The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-27
Continued from last Sunday.

we had been involved appeared to be
forgotten, and he was entirely absorb
ed in the pictures of the modern Bel
gian masters. He would talk of moth
ing but art, of which he had the
crudest ideas, from our leaving the
gallery until we found ourselves at
the Northumberland Hotel.
"Sir Henry Baskerville is upstairs
expecting you," said the clerk. He
asked me to show you up at once
when you came"
Have you any objection to my look
ing at your register said Holmes.
Not in the least
The book showed that two names
had been added after that of Basker-
willie. One was Theophilus Johnson
and family, of Newcastle; the other
Mrs Oldmore and maid. of High
Lodge. Alton.
surely that must be the same John
son whom l used to know" said
Holmes to the porter. "a lawyer, is
he not, grey-haired. and walks with a
limp"
No. sir, this is Mr.. Johnson, the
coal-owner. a very active gentleman,
not older than yourself"
Surely you are mistaken about his
trader"
NO sir; he has used this hotel for
many years, and he is very well known
10 US"
"Ah, that settles it Mrs. Oldmore,
too; l seem to remember the name.
Excuse my curiosity, but often in call
ing upon one friend one finds another"
She is an invalid lady, sir. Her
husband was once Mayor of Glouces-
ter. She always comes to US when she
is in town.
Thank you; 1 am afraid 1 cannot
claim her acquaintance. We have
established a most important fact by
these questions, Watson" he con-
tinued, In IA low voice, as We went up
stairs together. I'VE know now that
the people who are so interested in our
friend have not settled down in his
own hotel. That means that while
they are, as we have seen, very
anxious to watch him they are equally
anxious that he should not see them.
Now. this is most suggestive fact"
What does it suggest?'
1T ggests-halloa, my dear fellow,
what on earth is the matter?"
AS we came round the top of the
stairs we had run up against Sir
Henry Baskerville himself. His face
was flushed with anger, and he held
an old and dusty boot III one of his
hands. So furious was he that he was
hardly articulate. and when he
did speak it was in much
broader and more Western dialect
than any which we had heard from
him in the morning.
Seems to me they are playing me
for a sucker in this hotel" he cried.
They'll find they've started in to
monkey with the wrong man unless
they are careful. BY thunder. If that
chap can't find my missing boot there
will be trouble can take a joke with
the best. Mr.. Holmes, but they've got
"a bit over the mark this time"
Still looking for your boot?"
Eyes, sir. and mean to find it."
But, surely you said that 1t was
a new brown boot?"
so it was, sir. And now it's an old
black one"
What! you don't mean to say"
That's just what l do mean to say.
i only had three pairs in the world
the new brown, the old black, and the
patent feathers, which 1 am wearing.
Last night they took one of my brown
ones, and to-day they have sneaked
one of the black. Well, have you got
it? Speak out, man, and don't stand
staring"
An agitated German waiter had APP
peared upon the scene.
mo, sir: l have made inquiry all
over the hotel, but l can hear no word
of q
''Wen, either that boot comes back
before shutdown or I'll see the manager
and tell him that l go right straight
out of this hotel"
1T shall be found, sir-I promise you
that if you will have a little patience
1t will be found
Mind it is. for it's the last thing of
mine that I'll lose in this den of thieves.
Well, We'll Mr. Holmes, you'll excuse
my troubling you about such a trihe
Il think it's well worth troubling
about"
Why, you look very serious over
How do you explain it?"
Il just don't attempt to explain 1t.
1t seems the very maddest queerest
thing that ever happened to me-"
The queerest perhaps said
Holmes, thoughtfully.
What do you make of it yourself?"
We'll. l don't profess to understand
II yet. This case of yours is very COM
pick Sir Henry. When taken in con-
junction with your uncle's death l am
not sure that of all the FIVE hundred
cases of capital Importance which I
have handled there is one which cuts
80 deep. But we hold several threads
In our hands, and the odds are that
one or other of them guides us to the
truth. We may waste time in follow
ing the wrong one. but sooner or later
we must come upon the right"
We had a pleasant luncheon in which
little was said of the business which
had brought us together. 1t was in
the private sitting room to which we
afterwards repaired that Holmes asks
ed Baskerville what were his inten-
tions.
ITO go to Baskerville Hail."
And when?"
AT the end of the week"
ION the whole" said Holmes, at
think that your decision is a wise one.
have ample evidence that you are
being logged in London, and amid the
millions of this great city it is difficult
TO discover who these people are or
what their object can be. If their in
tentions are evil they might do you a
mischief, and We should be powerless
to prevent it. You did not know, DR..
Mortimer, that you We're followed this
morning from my house?"
DR.. Mortimer started violently.
Followed BY whom ?"
That unfortunately, is what / can
not tell you. Have you among your
neighbors or acquaintance on Dart
moor any man with a black, full
beard?"
Moor. let me see-why. yes. Bar
rymore. Sir Charles's butler, is a man
with a fun. black beard"
Hal Where is Barrymore"
10 fo 4~. So -