Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-07-16

tie inclined to my fathers fault. He
thought, too, that If we parted with
the chaplet it might give rise to gossip,
and finally bring us into trouble. It
was all that could do to persuade him
to let me find out Miss Morstan's ad-
dress and send her detached pearl at
fixed intervals, SO that, at least, she
might never feel destitute"
1T was kindly thought" said our
companion. earnestly. 1T was ex-
| tremely good of YOU"
The little man waved his hand dep
recatingly. "We were your trustees"
he said. THAT was the view which I
took of it, though Brother Bartholo-
| NEW could not altogether see it in that
light We had plenty of money our
selves. desired no more. Besides, it
| would have been such bad taste to have
treated young lady in so scurvy a
| fashion. lie mauvais govt meme au
| crime The French have a very neat
way of putting these things. Our diff
| ference of opinion on this subject went
| so far that thought it best to set up
| rooms for myself; SO l left Pondicherry
| lodge, taking the old khitmutgar and
Williams with me. Yesterday, how
ever, l learned that an event of ex-
| IRENE Importance has occurred. The
| treasure has been discovered. in
stantly communicated with Miss Nor
stan, and it only remains for us to drive
1 out to Norwood and demand our share.
| explained my views last night to
Brother Bartholomew; so we shall be
| expected, if not welcome, visitors"
| Mr.. Thaddeus Sholto ceased, and sat
Il twitchinr on his In, eo++oo
all remained silent, with our thoughts
upon the new development which the
| mysterious business had taken Holmes
was the first to spring to his feet.
| You have done well, sir from first
TO last" said he. 1T is possible that
we may be able TO make you some
small return by throwing some light
upon that which is still dark to YOU.
But, as Miss Morstan remarked lust
now, 1T is late, and we had best put the
matter through without delay"
Our new acquaintance very DELHI
erately coiled up the tube of his
hookah, and produced from behind a
curtain a very long befrogged top coat
with Astrakhan collars and cuffs. This
he outtoned tightly up, in spite of the
extreme closeness of the night, and
finished his attire by putting on rab-
olt-skin cap with hanging lappets
which covered the ears, SO that no part
of him was visible save his mobile and
peaky face. My health is somewhat
fragile" he remarked, as he led the
way down the passage. 81 am com
PEELED to be a valetudinarian."
Our cab was awaiting us outside, and
our programme was evidently prear-
| v-or a Co. al. 4
once at a rapid pace Thaddeus Sholto
talked necessarily, in voice which rose
high above the rattle of the wheels.
bartholomew is clover fellow"
said he. How do you think he found
out where the treasure was? He had
come to the conclusion that it was
somewhere indoors; so he worked ont
all the cubic space of the house and
made measurements everywhere, so
that not one inch should be unaccount-
ed for. Among other things, he found
that the height of the building was
seventy-four feet but on adding to-
gether the heights of all the separate
rooms, and making every allowance
for the space between, which he as
certained by behring's. he could not
bring the total to more than seventy
feet There were four feet unaccount-
ed for. These could only be at the top
OF the building. He Rocked n hole.
therefore, in the lath-and-plaster cell
ing of the highest room, and there,
sure enough, he came upon another
little garnet above it, which had been
sealed up and was known to no one
, In the center stood the treaSure-chest
resting upon two rafters lie lowered
II through the hole, and there il lies
lie computes the value of the Jewels at
not less than half million sterling. {"
~ the mention of this gigantic sum
we all stared at one another opcn-eved
Miss Morstan, could we secure her
rights, would change from a needy
governess TO the richest heiress i'm Eng
land. Surely it was the place of a
loyal friend to rejoice at such news:
yet am ashamed to say that selfish
ness took me by the soul, and that nv
heart turned as heavy as lead within
me. | stammered out some few halt
ing words of congratulation, and then
sat downcast, with my head dropped,
deaf to the babble of our new ac-
quaintance. He was clearly a con-
lily conscious that he was pouring forth
interminable trains of symptoms, and
imploring information as to the COM
position and action of innumera BILE
quack nostrums, some of which he bore
about in leather ease in his pocket.
trust he may not remember any of the
answers which | gave him that night
Holmes declares that he overheard me
caution him against the great danger
of taking more than two drops of cas-
tor oil, while / recommended strych-
nine in large doses as a sedative How
ever that may be, was certainly re-
heved when our cab pulled up with a
jerk and the coachman sprang down
to open the door.
This, Miss Morstan, is Pondicherry
lodge" said Mr.. Thaddeus Sholto, as
he handed her out.
CHAPTER "