Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-03

] minutes. IniS uFtSS QpSs iiHpHSatc eAtSs
/ Flora Mfllar.'
| And how"
TN the dress is a pocket. In the pocket
| is card case In the card case is a note
! And here Is the very note" He slapped
| 1t down upon the table in front of him
| Listen to this: You will see me when
all is ready Come at once; e.. F. .a h MT NJ.
Lady st. Simon was decoyed away py
Flora Millar. and that She with confed-
crates. no doubt. was responsible for her
| Initials. Is the very note which was no
| doubt quietly slipped into her. hand at the
door and which lured her within their
reach
VERY good Lestrade.'' said Holmes.
laughing "You really are very fine indeed
| Let me see it, He took up the paper In
| listless way, but his attention instantly be-
! came riveted. and he gave a little cry OF
| satisfaction. This is indeed important,
! said he.
| "Ha, you find it so7''
| ly.''
Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his
| head to look. why" he shrieked. you re
| looking at the wrong side'
''On the contrary. this is the right side
1.-The right side? You're mad! Here Is
| the note written in pencil over here
And over here is what appears TO be the
, fragment of hotel bin, which interests me
| deeply
| There's nothing in it. 1 looked at it be-
FORE. said Lestrade. " Oct 4, rooms rs,
DTedhIdSl o. COChtdH Is, luHlh wa,
| glass sherry Sd / see nothing in that"
| Very likely not. 1t is most important all
| the same. As to the note. 1t is important
| also. or at least the initials are, so con-
| graduate you again.
| I've wasted time enough" said Lestrade,
| rising. Il believe In hard work and not in
sitting by the fire spinning fine theories
| Good day, Mr.. Holmes, and we shall see
which gets to the bottom of the matter
| first" He gathered up the garments, thrust
| them into the bag and made for the door.
Just one hint to you. Lestrade.' drawled
| Holmes, before his rival vanished Il will
| tell you the true solution of the matter.
Lady st. Simon Is a myth. There is not,
and there never has been, any such person.
Lestrade looked sadly at my companion
Then he turned to me, tapped his forehead
three times. shook his head solemnly and
hurried away.
He had hardly shut the door behind him
when Holmes rose and put on his overcoat.
There Is something in what the fellow says
about outdoor work" he remarked, so
think, Watson. that must leave you to
your papers for a little
1t was after s O'Clock when Sherlock
Holmes left me. but 1 had no time to be
lonely, for within an hour there arrived a
confectioner's man with very large nat
box This he unpacked with the help of a
youth whom he had brought with him. and
presently, to my very great establishment,
quite epicurean little cold supper began to
be laid out upon our humble lodging house
mahogany. There were a couple of brace
gras pie, with group of ancient and cob
webby bottles. Having laid out all these
luxuries my two visitors vanished away.
like the genii of the Arabian Nights, with
no explanation save that the things had
been paid for and were ordered to this ad
dress.
Just before . o'clock Sherlock Holmes
stepped briskly into the room. His fea-
lures We're gravely set. but there was a
light in his eye which made me think that
he had not been disappointed in his con-
illusions.
They have laid the supper, then" he
said. rubbing his hands.
You seem to expect company. They
have id-for five"
Yes. l fancy we may have some COM
pany dropping in said he. II am sur
prised that Lord st. Simon has not already
arrived. Ha! I fancy that hear his step
now upon the stairs"
1t was indeed our visitor of the morning
who came bustling in, dangling his glasses
more vigorously than ever. and with a very
perturbed expression upon his aristocratic
features
MY messenger reached you. them" asked
Holmes.
Yes. and confess that the contents
startled me beyond measure. Have you
good authority for what you say?'
The best possible"
Lord st. Simon sank into a chair and
passed his hand over his forehead.
what will the duke say" he muttered
when he hears that one Of the family
has been subjected to such humiliation.
1T is the purest accident. I cannot allow
that there is any humilia ton"
All you look these things from an
other standpoint"
II fail to see that any one Is to blame. L
can hardly how the lady could have
acted otherwise. though her abrupt method
Of doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted.
Having no mother, she had no one to ad
wise her at such a crisis"
1T slight, sir, a public slight" said
Lord ST. Simon tapping his fingers upon
the table.
You must make allowance for this poor
girl, placed in so unprecedented a position"
Il will make no allowance I am very
used"
y think that heard ring" said
Holmes. Yes, there are steps on the land
ing. If I cannot persuade you to take a
lenient view Of the matter, Lord st. Simon
l have brought an advocate here who may
be more successful" He opened the door
and ushered in a lady and gentleman
Lord st. Simon" said he ALLOW me to In
troduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay
Moulton. The lady. think, you have al
ready met"
AT the sight of these newcomers our
client had sprung from his seat and stood
very erect with his eyes cast down and his
hand thrust into the breast of his frock
coat. a picture of offended dignity. The
lady had taken a quick step forward and
had held out her hand to him, but he still
| refused to raise his eyes. 1t was as well
for his resolution. perhaps. for her plead
ing face was which It was hard to
resist.
You're angry. Robert" said she. well,
l guess you have every cause to be-"
Pray make no apology to me- said Lord
ST Simon, bitterly
'Oh, yes. know that I have treated you
real bad and that l should have spoken
to you before went: but I was kind of rat
tied. and from the time when l saw Frank
here again 1 just didn't know what l was
doing or saying. L only wonder l didn't
fall down and do a faint right there be-
fore the altar.
Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like
my friend and me to leave the room while
you explain this matterY'
If / may give opinion" rema rked the
strange gentleman, we've had Just little
too much secrecy over this matter already.
For my part, l should like all Europe and
America to hear the rights of it" He was
small, wiry, sunburnt man, clean shaven,
with a sharp face and alert manner.
Then I'll tell our story right away" said
the lady. Frank here and I met in "a,
in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where
pa working a claim. We were engaged
to each other, Frank and 1: but then one
day father struck a rich pocket and made
a pile. while poor Frank here had claim
that petered out and came to nothing. The
richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so
at last ma wouldn't hear of our engage