Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-08-22
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Holmes examined it for some time,
and then, folding it carefully up, he
placed it in his pocketbook.
'.This promises to be most interest
ing and unusual case" said he. 'You
gave me few particulars in your let
ter. Mr.. Hilton Cubitt, but l should
be very much obliged If you would
kindly go over 1t all again for the ben
eft Of my friend, DR.. Watson"
"I'm not much Of a story teller" said
our visitor, nervously clasping and I'M
clasping his great, strong hands. "You
will just ask me anything that I don't
make clear. I'll begin at the time Of
my marriage last year, but want to
say first of all that, though I'm not
rich man. my people have been at Rid
ing Thorpe for matter Of five centu-
ries, and there is no better known fam
lily in the county Of Norfolk. Last year
I came up to London for the jubilee,
and stopped at boarding house in
Russell square. because Parker, the
vicar of our parish, was staying in it.
! "There was an American young lady
| there-Patrick was the name-Elsie
Patrick. In some way we became
friends, until before my month was up
was as much in love as man could
be. We were quietly married at reg
istry Office, and we returned to Nor
folk welded couple. You'll think it
very mad, Mr.. Holiness that man Of
good old family should marry wife
In this fashion, knowing nothing of her
past or of her people, but if you saw
her and knew her it would help you to
understand.
"She was very straight about 1t, was
Elsie. can't say that she did not give
me every chance Of getting out of It If
I wished to do so. I have had some
very disagreeable associations in my
life,' said she, I wish to forget all
about them. I would rather never al
lude to the past, for it Is very painful
take woman who has nothing that
she need be personally ashamed Of, but
you will have to be content with my
word for it and to allow me to be silent
as tc all that passed up to the time
when became yours. II these condi-
tons are too hard, then go back to Nor
folk and leave me to the lonely life in
which you found me- It was only the
day before our wedding that she said
those very words to me. I told her that
I was content to take her on her own
terms, and I have been as good as my
word.
"Well, we have been married now for
q year, and very happy we have been
But about month ago, at the end OF
June. saw for the first time signs OF
trouble. One day my wife received q
letter from America. saw the Amer
lean stamp. She turned deadly white
read the letter and threw it into the
fre. She made no anusion to it after
ward. and made none. for promise
is-a promise. but she has never known
an easy hour from that moment. There
u always a look Of fear upon her face
IA look as II she were waiting and ex
pecting. She would do better to trus
/ me. She would find that was her bes
D friend. But until she speaks can sa!
+ nothing. Mind you. she is a truthful
= woman, Mr.. Holmes, and whatever
trouble there may have been in he
d past life 1t has been no fault Of hers
b I am only simple Norfolk squire, bu
q there Is not a man in England VIII
d ranks his family honor more highl.
Q than do. She knows 1t well, and sh,
l. knew 1t well before she married me
She would never bring any stain upol
1t; Of that am sure.
!. well. now come to the queer par
o Of my story. About week ago.
Q was the Tuesday Of last week-I foun
" on one of the window stills number Q
9 absurd little dancing figures like thes
70 upon the paper. They were scrawle
u with chalk. thought that it was th
stable boy who had drawn them, Blu
l. the lad swore he knew nothing abou
It. Anyhow, they had come there dul
V ing the night. had them washed ou
and only mentioned the matter to m
wife afterward. To my surprise sh
took 1t very seriously and begged me
y any more came to let her see then
y None did come for q week, and the
: yesterday morning found this pape
40 lying on the sundial in the garden.
u. showed it to Elsie, and down she drol
- ped in dead faint. Since then she ha
= looked like woman in dream, ha
dazed and with terror always lurkin
10 in her eyes. 1t was then that wro
" and sent the paper to you, Mr.. Holme
u u, It was not thing that could take
~ the police, for they would have laughe
le at me, but you will tell me what to d
" am not rich man, but IL there is al
= danger threatening my little woman
~ ~ would spend my last copper to SHE
cn her,"
en He was fine creature. this man
40 the old English soil-simple, straig
"a and gentle, with his great, earnest BIZ
. eyes and broad. comedy face. His 10
W for his wife and his trust in her sho
~ in his features. Holmes had listen
., to his story with the utmost attentio
~ and now he sat for some time in sile
~ thought.
~ "Don't you think, Mr.. Cubitt,' sa
- he at last, "that your best plan won
~ be to make direct appeal to 20
: