The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-03

desultory chat with me over his bust
mes affairs. A short railway journey
land a shorter walk brought us to
iFairbank, the modest residence of the
great financier.
Fairbank was a good-sized square
house of white stone, standing back a
little from the road. A double carriage
sweep with a snow-clad lawn, stretch
ed down in front to two large iron
gates which closed the entrance. On
the right side was small wooden
wicket, which led into a narrow path
between two neat hedges stretching
from the road to the kitchen door,
and forming the bridesmaids entrance.
On the left ran a lane which led to
the stables, and was not itself within
the grounds at all, being public
though little used, thoroughfare.
Holmes left us standing at the door.
and walked slowly all round the house,
across the front, down the trades
mans path. and SO round by the gar
den behind into the stable lane. So
long was he that Mr.. Holder and
went into the dining-room and waited
by the fire until he should return. We
were sitting in silence when the door
opened and a young lady came in.
She was rather above the middle
height, slim, with dark hair and eyes,
which seemed the darker against the
absolute pallor of her skin. | do not
think that / have ever seen such
deadly paleneSs in woman's face
Her lips, too, were blOodless, but her
eyes were flushed with crying. AS she
swept silently into the rom she inn
pressed me with a greater sense OF
grief than the banker had done In
the morning, and it was the more
striking in her as she was evidently a
woman of strong character, with inn
mense capacity for self-restraint. Dis
regarding my presence, she went
straight to her uncle, and passed her
hand over his head with sweet Wo
manly caress.
"You have given orders that Ar
thur should be liberated, have you
not, dad?" she asked.
mo, no, my girl, the matter must
be probed to the bottom"
But | am so sure that he Is inno-
cent You know what Women'S in
stincts are. 1 know that he has done
no harm and that you will be sorry
for having acted so harshy."
whey is he silent then, if he isl
Innocent"
"Who knows? Perhaps because he
was SO angry that you should suspect
him.
How could 1 help suspecting him,
when / actually saw him with the cor
onet in his hand?"
ooh, but he had only picked it up
to look at it. Oh do, do take my word
for it that he is innocent. Let the mat
ter drop and say no more. 1t is so
dreadful to think of our dear Arthur
in prison!"
II shall never let it drop until the
gems are found-never Mary! Your
affection for Arthur blinds you as to
the awful consequences to me. Far
from hushing the thing up, / have
brought gentleman down from Lon
don to inquire more deeply into it,
This gentleman she asked facing
round to me.
mo. his friend. He wished us to
leave him alone; He is round in the
stable lane now"
1.-The. stable lane?" She raised her
dark eyebrows. What can he hope
to find there? All! this, l suppose, is
he. I trust, sir, that you will succeed
in proving, what / feel sure is the
truth. that my cousin Arthur is limo
cent of this crime"
II fully share your opinion, and
trust with you, that we may prove
it,. returned Holmes, going back to-
the mat to knock the snow from his
shoes 81 believe l have the honor of
dQuEeSSlHS MISS hdly I1Oldci. hl6hN
ask you question or two?"
Pray do, sir if 1t may help to clear
this horrible affair up
You heard nothing yourself last
night?"
Nothing, until my uncle here be-
gan to speak loudly. heard that, and
came down"
You shut up the windows and
doors the night before. Did you fasten
all the windows?"
"Yes."
Were they all fastened this morn
ing?"
Eyes"
you have maid who has a sweet !
heart? I think you remarked to your