The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1912-11-15
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and he had, I remember, conceived
the idea that it was akin to the Chal-
dean, and had been largely derived
from the Phoenician traders in tin.
He had received a consignment of
books upon philology and was set
thing down to develop this thesis.
when suddenly to my sorrow, and to
his unfeigned delight. we found our
selves, even in that land Of dreams,
plunged into a problem at our very
doors which was more intense, more
engrossing. and infinitely more mys-
terious than any Of those which had
driven us from London. Our simple
life and peaceful, healthy routine
were violently interrupted. and we
were precipitated into the midst OF a
series of events which caused the ut
most excitement not only in CORNWALL,
but throughout the whole west OF
England. Many of my readers may re-
tain some recollection of what was
called at the time THE Cornish Hot
ror," though most imperfect account
of the matter reached the London
press Now, after thirteen years,
will give the true details of this incon-
ceivable affair TO- the public.
| have said that scattered towers
marked the villages which dotted this
part of Cornwall. The nearest of these
was the hamlet of Tredannick Wollas,
where the cottages of couple of hun
dred inhabitants clustered round nm
ancient, moss-grown church. The
vicar of the parish, Mr.. RoundEay,
was something of an archaeoiog1st,
and as such Holmes had made his &C
Quaintance. He was a middle-aged
man, portly and affable, with consid-
cradle fund of local lore. At his invi-
tation we had taken tea at the vicar
age, and had come TO know, also, Mr.
Mortimer Tregennis, an independent
gentleman, who increased the cleryg-
mans scanty resources by taking
rooms in his large, struggling house.
The vicar, being bachelor, was glad
to come to such an arrangement,
though he had little in common with
his lodger, who was thin, dark, spec
tacled man, with stoop which gave
the impression of actual physical de-
formity. | remember that during our
short visit we found the vicar garrul-
Gus, but his ledger strangely reticent,
a sad-faced, retrospective man, sit
ting with averted eyes, brooding ap-
parently upon his own affairs.
These were the two men who en-
tered abruptly into our little sitting
room on Tuesday March the 18th,
shortly after our breakfast hour, as
we were smoking together, prepare
tory to our daily excursion upon the
moors.
Mr. Holiness" said the vicar, in an
agitated voice, "the most extraordi-
nary and tragic affair has occurred
during the night. 1t is the most I'M
heard-of business. We can only re-
gard it as a special Providence that
you should chance to be here at the
time, for in all England you are the
one man We need
| glared at the intrusive vicar with
no very friendly eyes; but Holmes
took his pipe from his lips and sat up
in his chair like an old hound who
hears the view-hallo. He waved his
hand to the sofa, and our palpitating
visitor with his agitated companion
sat side by side upon it. Mr.. Mortl-
mer Tregennis was more self-con-
tanned than the clergyman, but the
twitching of his thin hands and the
brightness of his dark eyes showed
40 EI+bo1, CT, n rod :, common emotion
Ssh, weak or you?" he asked OF