Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-30

1 arrival. Here, you" ne shouted to 8 frightened groom who had appeared at the edge of the glade. Come here. Take this note as hard as you can ride to Farnham." He scrubbed few words upon leaf from his notebook. : "Give it to the superintendent at the police station. Until he comes must detain you all under my personal GUS tody."
 The strong, masterful personality of Holmes dominated the tragic scene, ! and all were equally puppets in his 1 hands Williamson and Carruthers found themselves carrying the wound ed Woodley into the house, and gave my arm to the frightened girl. The in- jured man was laid on his bed, and at Holmes request I examined him. I carried my report to where he sat in the old tapestry hung dining room with his two prisoners before him.
 "He will live" said I.
 What" cried Carruthers, springing out of his chair. '"I'll go upstairs and finish him first. Do you tell me that that girl, that angel, is to be tied to Roaring Jack Woodley for life?'
 You need not concern yourself about that" said Holmes There are two very good reasons why she should under no circumstances be his wife. In the first place, we are very safe in ques- tioning Mir. Williamsons right to sol
  emnize a marriage"
 "I have been ordained cried the old rascal
 And also unfrocked." "Once a clergyman, always clergy man."
 II think not. How about the li- cense?"
 We had a license for the marriage. I have 1t here in my pocket Then you got it by trick. But in any case forced marriage is no mar riage, but it is very serious felony, as you will discover before you have finished. You'll have time to think the point out during the next ten years or so, unless I am mistaken. As to you, Carruthers, you would have done bet ter to keep your pistol in your pocket" T begin to think so, Mir. Holmes, but when thought of all the precaution I had taken to shield this girl-for I loved her, Mr. Holmes, and it Is the only time that ever I knew what love was-it fairly drove me mad to think that she was in the power of the great est brute and bully In South Africa-a man whose name Is holy terror from Kimberley to Johannesburg. Why, Mir Holmes, you'll hardly believe it, but ever since that girl has been in my employment l never once let her go past this house, where knew the ras- calls were lurking, without following her on my bicycle just to see that she came to no harm. I kept my distance from her. and I wore beard so that she should not recognize me, for she is good and high spirited girl, and she wouldn't have stayed in my employ ment long If she had thought that I was following her about the country roads,"
 "Why didn't you tell her of her dan ger?"
 Because then, again, she would have left me, and I couldn't bear to face that. Even if she couldn't love me it was great deal to me just to see her dainty form about the house and to hear the sound of her voice."
 ''Well" said I, you call that love, Mir. Carruthers, but should call it selfishness."
 Maybe the two things go together. Anyhow, couldn't let her go Be sides, with this crowd about it was well that she should have some one near to look after her. Then, when the cable came. l knew they were bound to make move"
 What cable?"
 Carruthers took a telegram from his pocket.
 That's it." said he.
 It was short and concise:
 "The old man is dead"
 Hum" said Holmes. "I think I see how things worked, and I can under stand how this message would. as you say, bring them to head. But while you wait you might tell me what you can"
 The old reprobate with the surplice burst into volley of bad language.
 By heaven" said he, If you squeal on us, Bob Carruthers, I'll serve you as you served Jack Woodley! You can bleat about the girl to your hearts content for that's your own affair. but if you round on your pals to this plain clothes copper it will be the worst days work that ever you did"
 Your reverence need not he excit- cd" said Holmes. lighting a cigarette. .'The case is clear enough against you. and all ask is few details for my private curiosity. However. If there's any difficulty in your telling me I'll do the talking. and then you will see how far you have chance of holding back your secrets. In the first place. three of you came from South Africa on this game-you. Williamson; you, Carruth- CTS. and Woodley."
 .'I.ie number one" said the old man. .1 never saw either of them until two months ago. and have never been in Africa in my life. SO you can put that in your pipe and smoke it. Mir Busy body Holmes"'
 "what he says is true,s said Car ruthers.
 Well well. two of you came over.