The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-02-08

in the corner. A lamp in the fashion'of
a silver dove was hung from an almost
invisible golden wire in the center of
the room. As it burned it filed the air
with subtle and aromatic odor.
''Mr. Thaddeus Sholto," said the little
man, still jerking and smiling. ''That
is my name. You are Miss Morstan, of
course. And these gentlemen"
''This is Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and
this DIR. Watson"
ga doctor, eh?" cried he, much ex-
cited. Have you your stethoscope?
Might ask you-would you have the
kindness? l have grave doubts as to
my mitral valve, if you would be so very
good. The aortic may rely upon, but
1 should value your opinion upon the
mitral."
l listened to his heart as requested,
but was unable to find anything amiss,
save indeed that he was in an ecstasy
of fear, for he shivered from head to
foot. 1T appears to be normal,
said. you have no cause for uneasi-
ness"
''You will excuse my anxiety, Miss
Morstan," he remarked, airily. ST am
great sufferer, and / have long had
suspicious as to that valve. am de-
lighted to hear that they are unwar-
ranted. Had your father, Miss Nor
stan, refrained from throwing strain
upon his heart he might have been
alive now"
l could have struck the man across
the face, so hot was / at this callous
and off-hand reference to so delicate a
matter. Miss Morstan sat down ano
her face grew white to the lips. 81
knew in my heart that he was dead"
said she.
81 can give you every information"
said he, land, what is more, can do
YOU Justice; and 1 will, too, whatever
Brother Bartholomew may say. l am
so glad to have your friends here, not
only as an escort to you, but also as
witnesses to what am about to do and
say. The three of us can show bold
front to Brother Bartholomew But let
us have no outsiders-no police or Off
Gals. We can settle everything salts
factorily among ourselves, without any
interference. Nothing would annoy
Brother Bartholomew more than any
publicity" He sat down upon a low
settee and blinked at us inquiringly
with his weak, watery blue eyes.
"For my part" said Holmes, what
ever you may choose to say will go no
further"
nodded to show my agreement.
"That is we'll! That is wellr' said he
"May offer you glass of Chianti,
Miss Morstan? Or of Tokay? l keep
no other wines. Shall open flask
No? Well, then, 1 trust that you have
no objection to tobacco smoke, to the
mild balsamic odor of the eastern to
bacco am little nervous, and fine
, my hookah an invaluable sedative.
He applied taper to the great bowl
and the smoke dubbed merrily through
) the rose water. We sat all three in {
semicircle, with our heads advanced
and our chins upon our hands, while
the strange, jerky little fellow, will
his high, shining head, pulled uneasil!
in the center.
when 1 first determined to max,
this communication to you," said he
81 might have given you my address
but feared that you might disregard
my request and bring unpleasant PEG
pie with you. 1 took the liberty, there
fore, of making an appointment in sucl
way that my man Williams might b
able to see you first. l have complet
confidence in his discretion, and he hat
orders, if he were dissatisfied, to pre-
coed no further in the matter. Yo
will excuse these precautions, but I al
a man of somewhat retiring, and
might even say refined, tastes, an
there is nothing more unBsthetic tha
a policeman. I have natural shrink
ing from all forms of rough materia.
ism. 1 seldom come in contact wit
the rough crowd. l live, as you see
with some little atmosphere of ele
~ gance around me- / may call myself
NJ patron of the arts 1t is my weakness
q The landscape is genuine Carrot, ant
, though connoisseur might perhap
n throw doubt upon that Salvador Ross
IN there cannot be the least question abou
4 the Bouguereau. l am partial to tn
modern French school"
"A "You will excuse me, Mr.. Sholto,
n said Miss Morstan, 'but l am here g
n. your request to learn something whic
Il you desire to tell me. 1t is very lat'
:" and should desire the interview to
as short as possible"
"At the best it must take some time
N. he answered; "for we shall certainl
ne have to go to Norwood and see Brotht
Id Bartholomew. We shall all go and tt
a if we can get the better of Brothc
w Bartholomew. He is very angry wit
ed me for taking the course which h;
ne seemed right to me. I had quite hig
tn words with him last night. You ca
ed not imagine what terrible fellow
nd is when he is angry"
ot "If we are to go to Norwood it wou
in perhaps be as well to start at once"
lis ventured to remark.
lis He laughed until his ears were qui
ow red.
Tor "That would hardly do" he cried.
en- don't know what he would say if
Die