Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-01

seen or heard anything since then to throw
any light upon what became of him"
TT seems to me that you have been very
shamefully treated" said Holmes.
ooh no, sir! He was too good and kind
to leave me so. Why all the morning he
was saying to me that, whatever happened
was to be true; and that II even some
thing quite unforeseen occurred to sepa-
rate us, l was always to remember that
was pledged to him, and that he would
claim his pledge sooner or later. 1t seemed
strange talk for wedding morning. but
what has happened since gives a meaning
to it,"
Most certainly It does. Your own
opinion is, then, that some unforeseen ca
tastrophe has occurred to him?"
yes, sir. 1 believe that he foresaw
some danger, or else he would not have
talked so. And then 1 think that what
he foresaw happened"
but you have no notion as to what 1t
could have been?"
None"
zone more question. How did your
mother take the matter?'
"She was angry, and said that was
never to speak of the matter again"
And your father? Did you tell him?'
Eyes; and he seemed to think, with me,
that something had happened, and that
should hear of Hosmer again. As he said,
what interest could any one have in bring
ing me to the doors of the church and then
leaving me? Now, II he had borrowed my
money, or II he had married me and got my
money settled on him, there might be some
reason but Hosmer was very independent
about money and never would look at a
shilling of mine. And yet, what could have
happened? And why could he not write?
Oh, It drives me half mad to think of, and
can't sleep a wink at night" She pulled
a little handkerchief out of her nun and
began to sob heavily into it.
IT shall glance into the case for you"
said Holmes, rising, and I have no doubt
that we shall reach some definite result.
Let the weight of the matter rest upon me
now, and do not let your mind dwell upon
it further. Above all, try to let Mr.. Hos
mer Angel vanish from your memory, as
he has done from your life"
Then you don't think I'll see him
again?"
IT fear not"
"Then what has happened to him?"
you will leave that question in my
hands I should like accurate descrip-
ton of him, and any letters of his which
you can spare"
Il advertised for him In last Saturdays
Chronicle" said she, Here is the slip and
here are four letters from him."
THANK you. And your address,"
mo 81 Lyon Place, Camberwell."
Mr.. Angels address you never had, 1
understand. Where is your fathers place
of business?"
He travels for westhouse & Marbank,
the great claret importers OF Fenchurch
street."
THANK you. You have made your state
ment very clearly. You will leave the
papers here, and remember the advice
which have given you. Let the whole in
cident be sealed book. and do not allow
1t to affect your life"
you are very kind. Mr.. Holmes, but I
cannot do that. / shall be true to Hosmer
He shall find me ready when he comes
back"
For all the preposterous hat and the
vacuous face there was something noble
in the simple faith of our visitor which
compelled our respect She laid her little
bundle of papers upon the table and went
her way, with a promise to come again
whenever she might be summoned.
Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few min
utes with his finger tips still prersed to-
gether, his legs stretched out in cont Of
him and his gaze directed upward to the
ceiling. Then he took down from the rack
the old and oily-clay pipe, which was TO
him as a counsellor. and having lit It,
he leaned back in his chair, with the thick
blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him
and a look of infinite languor in his face.
quite an interesting study, that
maiden" he observed. 81 found her more
interesting than her little problem, which,
by the way is rather trite one. You will
find parallel cases II you consult my in
dex In Andeavor in II, and there was
something of the sort at The Hague last
year. Old as is the idea. however, there
were one or two details which were new %
me. But the maiden herself was most in-
structive."
You appeared to read a good deal upon
her which was quite Invisible to me-"
remarked.
mot invisible. but unnoticed. Watson
You did not know where TO look, and Sc
you missed ali that was important
can never bring you to realize the impor-
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