Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-29

pleasant manner and frank acceptance OF
all that she said thawed her into a CORE
spending amiability. She did not attempt
to conceal her hatred for her late en-
ployer.
Yes. sir; 1t is true that he threw the de-
canter at me. | heard him call my mis-
tress a name and | told him that he would
not dare to speak 50 if her brother had
been there. Then it was that he threw II
at me. He might have thrown dozen II
he had but left my bonny bird alone. He
was forever ill-treating her, and abe too
proud to complain She will not even tell
me all that he has done to her. She never
told me of those marks her arm that
You saw this morning, but know very well
that they come from stab with a hatpin.
The sly devil-GOd forgive me that | should
speak o. him SO, now that he is dead But
u devil he was. if ever one walked the
earth. He all honey when first we
met hiul-only eighteen months ago. and
We both feel as If 1t We're eighteen years.
She had only just arrived in London. Yes,
1t was her first voyage-she had never
been from home before. He won her with
his title and his money and his false Lon
den ways. If she made a mistake she
paid for 1t If ever a woman did.
What month did We meet him. Well.
/ tell you 1t was just after we ar
rived We arrived in June. and it was
July. They We're married in January OF
last year. Yes. she is down in the morning
room again, and l have no doubt she will
see You, but you must not ask too much
of her. for she has gone through all that
flesh and blood will stand
Lady Brackenstall was reclining on the
same couch but looked brighter than be-
fore. The maid had entered with us, and
began once more to foment the bruise upon
her mistress brow.
Il hope" said the lady that you have
not come TO crosS-eX1 anime me again?'
NO answered Holmes, in his gentlest
voice, u Will not cause you any unneces-
sary trouble. Lady Brackenstall, and my
whole desire is to make things easy for
you, for I am convinced that you are
much-tried woman. If you will treat me
as a friend and trust me. you may find
that l will justify your trust"
what do you want me to do?"
"To tell me the truth"
M. Holiness
mo, no Lady BrackenstalI-it is no use.
You may have heard of any little reputa-
ton which 1 possess. [ will stake it all on
the fact that your story is an absolute fab
ricatiou.
Mistress and maid were both staring at
Holmes with pale faces and frightened
eyes.
You are an impudent fellow cried
Theresa. DO you mean to say that my
mistress has told a lie?'
Holmes rose from his chair.
Have you nothing to tell me?"
Il have told you everything"
Think once more, Lady Brackenstall-
Would it not be better to be frank?"
For an instant there was hesitation In her
beautiful face. Then some new strong
JuouBuJ CAUSED II u SET ilhe a ulaS7h
II have told you all l know"
Holmes took his hat and shrugged his
shoulders Il am sorry he said,
and without another word we left
a pond in the park, and to this my
friend led the way. 1t was frozen over.
but a single hole was left for the convent
ence of n solitary swan. Holmes gazed at
It, and then passed on to the lodge gate.
There he scrubbed a short note for Stanley
Hopkins. and left ii with the lodge keeper
1T may be a hit or It may be miss, but
we bound to do something for friend
Hopkins just to justify this second visit
said he II will not quite take him into my
confidence yet. l think our next scene of
operations must be the shipping office of
the Notwithstanding line, which
stands at the end of the Pail Mall, If re-
member right. There Is a second line or
steamers which connect South Australia
with England, but We will draw the larger
cover first"
Holmes card sent in to the manager
insured instant attention. and he was not
long in acquiring all the information he
needed. In June of 80, only of their
line had reached a home port 1t was the
Rock of Gibraltar. their largest and best
boat A reference to the passenger list
showed that Miss Fraser of Adelaide, with
her maid had made the voyage inner. The
boat was now on her way to Australia
somewhere in the south of the Suez canal.
Her officers were the same as in '95, with
one exception. The first officer Mr.. Jack
Croker. had been made a captain. and
was to take charge of their new ship, the
Bass Rock. sailing in two days time from
Southampton. He lived at Sydenham. but
he was likely to be in that morning for in
structions, If we cared to wait for him.
No. Mr.. Holmes had no desire to see him,
but would be glad to know more about his
record and character.
His record was magnificent. There was
not an officer IN the fleet to touch him.
AS to his character. he reliable
duty. but a wild, desperate fellow off the
deck of his shlp-hot-headed, excitable. but
loyal. honest and kind-hearted. That was
the pith of the information with which
Holmes left the Office of the Adelaide
southampton Company. Thence he drove
TO Scotland Yard but. instead of entering.
he sat in his cab with his brows drawn
down, lost in profound thought. Finally he
drove round TO the Charing Cross telegraph
office, sent off a message, and then, at last,
We made for Baker street once more.
No. I couldn't do 1t, Watson" said he,
as we re-eutered our room. "Once that
warrant was made out, nothing on earth
would save him. Once twice In my
career feel that I have done more real
harm by my discovery of the criminal than
ever he had done by his crime. I have
learned caution now, and l had rather play
tricks with the law OF England than with
my own conscience. Let us know q little
more before we act"
Before evening, we had visit from In
spectOr Stanley Hopkins. Things were not
going very well with him.
1 Be.lGNe LNiI YOU are Il wizard, Mr..
Holmes. really do sometimes think that
you have powers that are not human. Now,
how on earth could you know that the
stolen silver was at the bottom of that
pond?'
II didn't know It."
But you told me to examine it."
''You got 1t, them"
Yes, l got IT,
Il am very glad II have helped you"
But you haven't helped me. You made
the affair far more difficult. What sort of
burglars are they who steal silver and then
throw it into the nearest pond?"
1t was certainly rather eccentric be-
havior. l was merely going on the idea that
If the silver had been taken by persons
who did not want it-who merely took 1t
for a blind. as 1t were. then they would nat
uraly be anxious to set rid of it."
But why should such an idea cross your
mind?"
We'll. l thought it was possible. When
they came cut through the French window
there was the pond with one tempting little
hole in the fee, right in front of their noses
Could there be a better hiding placer"
"Ah, a hiding place-that is betterr' cried
Stanley Hopkins. Yes. yes, I see 1t all
row! It was early, there were folk upon
the roads they were afraid OF being seen
with the silver. so they sank 1t In the pond
intending 20 return for 1t when the coast
was clear Excellent Mr. Holmes-that Is