Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-05-05

face which gave clearer promise OF a
refined and sensitive nature. could
not but observe that as she took tbe
seat which Sherlock Holmes placed fo,
her, her lip trembled, her hand univ.
cred, and she showed every sign of in.
tense inward agitation.
II have come to you, Mr.. Holmes. "
she said, "because you once enabled
my employer, Mrs. Cecil Forester. &c
unravel n little domestic complication.
She was much impressed by your kind.
ness and skill"
"Mrs. Cecil Forester" he repeated
thoughtfully. 81 believe that was o!
some slight service TO her. The case.
however, as I remember IL, was n very
simple one"
"She did not think so. But at least
you cannot say the same of mine.
can hardly Imagine anything more
strange, more utterly inexplicable,
than the situation in which | find nv.
self"
Holmes rubbed his hands, and his
eyes glistcncd. He leaned forward in
his chair with an expression of cxtraor.
binary concentration upon his clear.
cut, hawk-like features. Estate your
case" said he, in brisk. business tones.
felt that my position was an en-
barrassing one. "You will, am sure.
excuse me-" / said, rising from my
chair.
To my surprise the young lady held
up her glovcd hand to detain me. "If
your friend" she said. "would be good
enough to stop, he might be of inestim-
able service TO me-"
Irelapsed into my chair.
Briefly" she continued, "thc facts
are these: My father was an officer in
an Indian regiment who sent me home
when was quite child. My mother
was dead, and I had no relative in Eng
land. was placed, however, in Il
comfortable boarding establishment at
Edinburgh, and there remained until
l was seventeen years of age. In the
year 1878 my father who was senior
captain of his regiment, obtained
twelve months leave and came home.
He telegraphcd to me from London
that he had arrived all safe. and di-
rected me to come down at once. giving
the Langham hotel as his address. His
message, as l remember, was full of
Kindness and love. On reaching Lon
don | drove to the Langham, and was
informed that Capt. Morstan was STAY
ing there, but that he had gone out the
night before and had not returned. |
waited all day without news of him.
That night, on the advice of the man.
ager of the hotel, communicated with
the police. and next morning we adver-
tised in all the papers. Our inquiries
led to no result; and from that day to
this no word has ever been heard of
my unfortuna te father. He came home
with his heart full of hope, to find
some peace. some comfort, and in
stead She put her hand TO her
throat, and a choking sob cut short the
sentence.
THE date?" asked Holmes, opening
his notebook.
"He disappeared upon the Sd Of De-
cember, 1s7S-nearly ten years ago."
Ills luggage?"
Remained at the hotel. There was
nothing in it to suggest a clcw--some
books, and considerable number of
curiosities from the Andainan islands.
lie had been one of the officers in
charge Of the convict guard there"
"llad he any friends in town?"
"Onlv one that we know of-Mai.
Sholto of his own regiment. the Thir-
ty-fourth bombay infantry. The ma
jor had retired some little time before,
and lived at Upper Norwood We com
municated with him, of course, but he
did not even know that his brother Of
ficer was in England"
"A singular case" remarked Holmes.
II have not yet described to you the
most singular part. About six years
ago-to be exact, upon the 4th of May,
1ss9-an advertisement appeared in the
Times asking for the address of Miss
Mary Morstan, and stating that it
would be to her advantage to come for
ward. There was no name or address
had at that time just en-
tered the family of Mrs. Cecil Forester
in the capacity of governess BY her
advice l published my address in the
column. The same dav
there arrived through the post n small
cardboard box addressed to me. which
l found to contain very large and lus-
trous pearl. No word Of writing was
inclosed. Since then, every year. upon
the same date, there has always APP
peared similar box. containing a sim
liar pearl, without any clew as to the
sender. They have been pronounced
by an expert to be of n rare variety and
Of considera Bile value. You can See for
yourselves that they are very hand
some" She opened Hat box as she
spoke, and showed me six of the finest
pearls that had ever seen.
Your statement is most interest
ing said Sherlock Holmes. Has any
thing else occurred to you?"
Eyes, and no later than to-day. That
is why l have come to you. This morn
ing received this letter. which you
will perhaps read for yourself"
Thank you" said Holmes. "Thc
envelope. too, please. Postmark, Lon
don, $. W.; date, July7. Hum. Mans
Ihumbnark on probably post
man. Best quality paper. Envelopes
at sixpence packet. Particular man
IN his stationery. No address. BE at
the third pillar from the left outside
the Lyceum theater tonight at seven
o'clock. II you are distrustful, bring
two friends. You are wronged WON
Ia, and shall have justice. DO not
bring police. IL you do, all will be in
W in Xnur pptpntvp friarJ NVon