The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-09-13
xlI.-THE ADVENTURE OF THE
ARRE GRAhiHE Hosta.

ABBEY GRANGE-Continued.
Yes, sir, 1t IS true that he threw thu
decanter at me. / heard him call my
mistress a name. and l told him tina
he would not dare to speak so if hel
brother had been there. Then it was
that he threw it at me. He might have
thrown a dozen if he had but left my
bonny bird lone. He was forever il
treating her, and she too proud to com,
plain. h will not even tell me al
tina he has done to her. She never
told me of those marks on her arm that
you saw this morning, but l know very
well that they come from a stab with
a hatpin. The sly devil-God forgive
me h a I should speak of him SO, 0
that he is dead! But a devil he was. il
ever one walked the earth. He was al
honey when we first met him-oniy
eighteen months ago, and we boil feel
as If it We're eighteen years. She had
only just arrived in London. Yes. it
was her first ~voyagc-she had never
been from home before. He won her
with his title and his money and his
false London ways. If she mad a mis-
take she was paid for it, if ever a wom-
an Gid. What month did we meet him?
Well, l tell you it vas just after we
arrived. We arrived in June, and it was
July. They were married in January
of last year. Yes, she is down in the
morning room again. and l have no
CUB She will see you. but you must
not ask too muc of her, for she has
gone through all hat flesh and blood
will stand"
Lady Brackenstall was reclining on
the same couch, but rocked brighter
than before. The maid had en-
tered with us, and began cnce more to
fomeEt h brlise upon her mistress
brow.
Il hope" said the lady, that you
have not cO1ne to cross exami:.. me
again."
No" Holmes answered, in his
gentlest voice, It will not cause you
any unnecessary trouble, Lady Brack-
e%nstall, and my whole desire is to make
things easy for you for I am con-
WINGED that o are u much tried wom-
an. If o will treat me as a friend
and trust NE, you may find that l will
justify your trust"
What do you want me to do?"
"To tell me the truth"
Mr.. Holmes!"
NO, no, Lady B~rackenstall- it is no
use. You nay have heard of any lit
tie reputation which l possess. I will
stake it all on the fact that your story
is an absolute fabrication"
Mistress and maid were both staring
at Holmes with pale faces and fright
ened eyes.
You are an inpudent fellow" cried
Theresa. DO you mean to say that
mistress has told a lie?"
Holmes rose from his chair.
Have you nothing to tell?"
II have told you everything."
Think once more Lady B~rackenstall.
Would it not be better to be frank?"
For an instant there was hesitation
In her beautiful face. Their some new
strong thought caused it to set like a
mask.
IT have told you all I know"
Holmes took his hat and shrugged
his shoulders. Il am sorry" he said,
and without another word we left the
room and the house. There was a pond
in the park. and to this my friend led
the way. 1t was frozen over, but a
single hole was left for the convenience
of a solitary swan. Holmes gazed at
1t, and Their passed on to the lodge
gat. Then he scribbled a short note
for Stanley Hopkins, and left it with
the lodgekeeper.
1T may be a hit. or it may be a miss,
friend Hopkins, just to justify his sec
ond visit" said he. II will not quite take
him into my confidence yet. 1 think
our next scene of operations must be
the shipping office of the Adelaide
southampton line, which stands at the
end Of Pail Mall, if 1 remember right.
There is a second line of steamers
which connect. South Australia with
England, but we will draw the larger
cover first"
Holmes card sent in to the manager
ensured instant attention, and he was
not long in acquiring all the informa-
ton needed. In June of '95, only one
of their line had reached a home port.
1t was the Rock Of Gibraltar, their
largest n best boat. A reference to
the passenger list showed that Miss
Fraser, of Adelaide, with her maid had
made the voyage in her. The boat was
now on her way to Australia somewhsre
in the south of the Suez canal. Her
officers were the same as in '95, with
n exception. The first officer, Mr..
Jack Croker, had been made a cap
tain, and was to take charge of their
new ship, The Bass Rock. sailing in two
days time from Southampton. He
lived at Sydenham, but he was likely to
be IN rnat morning for instructions. if
we cared to wait for him.
No: MI. Holmes had no desire to see
him, but woul be glad to know more
about his record and character.
Ills record was magnificent. There
was not an officer in the fleet to touch
him. AS to his character, he was re-
on duty, but a wild, desperate
1SilOW Ol lie Q6CR OF his -
headed, e%xcitable, but loyal, honest and
kind hearted. That was the pith of the
information with which Holmes left
the office of the Observation-Disclosures
company. Thence he drove to Scotland
Yard, but, instead of entering he sat
in his cab with his brows drawn down,
lost In profound thought. Finally he
drove round to the Charing Cross tele-
graph office. sent off a message, and
then, at last, we made for Baker street
once more.
mo, I couldn't do it. watson said
he, as we re-entered u room. Once
that warrant was made out, nothing on,
earth could save him. Once or twice
IN my career I feel that I have done
more real harm by my discovery of
the criminal than ever he had done by
MS crime. I have learned caution now,
and I had rather play tricks with the
law Of England than with my W con-
science. Let us know a little more
before we act"
Before evening, we had a visit from
Inspector Stanley Hopkins. Things
We're not going well with him.
i pciisve you a Mr..
Holmes. I really do sometimes think
that You have powers that areznot4 hui
man. Now, how on earth could you
know that the stolen silver was at the
bottom OF that pond?"
II didn't know It."
But you told me to examine IT."
You got it, them"
3Es ~. -