The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-10

|
 Your son had no shoes or slippers on
 when you saw him?'
 He had nothing on save his trousers
 and shirt"
 Thank you. We have certainly been
 favored with extraordinary luck during
 this inquiry and 1t will be entirely our l own fault If we do not succeed in clearing
 the matter up. With your permission, Mr.
 Holder, 1 shall now continue my inves- 1 legations outside"
 He went alone at his own request, for he
 explained that any unnecessary foot
 marks might make his task more difficult l For an hour or more he was at work
 returning at last with his feet heavy
 with snow and his features as inserut- 1 able as ever.
 T think that have seen now all
 that there is to see. MT. Holder" said
 he; q can serve you best by returning
 to my rooms"
 But the gems, MT. Holmes. Where are
 they7"
 T cannot te1l.'
 The banker wrung his hands. "I shall I never see them again?' he cried. And my I son? You give me hopes?'
 My opinion is in no way altered "Then, for Gods sake, what was this 1 dark business which was acted III my
 house last night?"
 If you can call upon me at my Baker I street rooms tomorrow morning between
 and 10 I shall be happy to do what
 can to make 1t clearer l understand that
 you give me carte blanche to act for l you. provided only that I get back the 1 gems. and that you place no limit on l the sum l may draw
 q would give my fortune to have them back"
 'sVery good. shall look into the mat ter between this and then. Good-by; It is Just possible that l may have to come over here again before evening"
 It was obvious to me that my compan- | ions mind was now made np about the i case, although what his conclusions were 1 more than I could even dimly lm- agne Several times during our home ward journey l endeavored to sound him upon the point, but he always glided away to some other topic, until at last l gave 1 1t over in despair. II was not yet three when we found ourselves in our room once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in q few minutes dressed | as a common loafer. With his collar turned up- his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat and his worn boots, he was a perfect sample of the class 1 q think that this should do." said he l glancing into the glass above the fire place. q only wish that you could come l with me, Watson, but fear it won't do.
 I may be the trial in this matter, or l I may be following a will-of-the-wls | but shall soon know which 1t Is. hope | that I may be back in a few hours" He cut a slice of beef from the joint on the sideboard, sandwiched 1t between two round of bread and. thrusting this rude meal into his pocket he started off upon 1 his expedition. i I had just finished my tea when he re- | turned, evidently in excellent spirits i swinging an old eastic-sided boot in his 1 hand. He chucked 1t down Into a corner and helped himself to a cup of tea
 "I only looked in as I passed" said he . 'I am going right on.'
 Where to?"
 "Oh, to the other side of the West End ! It may be some time before l get back.
 Don't walt up for me in case 1 should | be late.'
 How are you getting on?"
 "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I 1 have been out to Streatham since l saw
 you last, but I did not call at the
 house. It Is very sweet little problem and l would not have missed it for a | good deal. However, l must not sit gos- l sipping here, but must get these disrep- 1 utable clothes off and return to my highly | respectable self"
 could see by his manner that he had ] stronger reasons for satisfaction than l his words alone would imply. His eyes l twinl1led and there was even a touch of ] color upon his sallow cheeks. He has, | l I heard the slam of the hall door,
 which told me that he was off once more | upon his congenial hunt. I waited until midnight but there was I no sign of his return, I retired to 1 my room. It was no uncommon thing for l him to be away for days and nights on
 end when he was hot upon a scent. so l that his lateness caused me no surprise. l I do not know at what hour he came in, ! but when l came down to breakfast in | the morning there he was with a cup of l coffee in one hand and the paper In the
 other, as fresh and trim as possible. l You will excuse my beginning without ] you, Watson" said he; but you remem-
 Der that our client has rather an early l appointment this morning
 Why 1t Is after now" I answered.
 "I should not be surprised If that were l he. l thought heard a ring" l It was indeed, our friend the financier | was shocked by the change which had 1 come over him, for his face, which was l naturally of broad and massive mould 1 was now pinched and fallen In, while 1 his hair seemed to me at least shade
 whiter He entered with weariness and l letLargy which was even more painful | than his violence of the morning be-
 fore, and he dropped heavily into the
 arm chair which I pushed forward for | him.
 ''I do not know what I have done to be
 SO severely tried" said he. "Only two | days ago I was happy and prosperous | man without a care in the world Now
 I am left to a lonely and dishonored age One sorrow comes close upon the heels
 of another My niece Mary has deserted 1 me-"
 1 "Deserted you?"
 1 .eYes Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table l had said to her last night in sorrow and not in anger. that if she had married 1 my boy all might have been well with I him. Perhaps it was thoughtess of me l to say so It is to that remark that she ] refers in this note
 1 "Mv Dearest Uncle-I feel that have brought trouble upon you, and that If l had acted differently this terrible misfor- | tune might never have occurred. can- | not with this thought in my mind, ever 1 again be happy Under your roof, and | feel that l must leave you forever. Do 1 not worry about my future, for that is provided for; and. above all do not search for me, for 1t will be frutless la- I bor and an ill-service to me. In life or in death. I am ever your loving NARY "what could she mean by that note, MT. Holmes? Do you think 1t points to suicide?"
 "No. no, nothing of the kind. It is per- haps the best possible solution. l trust, MT. Holder. that you are nearing the end l of your troubles"
 .Hal You say sol You have heard something. Mir Holmes; you have learned I somethingl Where are the gems?' "You would not think 21,0o0 apiece an | excessive sum for them?" | rau ten.p