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

brought you in that sudden way. No.
L must prepare you by showing you
how we all stand to each other. In the
first place, / must tell YOU that there
are several points in the story of which
/ am myself ignorant. can only Law
the facts before you as far as | know
them myself.
My father was, as you may have
guessed, Maj. John Sholto, once of the
Indian army. He retired some eleven
years ago, and came to live at Pondi-
cherry lodge in Upper Norwood. He
had prospered in India, and brought
back with him n considerable sum Of
money, large collection of valuable
curioSities and a staff of native serv-
ants With these advantages he bought
himself house and lived in great lux
ury. My twin brother Bartholomew
and were the only children.
Il very well remember the sensation
which was caused by the disappear
ance of Capt Morstan. We read the
details in the papers, and, knowing
that he had been friend of our ia
theirs. we discussed the case freely in
his presence lie used to join in our
speculations rs TO what could have hap
pened. Never for an instant did we
suspect that he had the whole secret
hidden in his own breast-that of all
men he alone knew the fate of Arthur
Morstan.
1--WE did know, however, that some
mystery-some positive danger-over-
hung our father. He was very fearful
of going out alone, and he always en-
ployed two prize fighters to act as por-
ters at Pondicherry lodge Williams,
who drove you tonight, was one of
them. He was once lightweight cham
pion of England. Our father would
never tell us what it was that he feared,
but he had n most marked aversion to
men with wooden legs. On one occa-
sion he actually fired his revolver at a
wooden-legged man, who proved to he
a harmless tradesman canvassing for
orders. We had to pay large sum to
hush the matter up My brother and |
used to think this mere within of nv
fathers, but events have since led us
to change our opinion.
Early in 1882 my father received a
letter from India which was great
shock to him He nearly tainted at the
breakfast table when he opened it, and
from that day he sicllened to his death.
What was in the letter we could never
discover, but ! could see as he held il
that IL was short and written in a
scrawling hand. He had suffered for
years from an enlarged spleen, but he
now became rapidly worse, and towards
the end of April we were informed that
he was beyond all hope, and that he
wished to make a last communication
to us.
when we entered his room he was
propped up with pillows and breathing
heavily. He besought US to lock the
door and to come upon either side of
the bed. Then, grasping our hands, he
made a remarkable statement to us, in
voice which was broken as much by
emotion as by pain. shall try and
give it to you in his own very words.
81 have only one thing he said,
which weighs upon my mind at this
supreme moment. 1t is my treatment
of poor Morstan's orphan. The cursed
greed which has been my besetting sin
through life has withheld from her
the treasure, half at least of which
should have been hers. And yet have
made no use of it myself-so blind and
foolish thing is avarice. The mere
feeling of possession has been so dear
to me that | could not bear to share it
with another. See that chaplet tipped
with pearls beside the quinine bottle?
Even that / could not bear to part
with, although I had got it out with
the design of sending it to her You,
my sons, will give her a fair share of
the Agra treasure. But send her moth
ing-not even the chaplet-until I am
gone. After all, men have been as bad
as this and have recovered.
"'I will tell you how Morstan died.
he continued. He had suffered for
years from a weak heart, but he con-
cealed 1T from everyone. / alone knew
It, When in India, he and |, through
remarkable chain of circumstances