The Washington herald., 1912-04-07


tlest voice 81 will not cause you any un-
necessary trouble, Lady Brackenstall,
and my whole desire is to make things
easy for you, for / am convinced that
you are much-tried woman. II you
will treat me as friend and trust me,
you may find. that | will justify your
trust"
What do you want me to do?"
ITO tell me the truth"
Mr.. Holmes"
mo, no. Lady Brackenstall-it is no
use. You may have heard of any little
reputation which | possess. ] 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 impudent fellow p cried
Theresa. DO you mean to say that my
mistress has told lie?"
Holmes rose from his chair.
Have you nothing to tell me-"
Il have told you everything"
Think once more, Lady Bracken-
stall. Would it not be better TO be
frank"
For an instant there was hesitation in
her beautiful face. Then some new
strong thought caused it to set like a
mask.
Il have told you all ] 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 sim
gle hole was left for the convenience of
solitary swan. Holmes gazed at it,
IL, a. ahA ll1r fYat
There he scrbbled short note for
Stanley Hopkins, and left it with the
lodge-keeper.
1T may be hit, or it may be a miss,
but we are bound to do something for
friend Hopkins, just to justify this sec
ond visit" said he. Il will not quite
take him into my confidence yet.
think our next scene of operations must
be the shipping Office of the Adelaide
Southampton line, which stands at the
end of Pail Mall, il remember right.
There is a second line of steamers which
connect South Australia with England,
but we will draw the larger covers first"
Holmes card sent into the manager
insured instant attention, and he was
not long in acquiring all the information
he needed. In June OF os, only one OF
their line had reached home port. II
WAS the NOCk Oh SlDIdlhdi NINl
est and 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 somewhere in
the south Of the Suez Canal. Her Of
fcers were the same as in 'o5, with one
exception. The first officer, Mr.. Jack
Crocker, had been made captain, and
was to take charge of their new ship,
the Bass Rock, sailing in two days time
from Southampton. He lived at Syden-
ham, but he was likely to be in that
morning. for instructions, il we cared
to wait for him.
No: Mr.. Holmes had no desire to see
him, but would be glad to know more
about his record and character.
His record was magnificent. There
was not an officer in the feet TO touch
him. AS to his character, he was reli-
able on duty, but a wild, desperate fel-
low off the deck of his ship-hot-head-
ed, excitable, but loyal, honest, and
kind-hearted. That was the pith Of the
information with which Holmes left the
Office of the Adelaide Southampton COM
pany. 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, couldn't do it, Watson" said
he, as we re-entered our room. Once
that warrant was made out, nothing on
earth would save him. Once or twice in
INV career | feel that have done more
real harm by my discovery of the GRIM
inal than ever he had done by his crime.
! have learned caution ROW, and / had
rather play tricks with the aw of Eng
land than with my own conscience, Let
us know a little more before We act."
Before evening, we had a visit from
Inspector Stanley Hopkins. Things were
not going very we'll with him:
Il believe that you are wizard, Mr..
Holmes. really do sometimes think
that you have powers that are not