Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-20

s.ypnty-odd cases in which / have
during the last eight years studied
" the methods of my friend, Sherlock
Holmes. | find many tragic. some
comic "A large number of merely strange
lint none commonplace for, working as ne
did ra Their for the love of his art than ioi
the requirement of wealth. he refuseo u
associate himself with any investigator
which did not lend toward the unusuai ana
oven the fantastic. OF all these varied
cases. however. / cannot recall any winch
presented more singular features than ina
.,tt ,,.,s associated with the well known
Surrey family Of the Roylotts OF STOKE ho-
ran. The events in question occurreu III
the efrly days of my ASSOCIATION WI"
1I,1,,es when we were sharing rooms as
bachelors in Baker street. IL Is poss sn,s
that | might have placed lheil uPui . a1ada
b.fnre but a promise OF secrecy Wa9 80 -,
at rho time from which | have ohlS peeH
freed during the last month by tne IN .t
1jue,y death of the lady to Whom tn1
nI.ire was given. 1t is perhaps as wen
y, ia. facfs should now come to i1ght'
fnr have reason to know that there are
widespread rumors as to the death ot ~. ~
Grimesby Roylott which tend TO ihake INC
matter even more terrible than the truth.
II was early in April in the year - that
woke one morning to find Snerioch
Holmes standing fully dressed. by the sue
of my bed He was a late riser as a u,
and as he clock on the mantelpiece shoWeq
me that 1t was only quarter past
blnked up at him In some surprise anu
perhaps Just little resentment, TOT was
myself regular in my habits
VERY sorry to wake you up, atSoh'
said he but it's the common lot this morn
ing Mrs. Hudson has been walked up she
Tetorted upon me. and on You.
What is it. then-a fire.
''No. a client 1t seems that a young
lady has arrived in considerable state OF
excitement. who insists upon seeing me
She Is waiting now In the sitting room
Now. when young ladies wander about the
metropolis at this hour of the morning and
knock sleepy people out of their beds:
pres Ime that 1t is something very pressing
which they have to communicate. Should
1t prove to be an interesting case yoc
would / am sure. wish to follow II from
the outset | thought,at any rate. that
should call you and give you the chance.
My dear fellow. | would not miss 1t for
anything"
1 had no keener pleasure than in follow
ing Holmes in his professional investiSa-
tons and in admiring the rapid deduc-
lions swift as intutions, and yet al
ways founded on a logical basis. with which
he unraVeled the problems which were sub
mitted to him. | rapidly threw on my
clotheS and was ready in few minutes to
accompany my friend down to the sitting
room A lady. dressed in black and heav-
uy yelled. who had been sitting in the
window. rose as We entered.
Good morning. madam, said Homes.
cheerily My name is Sherlock Holmes
This is my intimate friend and associate,
DR. Watson. before whom you can speak
as freely as before myself Ha! l am glad
to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good
sense to light the fire. Pray draw up to
II. and shall order you a cup of hot cof-
Zee, for observe that you shivering"
1T Is not cold which makes me SILVER"
said the woman in low voice changing
her seat as requested
What, Them
1T is fear. Mr.. Holmes 1t is terror"
She raised her veil as she spoke. and we
could see that she indeed in a pitable
state of agitation, her face all drawn and
gray with restless. frightened eyes, like
those of some hunted animal. Her features
and figure were those of a woman Of thirty
but her hair was shot with premature gray
and her expression was weary and haggard
Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of
his quick. all-comprehensive chances
You must not fear" said he soothingly
bending forward and patting kcr forearm
we shall soon set matters right have no
doubt You have come in by train this
morning. l see
You know me, them"
No; but observe the second half of a
return ticket in the palm of your left glove
You must have started early. and vet YOU
have had a good drive in a dogcart along
heavy roads before you reached the sta
ton
The lady gave violent start and stared
In bewilderment at my companion
There is no mystery, my dear madam.
said he. smiling. The left arm of your
jacket is SCATTERED with mud In no less
than seven places. The marks are perfectly
fresh. There Is no vehicle save dogcart
which throws up mud in that way and then
the driver
w hatever your reasons may be- you are
perfectly correct" she said. II started from
nome before o. reached Leatherhead at
twenty past, and came in by the first train
20 Waterloo. Sir, l can stand this strain no
longer; l shall go mad II it continues l
nave no one to turn to-none save only one
VINO cares for me. and he poor fellow can
be OF little aid. | have heard of Won Mr.
ioimes; l have heard OF you from Mrs
farintosh, whom you helped in the hour of
her sore need. 1t was from her that l
had your address. Oh. sir. do YOU not
think that you could help me- too. and at
least throw a little light through the dense
darkness which surrounds me? At present
II Is out of my power to reward YOU for
your services, but in month or six weeks
1 shall be married, with the control of my
own income. and then at least YOU shall
not md rue ungrateful"
Holmes turned to his desk and unlock
ing II. drew out a small case book which
he consulted
''Farintosh." said he "Ah. YES, recall
the case; II was concerned with an onaI
tiara. l think It was before your time
watson can only say. madam that
enali ne happy TO devote the same care to
your case as did TO that of your friend
AS TO reward. my profession is its own re-
ward; but you are at liberty to defray what
ever expenses may be put TO. at the time
which suits you best And now | beg that
you VIII lay before us everything that may
heip us In forming an opinion upon the
matter
Alas! replied our visitor 1.-THE very
horror o. my situation lies in the fact that
my fears are so vague and my suspicious
depend so entirely upon small points which
might seem trivial to another that even he
10 whom, OF all others. / have a right TO
look FOR help and advice looks upon all
that L tell him about IL as the fancies of a
nervous woman. He does not say So but
can read II from his soothing answers and
aVerted eyes. But / have heard Mr.
Holmes that you can see deeply into the
manifold wfckedness of the human heart
You may advise me how to walk amid the
dangers which encompass me-
Il am all attention. madam"
My name Is Helen Stoner and am lty-
Ing with my stepfather. who Is the last
survivor of one OF the oldest Saxon families
in England the Roylotts of Stone Moran.
on the western border of Surrey"
Holmes nodded his head. The name Is
familiar to me- said he.
The family was at one time among the
richest in England. and the estates extend
ed over the borders into BerskIre in the