The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-14

cal. There was nothing for it, how
ever. but implicit obedience so we
babe goodbye to our rueful friend, and
a couple of hours afterwards we were
at the station of Coombe Tracey and
! had dispatched the trap upon its re-
turn journey. a small boy was wait
ing upon the platform.
Amy orders, sire"
you will take the train to town,
Cartwright. The moment you arrive
you viii send a wire to Sir Henry Bas-
kerVille, in my name, to say that If he
finds the pocket-book which 1 have
dropped he is to send it by registered
post to Baker street"
Yes, sir
"And ask at the station Office If there
is a message for me-"
The boy returned with a telegram.
which Holmes handed to me. 1t ran:
Wire received. Coming down with
unsigned warrant. Arrive 5:40.-Les-
trade.
THAT is in answer to mine of this
morning. He is the best of the pro-
fessionals. 1 think, and we may need
his assistance. Now, Watson, 1 think
that we cannot employ our time bet
ter than by calling upon your ac-
quaintance, Mrs. Laura Lyons
His plan of campaign was beginning
to be evident. He would use the bar
onet in order to convince the Staple
tons that we were really gone, while
we should actually return at the instant
when we were likely to be needed.
That telegram from London. if men,
toned by Sir Henry to the Stapletons,
must remove the last suspicious from
their minds. Already l seemed to see
our nets drawing closer round that
lean-jawed pike.
Mrs Laura IN bor 0fiop
and Sherlock Holmes opened his in
terview with a frankness and direct
ness which considerably amazed her.
II am investigating the circumstances
which attended the death of the late
Sir Charles Baskerville" said he. My
friend here, DR.. Watson, has informed
me of what you have communicated,
and also of what you have withheld in
connection with that matter"
"What have 1 withhold" she asked,
defiantly
You have confessed that you asked
Sir Charles to be at the gate at 10
o'clock. We know that that was the
place and hour of his death. You
have withheld what the connection is
between these events"
There is no connection
I'm that case the coincidence must
indeed be an extraordinary one. But
l think that we shall succeed in es-
tablishing a connection after all.
wish to be perfectly frank with you,
Mrs. Lyons. We regard this case as
one of murder, and the evidence may
implicate not only your friend Mr..
Stapleton, but his wife as we'll"
The lady sprang from her chair.
His wife!" she cried.
1.-The fact is no longer a secret. The
person who has passed for his sister
is really his wife"
Mrs. Lyons had resumed her seat.
Her hands were grasping the arms of
her chair, and l saw that the pink
sure of her grip.
His wife, she said. again. His
wife! He is not married man."
Sherlock Holmes shrugged his Shout
ders.
prove it to me! Prove it to me!
And if you can do so--!" The fierce
flash of her eyes said more than any
words.
81 have come prepared to do So, said
Holmes, drawing several papers from
his pocket. Here is a photograph of
the couple taken in York four years
ago. 1t Is Endorsed Mr.. and Mrs.
Vandeleur,' but you will have
no difficulty in recognizing
him. and her also, If you know her by
sight. Here are three written descrip-
lions by trustworthy witnesses of Mr..
and Mrs. Vandeleur, who at that time
kept st. divers private school. Read
them, and see if you can doubt the
identity of these people,"
She glanced at them, and then look
ed up at us with the set, rigid face of
a desperate woman.
Mr.. Holmes" she said, this man
had offered me marriage on condition
that 1 could get a divorce from my
husband. He has lied to me- the viii
lain, in every conceivable way. Not
one word of truth has he ever told me.
And why-why? l imagined that all
was for my own sake. But now / see
that 1 was never anything but a tool
in his hands. Why should 1 preserve
faith with him who never kept any
with me? Why should l try to shield
him from the consequences of his own
wicked acts? Ask me what you like,
and there is nothing which shall hold
back. One thing l swear to you, and
that is, that when l wrote the letter
l never dreamed of any harm to the
old gentleman, who had been my kind
est friend"
II entirely believe you, madam"
said Sherlock Holmes THE recital of
these events must be very painful to
you. and perhaps 1t will make ii easier
If l tell you what occurred. and YOU
can check me If / make any material
mistake. The sending of this letter
was suggested to you by Stapleton?"
HE dictated it."
II presume that the reason he gave
was that you would receive help from
Sir Charles for the legal expenses con-
nected with your divorce?"
Exactly"
And then after you had sent the let
ter he dissuaded you from keeping the
appointment"
He told me that 1T would hurt his
self-respect that any other man should
find the money for such an object. and
that though he was a poor man him
self, he would devote his last penny to
removing the obstacles which divided
U.S."
He appears to be very consistent
character. And then you heard moth
ing until you read the reports of the
death in the paper?"
mo"
And he made you, swear to say
nothing about your appointment with
Sir Charles %
He did. He said that the death was
a very mysterious one, and that 7
should certainly be suspected If the
| facts game out. He frightened me into
! remaining silent"
Quite SO. But you had your suspi-
cions?'
She hesitated and looked down
Il knew him." she said. but If he
had kept faith with me l should al
ways have done so with him"
II think that on the whole you have
had fortunate escape" said Sherlock
Holmes. You have had him in YOUR
"a 10