Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-03
HAYDEN BROS,

shall be quartering of the Union Jack
with the Stars and Stripes"
THE case has been an interesting one"
remarked Holmes, when our visitors had
left us, because 1t serves to show very
clearly how simple the explanation may be
of affair which at first sight seems to
be almost inexplicabe Nothing could be
more natural than the sequence of events
as narrated by this lady, and nothing
stranger than the result when viewed, for
instance, by Mr.. Lestrade of Scotland
Yard"
You were not yourself at fault at all,
them"
From the first two facts were very obvl-
GUS to me, the one that the lady had been
quite willing to undergo the wedding cere-
mony, the other that she had repented of
It within few minutes of returning home
Obviously something had occurred during
the morning, then, to cause her to change
her mind What could that something be?
She could not have spoken to any one when
she was out. for she had been in the com
pany of the bridegroom. Had she seen
some one. then? II she had, 1t must be
some one from America, because she had
spent short a time in this country that
she could hardly have allowed any one TO
acquire so deep an influence over her that
the mere sight of him would induce her to
change her plans so completely. You see
we have already arrived, by process Of
exclusion at the idea that she might have
seen an American. Then who could this
American be, and why should he possess
so much influence over herr 1t might be
a lover; it might be a husband. Her young
womanhood had, l knew, been spent in
So far l had got before l ever heard Lord
St. Simons narrative. When he told us
of man in a pew. OF the change in the
brides manner, of so transparent a device
for obtaining a note as the dropping OF
bouquet, of her resort to her confidential
maid. and Of her very significant allusion
to OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES In miners parlance
means taking possession Of that which an
other person has a prior claim to-the
whole situation became absolutely clear.
She had gone of with a man, and the man
was either lover or was a previous hus-
band-the chances being In favor of the
latter"
IAnd how in the world did you find
them2'
1T might have been dificult but friend
Lestrade held information in his hands the
value OF which he did not himself know.
Inc Initials were OF course, OF the nlBnesl
Importance, but more valuable stiI was IL
10 know that within week he had settled
his bill at one Of the most select London
hotels"
How did you deduce the select?"
by the select prices. Eight shillings for
a bed and eightpence for a glass Of sherry
pointed to one Of the most expensive meals.
There are not many in London which
charge at that rate. In the second one
which l visited in Northumberland avenue,
learned by an inspection OF the book that
Francis II. Moulton, an American gentle
man. had left only the day before, and on
looking over the entries against him l
came upon the very items which l had
seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were
10 be forwarded TO No. 226 Gordon square;
so thither / travelled, and being fortunate
enough 10 find the loving couple at home, /
ventured to give them some paternal advice,
and II point out to them. that il would be
better in every way that they should make
their position little clearer both to the
general public and to Lord 81. Simon in
particular. / invited them TO meet him
here. and. you see, l made him keep
the appointment"
But with no very good result" l re-
marked -1Iis conduct was certainly not
very gracious"
"Ah. Watson" said Holmes. smiling.