The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-02-22

Smith says that she is one of the
fastest launches on the river. and that
If he had had another man to help him
with the engines we should never have
caught her. He swears he knows moth
ing of this Norwood business"
Neither he did, cried our prisoner
mot a word. / chose his launch be-
cause l heard that she was a flyer. We
told him nothing, but we paid him
well, and he was to get something
handsome if we reached our vessel. the
Esmeralda, at Gravesend, outward
bound for the Brazils"
well, if he has done no wrong we
shall see that no wrong comes to him.
II we are pretty quick in catching our
men, we are not SO quick in condemn
ing them" 1t was amusing to notice
how the consequential Jones was al
ready beginning to give himself airs on
the strength of the capture. From the
slight smile which played over Sher-
lock Holmes face, | could see that the
speech had not been lost upon him.
we will be at VauXhall bridge
presently said Jones. land shall land
you, DR.. Watson, with the treasure
box. need hardly tell you that | am
taking a very grave responsibility upon
myself in doing this 1t is most irreg-
ular; but of course an agreement is an
agreement. | must, however, as a mat
ter of duty, send an inspector with
you, since you have so valuable a
charge. You will drive, no doubt?"
Yes, shall drive"
1T is pity there is no key, that we
may make an inventory first. You will
have to break it open. Where is the
key, my MANI"
AT the bottom of the river" said
Small, shortly.
Hum! There was no use you Civ
ing this unnecessary trouble. We have
had work enough already through you.
However, doctor, | need not warn you
to be careful. Bring the box back
with you to the Baker street rooms.
You will find us there on our way to
the station
They landed me at Vauxhall with
my heavy iron box and with a bluff,
genial inspector as my companion. A
quarter of an hours drive brought us
to Mrs. Cecil Forresters. The servant
seemed surprised at so late a visitor.
Mrs Cecil Forester was ont for the
evening, she explained, and likely to
be very late Miss Morstan, however,
was in the drawing-room; so to the
drawing-room | went, box in hand,
leaving the obliging inspector in the
cab.
She was seated by the open window,
dressed in some sort of white diaphan-
ous material. with little touch of
scarlet at the neck and waist. The soft
light of shaded lamp fell upon her as
She }caned back in the basket chair.
playing over her sweet, grave face. and
tinting with dull metallic sparkle
the rich coils of her luxuriant hair, one
white arm and hand dropped over the
side Of the chair, and her whole pose
and figure spoke of an absorbing
melancholy. At the sound of my foot
fall she sprang to her feet, however.
and bright flush of surprise and of
pleasure colored her pale cheeks.
II heard a cab drive up" she said. II
thought that Mrs, Forester had come
back very early, but l never dreamed
that it might be you. What news have
You brought me?"
Il have brought something better
than news, said l, putting down the
box upon the table and speaking jov-
tally and boisterously, though my
heart was heavy within me. Il have
brought you something which is worth
all the news in the world. / have
brought you fortune"
She glanced at the iron box lis
that the treasure, then?" she asked,
coolly enough.
Yes, this is the great Agra treasure.
Half of it is yours and half is Thaddeus
Sholto's. You will have couple of
hundred thousand each. Think of
that! An annuity of ten thousand
pounds. There will be few richer
young ladies in England. Is it not
gloriouS?"
i think that l must have been rather
overacting my delight, and that she
detected hollow ring in my congratu-
lations, for saw her eyebrows rise
little, and she glanced at me curiously.
IF have it," said she, Il owe it to
you"
mo, no." | answered, mot to me,
but to my friend Sherlock Holmes.
With all the will in the world, | could
never have followed up cIew which
has taxed even his analytical genius.
As it was, we very nearly lost it at the
last moment"
Pray sit down and tell me all about
it, DR.. Watson" said She
narrated briefly what had occurred
since had seen her last-Holmes' new
method of search, the discovery of the
Aurora, the appearance of Athelney
Jones, our expedition in the evening,
and the wild chase down the Thames.
She listened with parted lips and shin
ing eyes to my recital of our adventures
When | spoke of the dart which had so
narrowly missed us, she turned so
white that feared she was about to
faint.
1T is nothing she said, as I
fastened to pour her some water Il
oil ..srl,A Il L.