Evening star., 1905-08-27

in cool blood 1 was very much astonished.
as you may both think. at this sudden
commission which had been intrusted TO
me. On the one hand. of course. was
glad, for the fee was at least tenfoid "nat
l should have asked had I set price upon
my own services, and 1t was possible that
this order might lead to other ones On
the other hand. the face and manner OF my
patron had made an unpleasant impression
upon me, and / could not think that his eX-
PLANTATION of the fulleTs earth was sum-
Client TO explain the necessity for my COM
ing at midnight, and his extreme anxiety
lest l should tell any one of my errano-
However, l threw all fears to the winds.
ate a hearty supper, drove to Paddinstoh
and started off having obeyed to the letter
the Injunction as to holding my tongue.
AT Reading had to change not only my
carriage but my station. However was
in time for the last train to Eyford. and L
reached the little dim-lit station after IL
o'clock l was the only passenger who got
out there, and there was no one upon the
platform save a single sleepy porter with
lantern AS | passed out through the
wicket gate, however. found my acquaint-
ance of the morning waiting in the shadow
upon the other side. Without word ne
grasped my arm and hurried me into a
carriage, the door OF which was stana,ils
open. He drew up the windows on either
side. tapped on the woodwork. and away
we went as fast as the horse could go.
"One horse?" interjected Holmes.
Yes. only one"
Did you observe the color?"
Yes ! saw 1t by the sidelights when 1
was stepping into the carriage 1t was
chestnut.
Tired -loking or fresh?"
"Oh. fresh ard glossy"
THANK you. | am sorry TO have inter-
rupted you. Pray continue your most In
teresting statement
Away we went then, and we drove for
at least an hour. Col. Lysander Stark had
said that 1t was only seven miles out
should think from the rate that we seemed
TO go and from the time that we took. that
il must have been nearer twelve. he sat
at my side in silence all the time. and was
aware, more than once when ghnced III
his direction hat he was looking at me
with grest intensity. The country roads
seem to he not very good in that part or
the world. for we lurched and joited ter
ribly. / tried to look out OF the windows
to see something of where We were, but
they were made of frosted glass. and
could make out nothing save the occasional
bright blur OF a passing light.
Now and then hazarded some remark to
break the monotony of the journey. but the
colonel answered only in monosyllables.
and the converse ton soon tagged. AT last,
however. the humping of the road was ex-
changed for the crisp smoothness OF
gravel drive and the carriage came TO a
stand Col Lysander Stark sprang out,
and as l followed after him, pulled me
swiftly into a porch which Eaped In front
OF US We stepped. as 1t We're, right out OF
the carriage and into the hail. so that
failed to catch the most fieetng glance OF
the front OF the house. The instant that
had crossed the threshold the door slammed
heavily behind us, and l heard family the
rattle of the wheels as the carriage drove
away.
1T WAS pitch dark Inside the house. and
the colonel fumbed about looking for
matches and muttering under his breath.
Suddenly door opened at the other end
of the passage and a long golden bar of
light shot out in our direction. 1t grew
broader, and woman appeared with q
lamp In her hand. which she held above
her head. pushing her face forward and
peering at us | could see that she was
pretty. and from the gloss with which the
light shOne upon her dark dress ] knew
that it was ii rich material. She spoke a
few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as
though asking a question and when my
companion answered in a gruff monosylla-
Bile she gave such start that the lamp
nearly fell from her hand. Col. Stark went
up to her whispered something in her ear
and then. pushing her back into the room
whence she had come he walked toward
me again with the lamp In his hand.
Perhaps you will have the kindness to
wait in this room for few minutes, said
he. throwing open another door. 1t was a
quiet little, plainly furnished room, with a
round table in the center on which several
German books were scattered. Col. Stark
laid down the lamp on the top of har-
monium beside the door. I shall not keep
you waiting an instant said he, and van
ished into the darkness
II glanced at the books upon the table.
and in spite Of my ignorance of German 1
could see that two OF them were treaties on
science, the others being volumes of poetry
Then walked across to the window. hop
ing that I might catch some glimpse of the
countryside. but oak shutter. heavily
barred. was folded across 1t. 1t was a