy came L naturally felt that
there must be some grounds for the
fears which he had expressed. 1 VISA
distressed therefore when another
member of the family came down to
live here, and l felt that he should be
warned of the danger which he will
run. That was all which / intended to
convey"
but what is the danger?'
you know the story of the hound? ?"
"I do not believe in such nonsense"
But do. If you have any influence
with Sir Henry, take him away from
place which has always been fatal to
his family. The world is wide. Why
should he wish to live at the place of
danger?'
Because it is the place of danger.
That is Sir Henry's nature. 1 fear
that unless you can give me some
more definite information than this it
would be impossible to get him to
move"
81 cannot say anything definite, for
l do not know anything definite"
II would ask you one more question,
Miss Stapleton. If you meant no more
than this when you first spoke to me,
why should you not wish your brother
TO overhear what you said? There is
nothing to which he, or anyone else,
could object"
my brother is very anxious to have
the Hall inhabited, for he thinks that
it is for the good of the poor folk upon
the moor He would be very angry If
-, I.r,,,,, tt,at 7 had said ANYTHING which