The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1905-10-06

acquainted with HIM. hut they drifted
apart was very much surprised.
therefore. Whcn yesterday about 3
+ O'Clock in tine afternoon he walked into
my utiee in I've city But | WIS still
more astanishr'l when h. told me the
object Of his visit lie had in his hand
several sheets Of notebook, covered
wifi s.1lhhled writing here they are
tnd ~ s.l them GA ny table
"..Ife5e j. my Will said he 1 want
volt Air NbFurlane. TO east it into
propea lesal shape | will sit here
Nshilo ypu 10 80.
= set myself 10 copy il. ana you can
+ imagine my asfoniShnenl wien Ifouna
that. with some reservations he had
left al his property 10 me. He WAS Il
strange little fcrretlike man. with
whine eyelashes. and when | looked up
1T him | found his keen gray eyes
fixed upon me With an amused express
sion | could hardly believe my own
senses as | read the terms of the will.
but he explained that he WAS baehe-
Tor with hardly any living relation.
that he had known my parents IN his
youth and that he had always heard
OF me as a very deserving young man
and was assured that his money would
be In worthy hands OF course | could
only stammer out my thanks
The will was duly finished signed
and witnessed 10y my clerk. This is it
s~ - blue paper. and these slips as |
have explained. are the rough draft Mr.
Jonas Oldacre then informed me thai
there were Il number Of documents
building leases. title deeds. mortgages.
scrip. and so forth-which it was nee
essary that | should see and under
stand. He said that his mind would
not be easy until the whole thing was
settled. and he begged me TO come ont
10 his house at Norwood that night.
bringing the will with me, and to ar
range matters. Remember. my boy.
not one word to your parents about
the affair until everything is settled.
We will keep it as a little surprise for
them He was very insistent upor
this point and made me promise it
faithfully
You can imagine Mr. Holmes, that
l WAS not In humor to refuse linn
anything that he might ask He was
my bencfactor. and all my desire was
to carry out his wishes in every par
ticular. sent n telegram home, there
fore. to say that | had important bust
ness on hand and that it was ilnpoSsi-
BILE Tor me to say how late | might he.
Mr.. Oldacre had told lne that he would
like me to have supper with him ut ..
as he might not be home before that
hour. | had some difficulty in finding
his house. however, and it was nearly
half past before | reached ii. | found
him
zone moment" said Holmes WHO
opened the door,"
y middle aged woman, who was,
suppose. his housekeeper."
And it was She. | presume. who
mentioned your name."
Exactly" said McFarlane
pray proceed"
McFarlane wiped his damp brow and
then continued his narrative.
Il was shown by this woman into Il
sitting ROOM where frugal supper
was laid out. Afterward Mr. Jonas
Oldaere led me into his bedroom. III
which there stood a heavy safe. This
he opened and took out a mass of docu.
ments. which we went over together.
1t was between II and T. when we
finished. lie remarked that we must
not disturb the housekeeper He show
ed me ont through his own French win.
dow. which had been open all this
time"
WAS the blind down. asked
Holmes
Il will not be sure. but believe that
II was only half down. Yes. | remem-
Der how he pulled 1t up In order to
swing open the window. | could not
find my stick. and lie said, Never mind.
my boy. shall see Il good deal of you
now. | hope. and will keep your stick
until you come back to claim it. left
BIN there. the safe open and the papers
made up in packets upon the table. II
was SO late that | could not get back
to Blaekheatl. 50 | spent the night AT
the Anerley Arms. and knew nothing
fair In the morning
Anything more that you would like
to ask. Mr.. Holiness" said Lestrade
whose eyebrows had gone up once OF
twice during this remarkable explana-
ton
Not until | have been to Black
heath
You mean to Norwood" said Les
trade.
"Oh. yes; no doubt that is what
must have meant said Holmes. with
his enigmatlcal smile. Lestrade had
learned by more experiences than he
would care TO acknowledge that that
razorlike brain could cut through that
which was impenetrable to him. | saw
him look curiously at my companion.
Il think should like to have II word
with You presently. Mr. Sherlock
Holiness" said he. Now. Mr.. McFar
lane. two Of my constables are ut the