The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-05

race L. ,S
me, it was a great deal to me just to
see her dainty form about the house,
and to hear the sound of her voice"
"Well, said I, you call that love,
Mr.. Carruthers, but 1 should call IL
selfishness.'
Maybe the two things go together. |
Anyway, 1 couldn't let her go. Be
sides, with this crowd about, 1t was
we'll that she should have some one
near to look after her. Then, when
the cable came, 1 knew they were
bound to make a move"
What cable?"
Carruthers took a telegram from |
his pocket.
That's it," said he.
It was short and concise:-
1.-THE old man is dead"
"Hum!" said Holmes. IT think ]
see how things worked, and | can un-
derstand how this message would, as |
you say, bring them to head. But |
while you wait, you might tell me
what you can
The old reprobate with the surplice
burst into volIey of bad language.
by Heaven said he, IF you
ers, I'll serve you as you
served Jack Woodley, You can
bleat about the girl to your hearts
content, for that's your own affair,
but if you round on your pals to this
plain-clothes copper, it will be the
worst days work that ever you did"
your reverence need not be eX-
cited" said Holmes, lighting cigar
cite. 1.-THE case is clear enough against
YOU. and all ask is a few details for
my private curiosity. However, II
there's any difficulty in your telling
me, I'll do the talking, and then you
will see how far you have chance OF
holding back your secrets. In the first
place. three of you came from South
Africa on this game-you Williamson
YOU Carruthers, and Woodley.
Gle number one" said the old
man; 81 never saw either of them uII>
til two months ago, and have never
been in Africa in my life, so you can
put that in your pipe and smoke II,
Mr.. Busybody Holiness
what he says is true" said Car
ruthers.
''Weli, well, two of you came over.
His reverence is our own home mace
article. You had known Ralph Smith
in South Africa. You had reason 10
believe he would not live long. GU
found out that his niece would inherit
his fortune. Hows that-eh z"
Carruthers nodded and Williamson
"She was next of kin, no doubt. and
YOU were aware that the old Fellow
| would make no Will"
couldn't read or write said Car
ruthers,
$50 you came over the two of you,
and hunted up the girl. The idea was
that one of you was to marry her'
and the other have share of the
plunder For: some reason, Woodley.
| was chosen as the husband. Why was
| that2"
1--WE played cards for her on the
voyage. He won"
az see. You got the young lady into
your service. and there Woodley was
| to do the counting. She recognised
| the drunken brute that he was, and
would have nothing to do with him.
| Meanwhile, your arrangement was
| rather upset by the fact that you had
yourself fallen in love with the lady.
| You could no longer bear the idea OF
| this rufffan owning her.?
| "No. by George, I.couldn't!"
| "There was a quarrel between you.
| He left you in a rage, and began to
| make his own plans independently of
| YOU"
at strikes me, Williamson, there
| isn't very much that we can tell this
| gentleman" cried Carruthers, with q
! bitter laugh Eyes, we quarrelled, and
!
with him on that, anyhow. Then 1
| lost sight of him. That was when he
| picked up with this cast padre here.
| | found that they had set up house,
/ keeping together at this place on the
| line that she had to pass for the sta
| ton. / kept my eye on her after that
| for I knew there was some deViltry
| in the wind l saw them from time to
| time, for l was anxious to know what
| they were after Two days ago Wood
| ley came up to my house with this
| cable, which showed that Ralph Smith
/ was dead. He asked me if | would
| stand by the bargain. [ said | would
not. He asked me if 1 would marry
| the girl myself, and give him share.
| | said l would willingly do so, but that
| she would not have me. He said, Let
us get her married first and after d
| week or two she may see things a bit
| different / said / would have Moth
/ ing to do with violence. So he went
off cursing like the foul-mouthed
| blackguard that he was, and swearing
| that he would have her yet. She was
leaving me this weekend, and / had
got trap to take her to the station,
but I was so uneasy in my mind that
| I followed her on my bicycle. She had
got a start, howevr, and before l could
| catch her, the mischief was done. The
| first thing I knew about 1T was when
| saw you two gentlemen driving back
| in her dog-cart."
Holmes rose and tossed the end of
his cigarette into the crate. 81 have
been very obtuse, Watson" said he.
| when in your report you said that
you had seen the cyclist as you thought
arrange his necktie in the shrubbery,
| that alone should have told me all.
| However, we may congratulate our
selves upon q curious and, in some re-
| spects, a unique case. 1 perceive three
| of the county constabulary if the
| drive, and / am glad to see that the
little ostler is able to keep pace with
them, SO it is likely that neither he
nor the interesting bridegroom will be
permanently damaged by their morn
ings adventures. I think, Watson,
that in your medical capacity, you
might wait upon Miss Smith and tell
her that if she is sufficiently recovered,
| we shall be happy to escort her to her
| mothers home. If she is not quite
| convalescent, you will find that a
hint that we were about to telegraph
to a young electrician in the Midlands
would probably complete the cure. AS
to YOU Mr. CarrutherS, / think that