Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-10

He had nothing on save only his trou-
sers and shirt
! Thank you. We have certainly been
| favored with extraordinary luck during this
| Inquiry. and 1t will be entirely our own
| fault II we do not succeed In clearing the
matter up. With your permission. Mr.
! Holder L snail now continue my investiga-
! tons outside"
He went alone. at his own request, for
| he explained that any unnecessary foot
/ marks might make his task more difficult
| For an hour or more he was at work re-
! turning at last with his feet heavy with
| snow and his features as inscrutabIe as
| ever.
! Il think that I have seen now all that
+, there Is to see, Mr. Holder" said he. IT
can serve you best by returning to my
rooms
But the gems. Mr.. Holmes Where are
| they"
Il cannot tell"
The banker rung his hands 81 shall never
see them again. he cried And nv SOM
You give me hopes %
MY opinion is in no way altered"
Then for Gods sake, what was this da rk
I business which was acted in my house last
| night?'
IF you can call upon me at my Baker
street rooms tomorrow between and 10
shall be happy to do what 1 can to make II
| clearer. l understand that you give me
carte blanche to act for you provided only
that L get back the gems, and that YOU
place no limit on the sum l may draw"
| back ~ nave 'ieih
Very good. I shall look into the matter
between this and then. Good-by. It is Just
possible that may have to come over here
again before evening"
1t was obvious to me that my compan-
| Ions mind was now made up about the
! case. although what his conclusions were
was more than l could even dmIy imagine
Several times during our homeward Journey
| endeavored to sound him upon the point,
| but he always glided away to some other
topic, until at last / gave 1t I'D In DESPAIR
1t was not yet when we found ourselves
In our room once more. He hurried to his
| chamber and was down again In a few
minutes dressed as common loafer With
his collar turned up, his shiny, seedy coat
his red cravat and his worn boots, he was a
perfect sample of the class.
Il think that this should do" said he
glancing into the glass above the fireplace
Il only wish that you could come with me-
Watson. but l fear 1t won't do. / may be
on the trail in this matter or l may be fol-
lowing wili-of-the-w isp; but 1 shall soon
know which II is. L hope that l may be
back in "a few hours" He cut a slice of
beef from the joint on the sideboard sand
wiched 1t between two rounds of bread and,
thrusting this rude meat into his pocket
he started off upon his expedition.
1 had just finished my tea when he re-
turned. evidently in excellent spirits, swing
Ing an old elastic-sided boot in his hand.
He chucked it down into corner and
helped himself TO cup of tea
II only looked in as L passed." said he.
Il am going right on"
Where tor
"Oh. to the other side of the west end.
1t may be some time before I get back
Don't wait up for me In case L should be
late"
How are you getting on7"
"Oh, so so. Nothing to complain Of /
have been out to Streatham since l saw
you last. but l did not call at the house.
1t is very sweet little problem. and /
would not have missed it for a good deal.
However. must not sit gossiping here but
must get these disreputable clothes off and
return to my highly respectable SELF
stronger reasons for satisfaction than his
words alone would imply. His eyes
twinkled and there was even a touch of
color upon his sallow cheeks. He fastened
upstairs. and a few minutes later / heard
the slam of the hall door, which told me
that he was off once more upon his con-
genial hunt.
I waited until midnight but there was no
sign of his return, so retired to my room.
1t was no uncommon thing for him to be
away for days and nights on end when he
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
the paper in the other. as fresh and trim
as possible.
you will excuse my beginning without
you. Watson" said he: but you remem-
Der that our client has rather an early ap-
pointment this morning"
"Why, 1t Is after nine now" answered
II should not be surprised If that were he.
I thought heard ring"
It was, indeed, our friend the financier.
I was shocked by the change which had
come over him, for his face. which was
naturally of a broad and massive mould.
was now pinched and fallen in. while his
hair seemed to me at least shade whittier.
He entered with q weariness and lethargy
which was even more painful than his vio-
lence Of the morning before. and he
dropped heavily into the armchair which I
pushed forward for him.
II do not know what have done to be
SO severely tried" said ha. only two days
ago was happy and prosperous man.
without q care in the world. Now am
left to lonely and dishonored age. One
sorrow comes close upon the heals OF an