The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-11-24
The Greek Interpreter
BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
with The Mcclure NeMspaper Syndicate.

These are samples of the questions
and answers which made up our
strange half-spoken. half-wTitten con-
versation. Again and again | had to
ask him whether he would give in and
sign the documents. Again and again
/ had the same indignant reply. But
soon happy thought came to me. |
took to adding on little sentences Of
my own to each question, innocent
ones at first, to test whether either of
our companions knew anything of the
matter, and then, as | found that they
showed no sign | played a more dan
gerous game Our conversation ran
something like this:
You can do no good by this OBJ
stinacy Who are you?
II care not I am a stranger in
London
Your fate will be on your own
head How long have you been here
Let it be so. Three weeks.
The property can never be yours.
What ails YOU
1T shall not go to villains. They
are starving me.
You shall go free if you sign. What
house is this?
VII uGF CT Sigh tlO llJl hllON
You are not doing her any service.
What is your Nance
Let me hear her say SO. kratides.
You shall see her if you sign.
Where are you from
Then l shall never see her.
Athens
Another five minutes, Mr.. Holmes,
and I should have wormed out the
fhaiT.
Ny very mex question might have
cleared the matter up. but at that in
slant the door opened and a woman
stepped into the room l could not see
her clearly enough to know more than
nat she was tall and graceful. with
black hair, and clad in some sort OF
loose white gown.
Harold said she. speaking Eng
lish with a broken accent. 1 could not
STAY away longer. It : so lonely UP
there with only-Oh, my God, it is
Paul
These last words were in Greek
and at the same instant the man with
p conclusive effort tore the plaster
from his lips. and screaming on
Sophy' rushed into the woman
arms Their embrace was but for ar
instant, however lbI ZIG 9OAAc SOL AiieA 4
seized the woman and pushed her out
Of the room, While the elder easlI!
oyerpowered his emaciated victim, and
dragged him away through the other
door. For a moment | was left alone
in the room, and | spranS TO my zee
with some vague idea that l might II
some way get a clue to what THIS mouse
was in which | found myself. Fortu
no
looking up | saw that the older mar
was standing in the doorway win Ms
eyes tiXed upon me.
THAT will do. Mr.. Melas, said he
You perceive that we have taken you
into our confidence over some yer!
private business. We should not have
trouble you, only that our friend Wh'
speaks Greek and who began these ne
gotiations has been forced to return
20 the East. 1t was quite neCessar!
for US to find some one to take MI
place. and We were fortunate in hear
ing of your powers
There are five sovereigns here
said he, walking up TO me, which VIII
hope, be a sufficient fee. But remem
ber,' he added, tapping me lightly OF
The chest and giggling, if you speal
10 human soul ABOUT lHlS-oHe hu
man soul. mind-well, may God hav
mercy upon your soul"
| cannot tell you the loathing ant
horror with which this insignificant
looking man inspired me. l could Sc
him better now as the lamp-ligh
shone upon him. His features wer
peaky and sallow. and his little point
cd beard was thready and ill-nourish
ed. He pushed his face forward as h
spoke and his lips and eyelids wer
continually twi:ching like a man wit
ST Vitus's dance I could not he'll