The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-11-25

that Holiness iron constitution |
showed some symptoms of giving way |
in the face OF constant hard work OF
a most exciting kind, aggravated per-
haps by occasional indiscretion of his |
own. In March of that year DR.. Moore |
Agar, of Harley Street, gave positive
injunctions that the famous private
agent would lay aside all his cases and
surrender himself to complete rest if
he wished to avert an absolute break
down. Thus 1t was that in the early
spring of that year we found our
selves together in small cottage near
Poldhu Bay at the further extremity
of the Cornish peninsula.
1t was singular spot, and one Pc
culiarly well suited to the grim humor
of my patient From the windows Of
our little white-washed house, which
stood high upon a grassy headland, we
looked down upon the whole sinister
semi-circle of Mounts Bay, that old
death trap of sailing vessels with its
fringe of black cliffs and surge-swept
reefs on which innumerable seamen
have met their end.
On the land side our surroundings
we're as sombre as on the sea. 1t
was a country of rolling moors, lonely
ind dun-colored, with an occasional
church tower to mark the site of some
old-world village. In every direction
upon these moors there were traces
OF some vanished race which had pas
sed utterly away, and left as its sole
record strange monuments Of stone,
irregular mounds which contained the
burned ashes of the dead, and curious
earthworks which limited at prehistoric
strife. The glamor and mystery OF the
place with it's sinister atmosphere Of
forgotten nations, appealed to the i'm
agination of my friend. The ancient
Cornish language had also arrested
his attention, and he had, / remember,
conceived the idea that 1t was akin to
the Chaldean, and had been largely
derived from the Phoenician traders
in tin.
/ have said that scattered towers
marked the villages which dotted this
part Of Cornwall. The nearest Of these
was the hamlet of Treadannick Wollas,
where the cottages Of couple of hun
dred inhabitants clustered round an
ancient moss-grown church. The
vicar of the parish, Mr. Roundhay, was
something of an archaeologist, and as
such Holmes made his acquaintance.
At his invitation we had taken tea at
the vicarage, and had come to know
also, Mr.. Mortimer Tregennis, an in
dependent gentleman, who increased
the clergyman's scanty resources by
taking rooms in his large, straggly
house. The vicar, being bachelor,
was glad to come to such an arrange
ment, though he had little in common
with his ledger, who was a thin, dark,
specialized man, with a stoop which
gave the impression of actual physical
deformity.
These were the two men who en-
tered abruptly into our little sitting
room on Tuesday, March the 18th.
Mr.. Holmes" said the vicar, in an
Rgitated voice, ''the most extraordinary
and tragic affair has occurred during
the night. 1t is the most unheard-of
business. / may explain that our
friend here spent last evening in the
company of his two brothers, Owen
and George, and>of his sister Brenda,
at their house of Tredannick Wartha
which is near the old stone cross upon
the moor. He left them shortly after
ten o'clock, playing cards round the
dining room table, in excellent health
and spirits. This morning, being an
early riser, he walked in that direc
taken by the carriage of DIR. Richards
1 who explained that he had just beer
sent for on a most urgent call to Ire
dannick Wartha. Mr. Mortimer Ire
gennis naturally went with him. Wher
he arrived at Tredannick Wartha he
found an extraordinary state o.
things. His two brothers and his sis
ter were seated round the table exact
ly as he had left them, the cards still
spread in front of them and the can
dies burned down to their sockets
The sister lay back stone-dead in he
chair, while the two brothers sat OF
sarh side of her laughing, shouting ant
singing, the senses stricken clean on
Of them. All three of them, the deaC
woman and the two demented men
retained upon their faces an expires
sion of utmost horror-a convulsion o
Terror which was dreadful to look VI
on. There was no house, except Mrs
Of anyone in the house, except Mrs
Porter. the old cook and housekeeper
who declared that she had slept deer
~ and heard no sound during tn
night. There is the situation, MI
Holmes, in nutshell, and if you cal
help us to clear it up you will hay
done a great work"
Il VIII look into this matter, H0
mes said at last ION the face of 1t, ]
would appear to be case of a very e1
ceptional nature How far is it t
The house where this singular TRACED
occurred?"
About a mile inland"
Then we shall walk over together
But, before We start, l must ask 70
a few questions, Mr. Mortimer Trt
gennis. Tell me about last night"
We'll, Mr. Holmes, l supped Their,
as the vicar has said, and my eide
. brother George proposed a game {
y whist afterwards. We sat down abor
nine O'Clock. 1t was a quarter pas
ten when l moved to go. left thel
all around the table, as merry as coul
be-"
who let you out?'
Mrs. Porter had gone to bed, so
let myself out. l shut the hall doc
behind me. The windows of the roo
in which they sat were closed. but til
blinds were not draWp down"
"The facts as you state them, al
certainly most remarkable" sat
Holmes
"As to yourself. Mr.. Tregennis,