The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-17

5iinrinIninnmIanuululni
But Why Turkish" asked Mr. Sher-
lock Holmes, gazing fixedly at my
boots. was reclining in a cane
backed chair at the moment, and my
protruded feet had attracted his ever
active attention.
English" | answered, in some sur
prise. 81 got them at Latimer's, in
Oxford Street"
Holmes smiled with an expression
of weary patience.
The bath" he said; "the bath!
Why the relaxing and expensive
Turkish rather than the invigoraiing
homemade article?"
Because for the last few days
have been feeling rheumatic and old.
Turkish bath is what we call an
alternative in medicine fresh start
ing-point, a cleanser of the system.
''You say that you have had it be-
cause you need a change. Let me
suggest you take one. How would
Lausanne do, my dear Watson-first-
class tickets and all expenses paid on
a princely scale?"
Splendid! But Why"
Holmes leaned back in his arm
chair and took his notebook from
his pocket.
"One of the most dangerous classes
in the world" he said lis drifting
and friendless woman. She is a stray
chicken in a world of foxes. When
she is gobbled up she is hardly
missed. l much fear that some evil
has come to Lady Frances Carfax.
l was relieved at this sudden de-
scent from the general to the par
ticular Holmes consulted his notes.
Lady Frances he continued, rs
the sole survivor of the direct fam
lily of the late Earl of Rufton. The
estate went, as you remember, IN
the male line. She was left with
limited means, but with some very
remarkable old Spanish jewelry OF
silver and curiously-cut diamonds to
which she was fondly attached-too
attached. for she refused to leave
them with her banker and always
carried them about with her.
rather pathetic figure, the Lady Fran
ces a beautiful woman, still in fresh
middle age. and yet, by strange
chance, the last derelict of what only
twenty years ago was goodly fleet.
what has happened to her, then!
"Ah, what has happened to the
Lady Frances? Is she alive or dead
There is our problem. She is lady
of precise habits, and for four years
il has been her invariable custom to
write every second week to Miss
Dobney. her old governess, who has
long retired. and lives in Gambler.
well 1t is this Miss Dobney who has
consulted me. Nearly five weeks have
passed without a word. The last let
fer was from the Hotel National al
Lausanne"
Us Miss Dobney the only source OF
information? Surely she had othesl
correspondents?
There is one correspondent who Is
sure draw, Watson That Is the
bank. Single ladies must live, anc
their pass books are compressed dla
ries. She banks at Silvester's- l have
glanced over her account. The las
check but one paid her bill at Lausan
ne. but it was a large one and probao
lv left her with cash in hand. Onl.
one check has been drawn since.
ITO whom, and where?
"To Miss Marie Devine. There L
nothing to show where the checi
was drawn. It was cashed at tn
Credit Lyonnais at Montpelier les
than three weeks ago. Miss Mari
Devine was the maid of Lady France
Carfax. Why she should have pal
her this check We have not vet deter
mined. | have no doubt, however
that your researches will soon clea
the matter up.
my researches"
offence the health-giving exped
ton to Lausanne. You know that
cannot possibly leave London Will
did Abrahams is in such mortal te
ror of his life Besides, on geners
nrinciples, it is best that / should ne
leave the country. Scotland Var
feels lonely without me, and 1t cause
an unhealthy excitement among tn
criminal classes. Go, then. my dea
Watson. and if my humble couns'
can ever be valued at so eXtravagaT
a rate as two pence word, 1t wall
your disposal night and day to tn
end of the Continental wire.
Two DAYS later found me at tt
National Hotel at Lausanne, where
received every courtesy at the hane
Of NJ. Moser, the wel[known man
ger Lady Frances, as he informe
me. had stayed there for sever
weeks. She had been much liked
all who met her. Her age was NJ
more than fOrIE- oue was sun nan
some, and bore every sign Of havlr
in her youth been very i've
woman. NJ. Moser knew nothing
any valuable jewelry, but it had bee
remarked by the servants that Il
heavy trunk in the lady's bedroo
was always scrupulously locke
Marie Devine, the maid, was as pc
ular as her mistress, She was act
ally engaged to one of the head wa
ers in the hotel, and there was
difficulty in getting her address.
was II. Rue de Trajan. Montpeli
All this l iotted down, and felt tn
Holmes himself could not have be-
more adroit in collecting his facts.
Only one corner still remained
the shadow. No light which | pc
sessed could clear up the cause I
the lady's sudden departure. 5
was very happy at Lausanne. the
was every reason to believe that
intended to remain for the season
her luxurious rooms overlooking I
lake. And yet she had left at slne
DAVIS notice. which involved her
the useless payment of a weeks re-
Only Jules Wharf, the lover OF I
maid. had any suggestion TO OH
He connected the sudden departu
With the visit TO the hotel day
80 before Of a tall dark, beard