Morris tribune., 1905-10-14
(coNTINUED.l


things easy for you, for l am convinc-
ed that you are a much tried woman
If you will treat me as a friend and
trust me you may find that will JUS
tify your trust"
What do you want me to do?"
''TO tell me the truth"
'Mr Holiness
mo. no, Lady Brackenstall; it is no
USE You may have heard of any little
reputation which l possess. I will
stake it all on the fact that your story
is an absolute fabrication"
Mistress and maid were both staring
at Holmes with pale faces and fright,
ened eyes.
You are an impudent fellow!'' cried
Theresa. DO you mean to say that
my mistress has told lie?"
Holmes rose from his chair.
Have you nothing to tell me"
81 have told you everything"
think once more, Lady Bracken-
stall Would it not be better to be
frank?"
For an instant there was hesitation
in her beautiful face. Then some new,
strong thought caused it to set like a
mask.
Il have told you all / know
Holmes took his hat and shrugged
his shoulders. Il am SORRY" he said
And without another word we left the
room and the house. There was a
pond in the park, and to this my friend
led the way. 1t was frozen over, but
single hole was left for the conven-
fence OF solitary swan Holmes gazed
at it and then passed on to the lodge
gate. Then he scrubbed a short note
for Stanley Hopkins and left it with
the lodge keeper.
t'It may be hit or it may be miss,
but we are bound to do something for
Friend Hopkins just to justify this Sec
Ond visit, - said he. Il will not quite
take him into my confidence yet.
think our next scene of operations
must be the shipping Office of the AIDE
laide- Southampton line, which stands
at the end of Pail Mall, if remember
right. There is a second line Of steam
ers which connect South Australia
with England, but we will draw the
larger cover first"
Holmes card sent in to the manager
insured instant attention, and he was
not long in acquiring all the informa-
ton he needed In June Of '95 only one
Of their line had reached a home port.
1t was the Rock of Gibraltar, their lar
gest and best boat A reference to the
passenger list showed that Miss Fra
ser of Adelaide, with her maid, had
made the voyage in her. The boat was
now on her way to Australia somewhere
I'm the south of the SueZ canal Her Off
GERS were the same as in '95, with one
exception. The first officer, Mr.. Jack
Crocker, had been made a captain and
was to take charge of their new ship,
the Bass Rock, sailing in two days
time from Southampton. He lived at
Sydenham, but he was likely to be in
that morning for instructions, if we
cared to wait for him.
No; Mr. Holmes had no desire to see
him, but would be glad to know more
about his record and character.
His record was magnificent There
was not an officer in the feet to touch
him. AS to his character, he was relia-
BILE on duty, but wild, desperate fell
low off the deck of his ship-hot head
ed, excitable. but loyal, honest and
kind hearted That was the pith Of the
information with which Holmes left
the Office of the Adelaide Southampton
company Thence he drove to Scotland
Yard, but, instead Of entering. he sat
g., E.s IL
lost in profound thought Finally he
drove round to the Charing Cross tele-
graph office, sent off a message and
then, at last, we made for Baker street
once more.
"No; I couldn't do 1t, Watson" said
he as we re-entered our room. "Once
that warrant was made out nothing on
earth would save him. Once or twice
in my career feel that I have done
more real harm by my discovery Of the
criminal than ever he had done by his
crime. have learned caution now, and
had rather play tricks with the law Of
England than with my own conscience.
Let us know a little more before we |
act"
Before evening we had visit from
Inspector Stanley Hopkins. Things
were not going very well with him.
II believe that you are wizard, Mr.. |
Holmes. really do sometimes think
that you have powers that are not hui
man. Now, how on earth could you
know that the stolen silver was at the
bottom of that pond?'
II didn't know it."
A.But you told me to examine it."
'4You got 1T, then?"
AsYes, got it."
II am very glad IL I have helped