The news & observer., 1905-12-17
Adventures Of Sherlock
Holmes.
Continued from Page Two.)

forbidding her to seek the company
of people of her own age. But soon
he found that that would not answer
forever. She became restive, insisted
upon her rights. and finally announced
her positive intention of going to a
certain ball. What does her clever
stepfather do then? He conceives an
idea more creditable to his head than
to his heart. With the connivance and
assistance of his wife he disguised
himself. covered those keen eyes with
tinted glasses. masked the face with
q muStache and a pair of buShy WhiS-
kerS, sunk that clear voice into an
insinuating whisper. and doubly secure
on account of the girls short sight. he
appears as Mr.. Hosmer Angel, and
keeps off other lovers by making love
himself"
1T was only a joke at first" groan-
ed our visitor. I'VE never thought
that she would have been so carried
away"
Very likely not However, that
may be, the young lady was very de-
Cidedly carried away. and having quite,
made up her mind that her stepfather
was in France. the suspicion of treach-
cry never for an instant entered her
mind. She was flattered by the gem
tleman's attentions, and the effect
was increased by the loudly expressed
admiration of her mother. Then Mr.
Angel began to call. for it was obvi-
Gus that the matter should be pushed
as far az it would go if a real effect
were TO be produced. There were
meetings, and an engagement which
would finally secure the girls affec-
tons from turning toward any one
else. But the deception could not be
kept up forever. These pretended
Journeys TO France were rather cum
brous. The. thing to do was clearly
to bring the business to an end in such
a dramatic manner that it would leave
a permanent impression upon the
young lady's mind and prevent her
from looking upon any other suitOr for
some time to come. hence those vows
Of fidelity eXacted upon a Testament.
and hence all the Illusions to poSSibili-
ty of something happening on the
very morning of the wedding. James
Windibank wished Miss Sutherland to
be so bound to Hosmer Angel and
so uncertain as to his fate, that for
ten years to come, at any rate. she
would not listen to another man. AS
far as the church door he brought her.
and then, as ne could go no further,
he conveniently vanished away by the
old trick of stepping in at one door
of q four-Whecler. and out at the
other. ] think that that was the chain
of events, Mr.. Windibank!"
Our visitor had, recovered some
thing of his assurance while Holmes
had been talking. and he rose from his
chair now with = bold sneer uDOn his
pale face.
'Tt may be so or it may not. Mr..
Holiness" said he. but if you are so
very sharp you ought TO be sharp
enough to know that it is you VINO are
breaking the law now, and not me.
] have done nothing actionable from
the first. but as long as you keep that
door locked you lay yourself open TO
an action for assault and illegal con-
straint'
1.-THE law cannot. as you say touch
you,' said Holmes, unlocking and
throwing open the door. 'yet there
never was a man who deserved pun
ishment more. If the young lady has
a brother or a friend, he ought TO
lay a whip across your shoulders. BY