The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-12-24

Groats, ,and on, friend Armstrong
would have to drive through the Cam
before lie would shake Pompey of his
trail. Oh. the cunning rascal This IS
how he gave me the slip the other
night"
The dog had suddenly turned out Of
the road into a grass grown lane Half
a mile farther this opened into another
broad road, and the trail turned hard
to the right ia the direction Of the
town which we had just quilted. The
road took a sweep to the south OF the
town and continued in the opposite
direction to that in which we had
started.
"This detour has been entirely for
our benefit, them" said Holmes. mo
wonder that my inquiries among those
villages led to nothing. The doctor has
certainly played the game for al it is
worth, and one would ike to know the
reason for such elaborate deception.
This should be the village Of Trumping-
ton to the right Of us. And, by Jove.
here is the brougham coming round the
corner. Quick, Watson-quick, or we
are dOner'
He sprang through a gate into a field,
dragging the reluctant Pompey after
him. We had hardly got under the
shelter Of the hedge when the carriage
ratified past. I caught glimpse Of
Or. Armstrong within, his shoulders
bowed, his head sunk on his hands, the
very image Of distress. could tell by
my companions graver face that be
also had seen.
"I fear there is some dark ending to
orr quest" said he. at cannot be long
before we know it, Come, Pompeyi
All, it is the cottage in the feldr'
There could be no doubt that we had
reached the end Of our journey. Pom
pey ran about and whined eagerly out
side the gate. where the marks of the
brOugham's wheels were still to be
seen. A footpath led across to the lone
" cottage Holmes tied the dog to the
hedge. and we FASTENED onward. Ny
friend knocked at the little rusty door
and knocked again without response.
And yet the cottage was not deserted,
for a low sound came TO our ears-a
kind Of drone Of miSry and despair
which was indescribTDly melancholy.
Holmes paused irresolute, and then he
glanced back at the road which he had
just traversed. A brougham was com
ing down it, and there could be no mis-
taking those gray horses.
"By Jove. the doctor is coming backr'
cried Holmes. THAT settles it. We are
bound to see what it means before he
comes.
He opened the door. and we stepped
into the hall. The droning sound swell
ed louder upon our ears until # became
one long. deep vail Of distress. 1t came
from upstairs Holmes darted up. and
I followed him. lie pushed open
half closed door, and we both stood aR-
palled at the sight before us.
A woman. young and beautiful. was
lying dead upon the bed Her calm
pale face. with dim wide opened blue
eyes. looked upward from amid a great
tangle Of golden hair At the foot Of
the bed. half sitting. half kneeling, his
face buried in the clothes. was a young
man. whose frame was racked by his
sobs. So absorbed was he by his bitter
grief that he never looked up until
Holmes hand was on his shoulder.
Are you Mr.. Godfrey StauntonT"
Eyes. yes. 1 an-but you are too late.
She is dead
Tie man was so dazed that he could
not be made to understand that we
were anything but doctors who had
been sent TO his assistance Holmes
was endeGv0riug 10 utter a few words
of consolation and to explain the alarm
which had been caused 70 his friends
ly AS su1Gell\ G5saQpc ar3nce when
there was a step upon the stairs. ANA
there WAS the heavy. stern. question
ing face OF Or. Armstrong at the door.
$50. gentlemen. said he won have
STAINED yosr END and have certainly
CHOSEN a particularly dehcate moment
for your Intrusion I would not hrawl
ID the presence u death bat I can as
sure yen Thar 81 / we've a younger man
va-r L-oil te.ls conduct would n0c