The San Francisco call., 1905-03-26

really have done remarkably badly. lie
returns to the house. and you want to
ind out who he is. You come to
London house-agent:"
what should have done?" cried,
with some heat.
Gone to the nearest public house.
Thai is the center of country gossip.
They would have told you every name,
from the master TO the scully-naio.
Williamson? 1t conveys nothing TO my
mind. II he is an elderly man he Is
not this active cyclist. who sprlnts
away from that young lady's athletic
pursuit. What have we gained by your
expedition? The knowledge that the
girls story is true. ] never doubted II.
That there is a connection between the
cyclist and the hall. i never doubted
that, either. That the hall is tenanteu
by Williamson. Who's the better for
that? Well. well, my dear sir, dom
look so depressed. We can do little
more until next Saturday, and in the
meantime / may make one or two IN
quiries myself"
Next morning we had a note from
Miss Smith recounting shortly and &C
curately the very incidents which !
had seen. but the pith Of the letter lay
IN TIE postscript:
Il am sure that you wiz respect my
confidence. Mr.. Holmes, when 1 tell
YOU that my place here has become
difficult. owing 10 the fact that my en-
ployer has proposed marriage TO me.
1 am convinced that his feelings are
most deep and most honorable. At the
same time my promise is. OF course,
given. He took my refusal very seri-
ously, but also very gently. You can
understand. however, that the situation
is q little strained"
''Our young friend seems TO be get
ting into deep waters" said Holmes,
thoughtfClly, as he finished the letter
The case certainly presents more fea-
lures Of interest and more possibility
OF Development than ] had originally
thought. I chould be none the
worse for q quiet, peaceful day
IA the country, ana 1 am in
clined TO run down this afternoon and
test one c, two thsogies which I haSs
Termed q"
Holmes quiet day in the country ha6
q sing uiar termination, for he arrived
At Baker street late in the evening
with Z cut lip ard a discolored luml
upon his forehead. besides a genera
air Of dissipation which would hav,
made h.s own person the fitting objec
Of a Scotland Yard investigation. H,
was Immensely licked by his own ad
ventures. and laughed heartily as h,
recounted them.
4 get SO little active exercise that i
is always treat" said he. you ar,
aware that l have some proficiency ir
the good old British sport of boxing
Occasionally il is OF service: to.
day, for example, should
have come 10 very igno-
ninious grief without it,
l begged him 10 tell me
what had occurred.
Il found that country
pub " hich I had already
recommended to your no.
tice, and there I made my
discreet inquiries. I was
in the bar, and a garrul-
Gus landlord was giving
me all that ! wanted. Will
hanson is a white bearded
man, and he lives alone
with a small staff of SER
wants at the Hall. There
is some rumor that he is
or has been a clergyman, (
but one or two Incidents
Of his short residence at,
the Hall struck me as pc.
cuiiaTly unecclesiasticaL
have already made some
inquiries at clerical
agency. and they tell me,
that there was a man of
that name in orders, whose IS
career has been a Singu- a
larry DARK one. The land
lord further informed me
that there are usually
weekend visitors "a
warm lot, sir'-at the Hall,
and especially one gentle
man with a red mustache,
Mr.. Woodley by name,
who was always there.
We had got as far as this.
when who should walk in
but the gentleman himself.
who had been drinking his
beer in the taproom and
had Heard the whole con-
versa lion. Who was I?
What did / want? What
did mean by asking ques-
tons He had a fine flow
Of language. and his ad- (
jectives were very vigor-
Gus. He ended a string of 8
abuse by vicious back Is
handler. which / failed &c q
entirely avoid The next
few minutes were delicious.
1t WAS d straight left 4
against a slogging ruffian- u
1 emerged as you see me. ~
Mr. WO0cley went home
in a cart. So ended my.
country trip. and il must
be confessed that, however
enjoyable. my day on the
Surr ~ border has not beef,
much more profitable thai1
your own"
Ths Thursday brought US another let
ter from our client.
You will not be surprised, Mr.
Holmes, said she, ito hear that I an
leaving Mr.. Carruthers employment
Even the high pay cannot reconcile M
to the discomforts OF my situation. On
Saturday I come to town, and I do no
intend TO return. Mr. Carruthers hal
got a trap. and so the dangers of th'
lonely road, If there ever were any dan
gers, are NOW over.
AS TO the special cause of my leav
ing, IL is not merely the strained situa
ton with Mr.. Carruthers, but II is tn
reappearancc of that odious man. Nj