The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-06-17
TODAY'S INSTAIMENT.

'tBut a terrible change came over | our stepfather about this time" went | friends and exchanging visits with | our neighbOrs. who had at first been | Overjoyed tC see a ROylott of stoke Moran back in the old family seat | he shut himself up in his house, and seldom came out save to indulge in ferociouS Quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper approaching to mania has
 family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series
 of disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the police court, utnil at last he became the terror of the village, and the folks would fly at his approach. for he is a man of immense strength, and absolutely uncomfortable in his anger.
 Hast week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which ] could gather together that was able 10 avert another public exposure. He had no friends at all save the wan
 dering gypsies, and he would give these vagabonda leave to encaInp upon the few acres of bramble-cOV- cred land which represent the fam fly estate, and would accept in return
 the hospitality of their tents. wan dering away with them sometimes weeks also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a babOOn, which wander freely over his grounds, and are feared by the villagers almost as much as thelr master.
 "You can imagine from what I say
 that my poor sister Julia and l had
 no great pleasure in our lives. No
 servant would stay with us, and for a x1-o q a the house. She was but thirty at the time of her death. and yet her hair
 had already begun to whiten. even
 as mine has"
 Your sister is dead. then?"
 'She died just two years ago, and
 it is of her death that l wish to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I have
 described, we were little likely to see
 any one of our own age and position.
 We had, however, an aunt, my
 mothers maiden sister, Miss HOnor1a
 Westphau, who lives near Harrow, and we were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's house.
 Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there halt-pay
 major of marines. to whom she be- came engaged. My stepfather learn ed of the engagement when my sister returned. and offered no objection to the marriage: but within fortnlght of the day which had been fixed for the wedding. the terrible event oc- cured which has deprived me of my only companion
 Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed and his head sunk in a. cushion, but he half opened his lids now and glanced across at his visitor.
 'Pray be precise as to details said he.
 'eIt is easy for me to do so, for every event of that dreadful time is scared into my memory. The manor house is, as I have already said, very old. and only cs:e wing is now inhaIb- tied. The bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms the first is pr. Roylott's, the second my sisters, and the third my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open out into the same corridor. Do l make myself plain?"
 'oThe windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn That fatal room early, though we knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom to smoke. She letf her room, therefore and came into mine, where she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding At eleven O oclock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and looked back
 Tell me, Helen said she. have you ever heard any one whistle in the dead of the night?'
 Never said I.
 T suppose thaE you could not pos sibIy whistle, yourself, in your sleep?'
 Certainly not But why?
 " Because during the last few nights I have always about three in the morning, heard a low, clear whis- tie. I am a light sleeper. and it has thing that win make our work bet ter. we shall in all probability. ac-