The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-04-12

quiries myself"
Next morning we had n note from
Miss Smith. rcCounting shortly and ac-
Curutcly the very Incidents which had
seen. but the pith OF the letter lay In
the postscript:
Il am sure that you will respect my
confidence. Mr. Holmes. when tell you
that my place here has become difficult.
owing To the fact that my employer
has proposed marriage to me. 1 am
convinced that his feelings are most
deep and most honorable. At the same
time. my promise II 81 course given.
He took my refusal very seriously. but
also very gently. You can understand.
however. that the situation Is a little
strained"
"Our young friend seems 90 be get
ting into deep waters" said Holmes,
thoughtfuIly. az he finished the letter.
The case certainly presents more
features OF interest and more POSSIBLE
lily OF development than had original
~ thought. I should be none the worse
for n quiet. peaceful day In the coun-
try. and I arm inclined TO run down this
afternoon and test one or two theories
which I have formed"
Holmes quiet day In the country had
n singular termination. for he arrived
1T Baker street late I'm the evening.
with n cut lip and n discolored lump
upon his forehead. besides n general
air OF dissipation which would have
made his own person the fittlng object
OF Scotland Yard investigation. He
was immensely ticklcd by his own ad-
ventures. and laughed heartily as he re-
counted them.
II get so little active exercise that
u IL always "A treat" said he. You are
aware that I have aome proficiency In
a. ..V Nna
Occasionally. IL Is OF service: today. for
example. I should have come To very
ignominlous grief without H."
bcggs "a him TO tell me what had oc-
Cured
Il found that country pub which
had already recommended To your mo-
ticc. and there I made my discreet In
quiries. was I'm the bar. and n garru-
lous landlord was giving me all that
I wanted. Williamson is white
bearded man. and he lives alone with
a small stan or servants nj the hall.
There IL some rumor that he IL or mas
been "A clergyman. but one or two Incl
dents OF his short residence nj the hall
struck me as peculiarly unecclcsiastl-
cal. I have already made some In
quries ut a clerical agency. and they
tell me that there was man or that
name In orders. whose carce: has been
n singularly dark one. The landlord
further Informed inc that there are
usually week end Yisitorr-'a warm lot.
sir'-at the hall. and especially one
gentleman with red mustache. Mr..
Woodlcy by name. who was always
there. We had got rs far rs this, when
who should walk In but the gentleman
himself. who had been drinking his
beer In the tap room and had heard
the whole conversation. Who was II
what did ! want" What did l mean
by asking questions? He had fine
flow OF language. and his adJectives
were very vigorous. He ended string
OF abuse by vicious back handler.
which I failed To entirely avoid. The
next few minutes were delicious. IL
was n straight left against a slogging
ruffinn. I emerged as you sec me. Mr..
woodley went homo ia cart. so end
ed my country trip, and IL must be
confessed that, however enjoyable, my
day on the Surrey border has not been
much moro profitable than your own"
The Thursday brought us another
letter from our client
You will not be surprised Mr..
Holmes" said she, ito hear that l am
leaving Mr.. Carruthers' employment.
Even the high pay cannot reconcile mo
To the discomforts OF my situation. on
Saturday come up TO town. and l do
not intend to return. Mr., Carruthers
has got n trap. and 80 the dangers OF
the lonely road, II there ever were any
dangers. are now over.
AS to the special cause OF my leav-
ing. IL IL not merely the strained situ-
alton with Mr.. CarTuthcrs. but IL II
the temperance OF that odious man.
Mr.. woodlcy. lie was always hideous,
but he looks more awful than ever
now. for he appears To have had an
accident. and he II much disflgured. /
saw him out Of the window, but i am
glad To say did not meet him. He
had n long talk with MIR. Carruthers.
who seemed much excited afterwards.
woodley must bc staying In the neigh
borhood. for he did not sleep here. and
yet l caught glimpse OF him again
this morning. sinking about in the
shrubbery. would sooner have a
savage wild animal loose about the
place. loathc and fear him more than
I can say. How can Mr.. Carruthers
endure such "a creature for moment
However. all my troubles Will be over
on Saturday"
so I trust. Watson. so I trust" said
Holmes gravciy There In some deep
intrigue going on around that little
woman. and Il L. our duty To see that
no one molests her upon that last
Journey. I think, Watson. that we
must spare time Ia run down together
on Saturday morning. and make sure
that this curious and inclusive investI-
CATION has no untoward ending"
(continusd Next Week.