Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-10

pie Of the class.
Il think that this should do" said he,
CHANGING into the glass above the fireplace.
II only wish that you could come with
me, Watson. but 1 fear IT won't do. / may
be on the trail In this matter or l may
be following a will -the-wisp. but shall
soon know which 1t is I hope that ! may
be back in a few hours" He cut a slice Of
beef from the Joint on the sideboard. sand
wiched 1t between two round Of bread and,
thrustlng this rude meal into his pocket,
he started of upon his expedition.
/ had just finished my tea when he re-
turned, evidently in excellent spirits. swing
ing an Old elastic-slded boot in his hand.
He chucked It down into a corner and
helped himself 70 a cup Of tea.
II only looked in as l passed" said he.
II am going right on"
where to-"
"Oh, to the other side Of the West End.
It may be some time before 1 get back.
Don't wait up for me I'm case l should be
late"
How are you getting on?"
"Oh, so so. Nothing to complain OF.
have been out TO Streatham since 1 saw you
last, but did not call at the house II is
very sweet little problem, and 1 would
not have missed it for a good deal How
ever, I must not sit gosslping here, but
must get these disreputable clothes off and
return to my highly respectable self"
could see by his manner that he had
stronger reasons for satisfaction than his
words alone would imply His eyes
twlnkled and there was even a touch of
color upon his sallow cheeks He fastened
upstairs and a few minutes later l heard
the slam Of the hall door. which told me
baf ha yrnu or ,t,r
hunt.
waited until midnight but there was no
sign Of his return so I retired to my room
1t was no uncommon thing for him to be
away for days and nights on end when he
was hot upon n scent, so that his lateness
caused me no surprise. I do not know at
what hour he came in, but when l came
down to breakfast in the morning there he
was with a cup of coffee in one hand and
a paper in the other, as fresh and trim as
possible
You will excuse my beginning without
you, Watson" said he; but you remember
that our client has rather an early appoint
ment this morning"
why, It is after nine now" answered
Il should not be surprised If that were he
l thought heard a ring"
1t was. indeed our friend the fnancier
I was shocked by the change which had
come over him, for his face which was nat
urally of a broad and massive mould, was
now Dinched and fallen in, while his hair
seemed to me at least shade whittier. He
entered with a WEAKNESS and lethargy
which was even more painful than his
violence Of the morning before, and he
dropped heavily into the armchair which I
pushed forward for him.
81 do NOT know what bova dana 20 Ia
so severely tried" said he. "Only two
days ago was n happy and prosperous
man, without care in the world Now I
am left to lonely and dishonored age.
One sorrow comes close upon the heels Of
another. My niece Mary has deserted me-"
Deserted your"
Yes. Her bed this morning had not been
slept In, her room was empty, and a note
for me lay upon the hall table had said
TO her last night, in sorrow and not in
anger that II she had married my boy all
might be well with him. Perhaps 1t was
thoughtless of me to say so. 1t Is to that
remark that she refers in this note:
My Dearest Uncle: I feel that have
brought trouble upon you, and that If
had acted differently this terrible misfor-
tune might never have occurred. I cannot
with this thought in my mind, ever again
|
must leave you forever. Do not worry
about my future, for that is provided for;
and above all, do not search for me. for
1t will be fruitless labor and an iI-service
to me- In life or in death, 1 am ever your
loving MARY
What could she mean by that note, Mr.
Holmes? DO you think It points to sui
cider"
mo. no. nothing of the kind. It is per-
haps the best possible solution. trust.
Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end
of your troubles"
'Ha! You say so! You have heard some
thing, Mr.. Holmes; you have learned some-
thing! Where are the gems?"
You would not thing $1,000 apiece an ex-
cessive sum for them?"
II would pay ten"
That would be unnecessary. Three thou
sand will cover the matter. And there is a
little reward, fancy. Have you your
check book? Here is a pen. Better make
it out for $4,000"
With a dazed face the banker made out
the required check. Holmes walked over
TO his desk, took out little triangular
piece of gold with three gems in it and
threw 1t down upon the table.
With shrek of joy our client clutched
it IN.
you have it, he gasped. st am saved!
I am savedl"
The reaction of Joy was as passionate
as his grief had been, and he Rugged his
recovered gems to his bosom.
There is one other thing you owe, Mr.
Holder said Sherlock Holmes, rather
sternly.
"Owe!' He caught up a pen. Name the
sum and will pay it,"
No, the debt is not TO me. You owe a
very humble apology to that noble lad your
son, who has carried himself In this matter
as l should be proud to see my own son do.
should ever chance to have one"
Then 1t was not Arthur who took them?"
Il told you yesterday and / repeat to-
day, that II was not"
You are sure of IL. Let us hurry 10 hin,
at once. to let him know that the truth is
known"
He knows It already. When I had
cleared II all up l had an interview with
him, and, fiUding that he would not tell me
the story told IL 20 him, on which he had
TO confess that l was right, and TO add the
very few details which were not vet quite
clear TO me. Your news Of this morning.
however may open his lips.
For heavens sake tell me. then what
Is this extraordinary mystery"
i will do so, and l will show YOU the
steps by which reached it, And let me say