Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-07-29

''Wbat should have doner' cried.
With some heat
~(sone &c the nearest public house.
That is the center OF country gossip.
They would have told you every name
from tie master 20 the serlhry maid
Wiiiiamsonf II conveys nothing 10 my
mind. 1f he "a Nm elderly man he Is
not this active cyclist who spirits
away from that young lsdy's athletic
expedition The knowledge that the
girls story Is true. never doubted it.
That there Is a connection between the
cyciist and the hall never doubted
that either. That the hall Is tenanted
by Williamson Who's tie better for
thstf Well. well. my dear sir, don't
look 80 depressed. We can do little
more until next Saturday. ana In the
meantime 7 may make ore OF two In
Quirtes myself"
Next morning be had note from
Miss Smith reccuntlng shortly and ac-
curatesy The very incidents which
had seer. but The pifh OF the letter lay
IN che postscript
81 am sure that you viii respect nv
confidence, Mr. Holmes. when I tell
you that my place here has become dif-
fcnlt owing 10 the fact that my en-
pioyer has proposed marriage TO me.
am convinced that his Feelings are
most deep and most honorable. At the
same time my promise is OF course
given. He took my refusal very seri-
! ously, but also very gently. You can
understand. however, that the situation
IS a little strained"
-our young friend seems TO be get
| ting into deep waters said Holmes
thoughtfully as he finished the letter
The case certainly presents more fea-
lures OF interest and more possibility
Of development than I had originally
thought. ] should be none the worse
for quiet. peaceful day in the coun-
| try, and l am inclined 10 run down this
afternoon and test one or two theories
which have formed
Holmes quiet day I'm the country had
singular termination. for he arrived
at Baker street late I'm the evening with
cut lip and a discolored lump upon
his forehead. besides a general air Of
dissipation which would have made his
own person the fitting object of Scot
land Yard investigation He was inn
mensely tickled by his own adventures
and laughed heartily as he recounted
them.
Il get so little active exercise that II
Is always n treat said be. you are
aware that | have some proficiency In
the good old British sport OF boxing.
Occasionally IL is OF service: today. for
example. I should have come to very
ignominlous grief without IT."
begged him TO tell me what had oc.
Cured
4 found that country pub which I
had already recommended 70 your no
tice. and there | made my discreet in
Quiries. | was In the bar. and a garru-
ious landlord was giving me all that
wanted. Williamson Is a white bearded
man, and he lives alone with small
stan of servants at the hail. There is
some rumor that he Is or has been n
clergyman. but one or two Incidents OF
his short residence M the hall struck
me as peculiarly unecclcsIasticai.
have already made some Inquiries nj a
clerical agency. and they tell me that
there was a man OF that name IN or
ders whose career has been a siuru-
larry dark one
| The landlord further Informed me
that there are usually week end Wis
itors-'a warm lot. slr'-at the hall.
and especially one gentleman with a
red mustache. MIR. WOodley by name.
who was always there. We had cot
as far as this when who should walk In
but the gentleman himself. who had
been drinking his beer I'm the taproom
and had heard the whole conversation.
Who was 1; What did want? What
did mean by asking questionsg lie
had tne dow OF language, and his
adjectiyes We're very vigorous. lie
ended string OF abuse by vicious
back handler. which I failed TO entirely
avoid. The next few minutes were de
hcious. II was a straight left against
a slogging rufiian. / emerged as You
see me. Mfr. Woodiey went home IN a
cart So ended my country trip. and
IL must be confessed that however en-
joyable. my day on the Surrey border
has not been much more profitable
than your own
'Ibe Thursday brought us another let
ter from our client.
You will not be surprised. Mr.
Holmes" said she, Ito hear that anu
leaving Mr.. Carruthers' employment
Even the high pay cannot reconcile me
10 the discomforts OF my situation. On
Saturday come up to town. and ! do
not Intend TO return. Mr.. Carruthers
has got trap. and SO the dangers OF
the lonely road. IL there ever were any
dangers, are now over.
As TO the special cause OF my Ieav-
Ing. II Is not merely the strained situa-
ton with Mr.. Carruthers, but n r. the
reappearance OF that odious man. Mr..
Wocdley. He was always hideous. but
he looks more awful than ever now.
for he appears to have had an acct
dent, and he Is much disfigured. saw
him out OF the window. but am glad
TO say did not meet him. He had a
long talk with Mr. Carruthers. who
seemed much excited afterward. Wood
ley must be staying in the neighbor-
hood. for he did not sleep here. and
yet ] caught a glimpse OF him again
this morning sinking ahouf I'm fbe