Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-09-06
xI.-THE ADVENTURE OF THE
MISSING THREE-QUARTER.-
Continued.

A woman. young and beautiful, was ly,
Ing dead upon the bed. Her calm, pale
face. with dim. wiie-opened blue eyes
looked upwards from amid "A great tangit
of golden hair. AT the foot of the bed, hall
sitting. half kneel.ng. his face buried il
thc clothes. was a young man. whose
frame was rackcd by his sObs. So alb.
sorbo . was he by his Bit grief, that he
never looked up until Holmes hand was
on his shoulder.
Are you MIR. Godfrey Staunton?"
Yes. yes. l am-but you gre too late.
She is dead"
The man was so dazed that he could no,
be made TO understand that We were any
thing but doctors who had been sent 10
his assistance. Holmes was endeavor!ns
10 utter a few words of consolation, and
to explain the alarm which had been
caused TO his friends by his sudden disap-
poarancc, when there was a step upon the
stairs. and there was the heavy. stern,
questioning face OF Or. Armstrong at the
door.
so. gentlemen" said he. you have at
tanned your end, and have certainly chosen
a particularly delicate moment for your
intrusion. | would not brawl in the pres
ence of death. hut | can assure you that
If / were "A younger man your monstrous
conduct would not pass with impunity.'
Excuse me, Or. Armstrong;. | think we
~ IL 4 At 0IoSS-RuI POSES, sdll my
friend. with dignity. "lf you could step
downstairs with us. we may each be able
to give some light to the other upon this
miserable affair."
y minute later. the grim doctor and
ourselves We're in the sitting room below.
We'll, s.r?' said he.
II wish You to understand in the frs,
place, that | am not employed by Lord
Mount-Ja.nos. and that my sympathies
In this matter are entirely nuuinSt fhnt
nobleman. When a man is lost it is my
duty TO ascertain his fate, but having done
30 the matter ends so far as l am COR
cerned, and so long as there Is nothing
criminal, L am much more nx.ou to
hush up private scandals than to give
them publicity. If. as | imagine. there is
no breach of the law in this matter, You
can absolutely depend upon my discretion
and my cooperation in keeping the facts
out OF the papers,"
DR.. Armstrong took a quick step forward
and wrung Holmes by the hand.
You are a good fellow" said he. al
had misjudgcd you. i thank heaven that
my conjunction at leaving poor Stanton
all alone in this plight caused me to turn
my carriage back. and so to make your
acquaintance. knowing as much as you
do, the situation is very easily explained.
A year ago Godfrey Staunton lodsod'in
London for a time, and became Passion
ately attached to his laL..ady's %,iaughter.
whom he married. She was $ good as she
was beautiful, and as intelligent as She
was good. No man need be ashamed Of
such a wife. But Godfrey was the heir
to this grabbed old noblcman. and il was
quite certain that the news cf lis mar lag
would have been the end of his inheri-
lance. l knew the lad well. and loved
him for his many excellent qualities. |
did all l could to help him to keep things
.-:-f ~. IA 800. 49,.
thing from everyone. for. when once such
q whisper gets about. it IS not long before
everyone has heard it. Thanks TO this
lonely cottage and his own discretion.
Godfrey has up to now succeeded. Their
secret was known to no one save to me
and to one excellent servant. who has at
present gone for assistance to ~Trilmping-
ton. But at last there came a terrific
blow in the shape of dangerous illness TO
his wife. 1t was consumption of the most
virulent kind. The poor boy was haif
crazed with grief. and yet he had to go
to london to play this match. for he
could not get out of 1t without o%Nplana-
tons which would expose his secret.
tried to cheer him up by wire. and he
sent me one in reply, imploring M to do
all / could. This was the telegram which
you appear in some incXpiiceble way TO
have seen. / did not tell him how urgent
the danger was. for | know that he could
do no good here, but | sent the truth 20
the girls father. and he very injudiciously
communicated 1t to Godfrey. The result
was that he came straight away in a state
bordering on frenzy. and has remained
In the same state. kneelinE at the end Of
her bed. until this morning death put an
end to her sufferings. That is all. Mr..
Holmes. and l am sure that | can rely
upon your discretion and that of your
friend"
Holmes grasped the doctors hand.
Come. Watson" said he. and we passed
from that house of grief into the ,m.e
sunlight of the winter day.