The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-22
her head and face protruded, with eager
eyes and parted lips, q standing ques-

eyes and parted lips, q standing ques-
tsWellqo she cried, .'wellgO And
then, seeing that there were two Of US,
she gave cry Of hope which sank into
a groan as she saw that my companion
ders.
\ emo good newsi"
n +" None
e" { No. had''
. Thank God for that. But come in.
You must be. weary, for you have had
a long day."
he . has been \, Of most vital use to ne
chance has made It possible I for me me
TO bring him out and associate him with
this Investigation"
st am delighted to see you,' said
she, pressing my hand warmly. "You
will, I am sure, forgive anything that
may be wanting in our arrangements,
when you consider the blow which has
come SO suddenly upon u.s.
"My dear madam, ''-said ], IT am
an old campaigner, and if I were not,
I can very well see that no apology is
needed. IF can be Of any assistance.
either to you or to my, friend here,
Now, Mr.. Sherlock Holiness said
the lady, as we entered a well-lit din
ing-room, upon the table Of which q
cold supper had been laid out, 1T should
plain questions, to which beg that
Certainly, madam"
Do not trouble about my feelings.
I am not .hysterical, nor given to faint
ing; I simply, wish to hear your real,
real opinion.
"Upon what points"
"1n your heart Of hearts, do you
think that Neville is alive7"
barrassed by the question. "Frankly,
now!" she repeated, standing upon the
rug and looking keenly down at him
as he leaned back in basket-chair.
Cranky, then, madam, I do not. -
..You think that he is dead9"
~ do.'
"Murderedf"
IT don It say that. Perhaps"
"And on what day did he meet his
ssOn Monday"
"Then, perhaps, Mr.. Holmes, you will
be good enough to explain how it Is
that I have received letter from him
Sherlock Holmes sprang out Of his
chair as if he had been galvanized.
/ 'sWhatl' be roared.
I eyes, today She stood smiling,
holding up a little slip Of paper in the
"May see itq''
"Certainly.''
He snatched it from her in his eager.
table, he drew over the lamp, and ex.
amined it intently. 7 had left my chair,
and was gazing at it over his shoulder.
| The envelope was a very coarse one
and was stamped with tn eGravesend
postmark, and with the date Of that
very day, or rather of the day before
for it was considerably after midnight
| '"surely this is not your husbands writ
| ing, madam"
mo, but the. enclosure Isl
II perceive also that whoever addressed
! the envelope had to go and inquire as &c
the address,.
| GLOW can you tell that?''
I'M Rams you see r, is IN perfectly
rest Is Of the grayfsh color, which shows
that blotting paper has been used. If II
had been written straight off, and Their
! blotted. none would be Of a deep black
shade. This man has written the name
and there has then been a pause before ne
wrote the address, which can only NEAR
that he was not familiar with it. It is
Of course, a trifle, but there is nothing 81
important as trifes. Let us now see thu
letter. TIa! there has been an enclosure
here!" 1.
G"Yes, there was a. ring, His sirne
ring"
bands hand?' -~-
#" ..o .. Of his hands"
Ills hand when he wrote hurriedly
! It IS very unlike his usual writing, an,
yet know it WELL"
dearest, do not be frightened. Al
will come well. There is huge erro
Written In pencil upon the flyleaf Of
, book, octave size. no water-mark. Hum
Rtb d dIaay tb in a Ap SSy the
has been gummed, If am not very rnucl
in error, by person who had been chew
, ing tobacco. And you have no douh
Of Is Seve @roae t hena
,, Gravesend 10y well, Mrs. St. Clair. tn
:, clouds tighten. though should not ven
ture to say that the danger is over"
But he must be alive, Mr.. Holmes"
UNLESS this is clever forgery to pu
: us on the wrong scent: The ring, afte
all proves Eyes, p S3tl 1t may have bee
'No, no; it u.s. is, it is, It is his very ow
9 writing!" -.
e VERY well. It may, however hay
r been written on Monday, and only post
: ed to-day -: .-,-: u z
! "That Is possible
a If So. much may have happened b.
y tween" E&a'2 .l
Q ooh, you must not discourage me, M
: Holmes. 7 know that all is we'll wit
9 with him. There is so keen a sympath
4 between us that I should know If ev
a came upon him. On the very day that
!. room, and yet in the dining-room rushe
!. upstairs instantly with the utmost Gel
= tainty that SOM thing had happened. Z
= you think that would respond to such
t trifle, and yet be ignorant Of his death
IT have seen too much not to kno
j. that the impression Of a woman may /
!. more valuable than the conclusion of a
!. analytical reasoner. And IN this lett
. you certainly have very strong piece
d if your husband is alive, and able to writ
g letters, why should he remain away fro
l. you?"
t. ST cannot imagine. It is unthinkable
Il And on Monday he made no remar1
before leaving your"
VI "No''
4 "And you were surprised to see him
y Swandam Lane?"
y Every much so"
& was the window open?'' A
o Yes"
e 1T. Then he, he might n have called to your
e, He He only, as understand, gave an /,
- articuIate cry?"
'sI IA call for help. you thought7'
Eyes. He waved his hands"
loI but it might have been a cry of s1
prise. Astonishment at the unexpect
IS sight ts Of yon might cause him to throw
:. 'Tt is possible.