The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-12-24

Excuse me, DR.. Armstrong, I think
we are "A little at cross purposes" said
my friend, with dignity. If you
could step downstairs with us we may
each be able to give some light to the
other upon this miserable affair"
A minute later the grim doctor and
ourselves were in the sitting room be-
low.
well. sir?' said he
Il wish you to understand, in the
first place, that am not employed by
Lord MOunt-James and that my sym
pathies in this matter are entirely
against that nobleman. When a man
is lost it is my duty to ascertain his
fate, but having done so the matter
ends so far as am concerned, and so
long as there IS nothing criminal I am
much more anxious to hush up private
scandals than to give them publicity.
If, as / imagine. there is no breach Of
the law in this matter, you can absO-
lutely depend upon my discretion and
my cooperation in Keeping the facts
out of the papers"
Dr. Armstrong took a quick step for
ward and wrung Holmes by the hand.
You are a good fellow" said he, Il
had misjudged you thank heaven
that my conjunction at leaving poor
Staunton All alone in this plight caused
me to turn my carriage back and so to
make your acquaintance. Knowing as
much as you do, the situation IS very
easily explained. A year ago Godfrey
Staunton lodged in London for time
and became passionately attached to
his landlady's daughter, whom he mar
ried. She was as good as she was
beautiful and as intelligent as she was
good. No man need be ashamed Of
such a wife. But Godfrey was the heir
to this grabbed cid nobleman, and 1t
was quite certain that the news OF his
marriage would have been the end Of
his inheritance. I knew the lad we'll
and I loved him FOR his many excellent
qualities. We did our very best to
keep the thing from every one, for
when once such a whisper gets about it
is not long before every one has heard
It. Thanks to this lonely cottage and
his own discretion, Godfrey has up to
now succeeded. Their secret was
known to no one save to me and to
one excellent servant, who has at pres
ent gone for assistance to Trumping
ton. But at last there came a terrible
blow in the shape Of dangerous illness
TO his wife. It was consumption Of the
most virulent kind. The poor boy was
half crazed with grief, and yet be had
% so to London to play this match, for
he could not get out of it without eZ-
plantations which would expose his Sc
cret. I tried to cheer him up by wire
and he sent me one in reply imploring
me to Go all could This was the tele-
gram which you appear I'm some mex
plic0ble way to have seen. I did not
tell him how urgent the danger was.
Tor 1 knew that he could do no good
here. but / sent the truth to the girls
father. and he very injudiciously com
municated it to Godfrey. The result
was that be came straight away in a
state bordering ON frenzy and has re-
NAMED in the same state. kneeling at
the end Of her bed. until this morning
death put an end to her sufferings.
That is all Mr. Holmes. and / am
sure that ] can rely upon your discre
ton and that OF your friend"
Holmes grasped the doctors hand.
Come. Watson" said be. and we
passed from that house OF grief into
the pale sunlight Of the winry day