Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-14

| you must not ask too much Of her, for
she has gone through all that flesh and
blood will stand"
| Lady Brackenstall was reclining on
| the same couch, but looked brighter
| than before. The maid had entered
| with us and begun once more to foment
| the bruise upon her mistress brow.
Il hope" said the lady. that you
nave not come to cross examine me
| again?"
No" Holmes answered in his gen
! tlest voice; Il will not cause you any
| unnecessary trouble, Lady Bracken-
| stall, and my whole desire is 10 make
things easy for you. for l am convinc-
ed that you are a much tried woman.
II you will treat me as friend and
trust me You may find that 1 will JUS
tify your trust"
What do you want me to dog?
ITO tell me the truth"
MIR. Holiness
''No, no, Lady Brackenstall: If is no
use. You may have heard of any little
reputation which ! possess l will
stake il all on the fact that your story
is an absolute fabrication"
Mistress and maid were both staring
at Holmes with pale faces and fright
ened eyes
You are an impudent fellow" cried
Theresa. do you mean TO say that
my mistress has told a lie?"
Holmes rose from his chair.
Have you nothing TO tell meT'
81 have told you everything"
Think once more, Lady Bracken-
stall Would it not he better TO be
frank
For an instant there was hesitation
strAIg thought caused it 10 set like a
mask.
Il have told you al l know"
Holmes took his hat and shrugged
his shoulders. Il am sorry" he said.
And without another word we left the
room and the house. There was n
pond in the park, and TO this my friend
led the way. 1t was frozen over, but a
single hole was left for the conven-
fence of Il solitary swan. Holmes gaZed
at it and then passed on to the lodge
gate. Then he scrubbed a short note
for Stanley Hopkins and left it with
the lodge keeper.
1T may he Il hit or it may be "A miss,
but we are bound TO do something for
Friend Hopkins just 10 justify this sec
ond visit" said he. Il willanot quite
take him into my confidence yet L
think our next scene of operations
must be the shipping office of the AIDE
laide- southampton line, which stands
at the end of Pail Mall, if l remember
rio 10 Of stu
ers which connect South Australia
with England. but we will draw the
larger cover first"
Holmes card sent in to the manager
insured instant attention, and lie was
not long in acquiring all the informa-
ton he needed. In June of % only one
OF their line had reached n home port.
1t was the Rock of Gibraltar. their lar
gest and best boat. A reference TO the
passenger list showed that Miss Fra
ser of Adelaide, with her maid. had |
made the voyage in her. The boat was
now on her way to Australia somewhere
in the south of the SueZ canal. Her Off
GERS were the same as in 30, with one
exception. The first officer. Mr.. Jack |
Croker, had been made Il captain and
was TO take charge OF their new ship, |
the Bass Rock, sailing in two days |
time from Southampton. He lived ut
Sydenham. but he was likely to be in |
that morning for instructions, if we |
cared to wait for him.
No; Mr. Holmes had no desire to see |
him, but would be glad to know more |
about his record and character.
His record was magnificent. There |
was not an officer in the feet TO touch |
him. As TO his character, he was relia-
BILE on duty, but Il wild. desperate fell |
low off the deck of his ship-hOt head
,d. eXcitable, but loyal. honest and /
kind hearted. That was the pith of the |
with which Holmes left |
he office of the Adelaide Southampton
company. Thence he drove TO Scotland
Yard, but, instead of entering, he sat
IA his cab with his brows drawn down.
OSt in profound thought Finally he
lrove round to the Charing Cross tele-
graph office, sent off a message and
hen. ut last we made for Baker street
,nce more.
NO; l couldn't do 1t, Watson" said
10 rs we re-entered our room. "Once
hat warrant was made out nothing on
'arth would save him. Once or twice
n my career l feel that l have done
more real harm by my discovery of the
'riminal than ever he had done by his
rhine. | have learned caution now. and !
had rather play tricks with the law of
England than with my own conscience.
Let us know a little more before we
lct"
Before evening we had visit from
Inspector Stanley Hopkins. Things
we're not going very we'll with him
Il believe that you are a wizard, Mr..
Holmes. I really do sometimes think
hat you have powers that are not hui
man. Now, how on earth could you
know that the stolen silver was at the
bottom of that pOndE"
Il didn't know it"
But you told me to examine IT" h
You got il. them"
Yes got it,