The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-29

old friends are said the fellow with a sinister smile, and he souehed off after the maid to the kitchen. MT. Trevor mumbled something to us about having been shipmate with the man when he was going back to the diggins, and then, leav- ing us on the lawn he went indoors. An hour later, when We entered the house, we found him stretched dead drunk upon the dining room sofa. The whole incident left a most ugly impression upon my mind, and I was not sorry next day to leave Donnithorpe behind me- for 1 felt that my presence must be source of embarrassment to my friend.
 "All this occurred during the first month Of the long vacation. l went up to my London rooms, where l spent seven weeks working out a few experiments in organic chemistry. One day, however, when the autumn was far advanced and l the vacation drawing to a close l re- ceived a telegram from my friend im- i ploring me to return to Donnithorpe. and saying that he was in great need of my advice and assistance. Of course drop ped everything and set out for the north at once.
 "He met with the dog cart at the sta- ton and l saw at glance that the two | last months had been very trying ones for him He had grown thin and care worn, and had lost his loud, cheery man. ], ner for which he had been remarkable.
 The governor is dying were the first | words he said.
 Impossible" I cried. What is the matterY
 Apopplexy Nervous shock He's been on the verge all day. I doubt if we shall l find him alive
 .I was, as you may think, Watson, hor- rified at this unexpected news
 What has caused it?' I asked.
 Ah, that is the point. Jump in and we can talk 1t over while we drive You remember that fellow you came upon the l evening before you left us? Perfectly
 ' Do you know who it was that we let i into the house that day?
 '' I have no idea
 Tt was the devil Holmes, he cried. 1 "I started at him in astonishment '' Yes, it was the devil himself We l have not had a peaceful hour since-not i one. The governor has never held up his 1 light has been crushed out of him and his heart broken. all through this aecurs- ed Hudson
 What power had he, thenT l An, hat is what I would give so much 10 know. The kindly, charitable, good old governor--how could he have fallen into the clutches of such a ruff nan But l am so glad that you have come Holmes. trust very much to your Judgment and discretion and know that you will advise me for the best we were dashing along the smooth | white country road with the long stretch of the Breads in front of us glimmerine in the red light of the setting sun. From a grove upon our left could already set l the high chimneys and the flag staff ] which marked the squire's dwelling
 My father made the fellow gardener said my companion, and then, as that | did not satisfy him, he was promoted tc
 be butler The house seemed to be at hi. mercy, and he wandered about and dit
 what he chose in it. The maids com plained of his drunken habits and his
 vile language. The dad raised their wage. all around to recompense them for tn,
 annoyance. The fellow would take tho
 boat and my fathers best gun and Urea
 himself to little shooting trips. And al
 this with such sneerng, leering, nso
 lent face that I would have knocked hin
 down twenty times over if he had been i man of my own age tell you, Holmes
 have had to keep tight hold upon my
 self all this time; and now I am askine myself whether if had let myself go (
 little more, I might not have been
 wiser man.
 Well. matters went from bad tC l worse with us, and this animal Hud son became more and more intrusive
 until at last, on his making some insolen
 reply to my father in my presence on'
 day, I took him by the shoulders ant turned him out of the room. He slunl