Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-20

little short of LOO, is now, through the
fall in agricultural prices, not more than
ESQ. Each daughter can claim an income
of ESQ, in case of marriage. 1t is evident,
therefore, that if both girls had married,
this beauty would have had a mere pit
lance while even one of them would GRIP
pie him to a very serious extent. MY
mornings work has not been wasted. since
it has proved that he has the very strong
est motives for standing in the way of any
thing of the sort. And now, Watson, TINS
is too serious for dawdling. especially as
the old man is aware that we are interest
ing ourselves in his affairs; so If you are
ready we shall call cab and drive 10
Waterloo 1 should be very much obliged
if you would slip your revolver into your
pocket. An Ely's No. 2 Is an excellent ar
gument with gentlemen who can twist steel
pokers into knots. That and tooth brush
are, think, all that We need
At Waterloo we were fortunate in catch
ing a train for Leatherhead, where we
hired trap at the station inn. and drove
for four or five miles through the lovely
Surrey lanes. 1t was a perfect day, with
bright sun and few f1eecy clouds In the
heavens. The trees and wayslde hedges
were Just throwing out their first green
shoots and the air was full of the pleas
ant smell of the moist earth. To me at
least there was a strange contrast between
the sweet promise of the spring and TINS
sinister quest upon which we were en-
gagged My companion sat in the front of
the trap hi9 arms folded. his hat pulled
down over his eyes. and his chin sunk upon
his breast buried in the deepest thought.
Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me
on the shoulder and pointed over the
meadows.
Look there" said he.
A heavily timbered park stretched up in
a gentle slope, thickening into a grove at
the highest point. From amid the branches
there jutted out the gray gables and high
roof-tree of a very old mansion.
stoke Moran said he.
Yes sir, that be the house of DR..
Grimesby Roylott." remarked the driver.
There Is some building going on there"
said Holmes; that is where we are
going.
There's the village said the driver,
pointing to cluster of roofs some dis
lance to the left; but If you want to get
to the house. you'll find 1t shorter to get
over this stile, and so by the footpath over
the fields. There 1t Is, where the lady Is
walking
And the lady. fancy is Miss stoner.'
observed Holmes. shading his eyes Yes,
L think We had better do as you suggest"
We got off, paid our fare, and the trap
ratified back on its way to Leatherhead.
we climbed the stile. .that this fellow
should think we had come here as archi-
tects, or on some definite business. 1t may
stop his gossip. Good afternoon, Miss
Stoner. You see that we have been as
good as our word
Our client of the morning had hurried
forward to meet us with a face which
spoke her joy. Il have been waiting so
eagerly for you,' she cried, shaking
hands with us warmly. "All has turned
out splendidly. DR.. Roylott has gone to
town. and it is unlikely that he will be
back before evening"
I'VE have had the pleasure of making
the doctors acquaintance" said Holmes
and in few words he sketched out what
had occurred. Miss Stoner turned white
to the lips she listened.
Good heayens!' she cried, "he has fol-
lowed me. thenT"
so 1t appears"
He is SO cunning that never know
when l am safe from him. What will he
say when he returns?"
He must guard himself. for he may
find that there is some one more cunning
than himself upon his track You must
lock yourself up from him tonight If he
Is violent we shall take you away to your
aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make
the best use Of our time SO kindly take
us at once to the rooms which we are to
examine"
The building was of gray. lichen-blotch-
ed stone. with a high central portion and
two curving wings, like the claws of a
these wings the windows were broken
and blocked with wooden boards, while
the roof was partly cayed in, picture Of
ruin. The central portion was in little
better repair, but the right-hand block
was comparatively modern, and the
blinds in the windows, with the blue
smoke curling up from the chfmneys,
showed that this was where the family
resided. Some scaffolding had been erect
work had been broken into, but there