Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-13

that this curse had passed away from
the family. and that 1t had ended with
the last generation. ] had begun 10
take comfort too soon, however: ycstcr-
day morning the blow fell in the very
shape in which it had come upon my
father"
The Young man took from his waist
coat crumplcd envelope, and, turning
to the table, he shook out upon u five
little dried orange plps.
This is the envelope" he continued.
THE post-mark is London-castcrn di-
vision. Within are the very words
which were upon my fathers last mes
sage: n. h. n; and Acn Put the
papers on the sundial.'
What have you donc?" asked Holmes.
Nothing"
Nothing"
TO tell the truth"-hc sank his face
into his thin, white hands--'l have felt
helpless. have felt like one oi those
poor rabbits when the snake is writhing
/ towards it, | seem to bc in the grasp
of some rcsiStlcsS. memorable evil, which
no foresight and no precautions can
guard against
Tut. tutr' cried Sherlock Holmcs
"lou must act, man, or YOU are lost.
Nothing hut energy can save you. This
is no time for despair
Il have seen the police"
"Ahr
but they listened to my story with
a smile. | am convinced that the m
spcctor has formed the opinion that the
/ letters are all practical Jokes. and that
the deaths Of my relations wcrc really
accidents as the jury stated, and were
not To bc connected with the warnings -
Holmes shook his clcnchCd hands IN
the air. Incredible imbccility" he
cried.
They have. however. allowed nr a
policeman, who may remain in the
house with me"
Has he come with YOU tonight"
NO. His orders were TO stay in tho
house.
Again Holmes raVCd IN tho air.
why did YOU come to- me- he said.
"and. above all, why did YOU not come
at once
Il did not know. Il was only today
that | spoke To Major rrcndCrgaSt
about my troubles, and was advised 10y
him To come to YOU
1t Is really two DAYS since YOU had
the letter. We should have acted bc-
fore this. You have no further cvi-
dencc, I suppose. than that which YOU
have placed before. us-no suggestive
detail which might help us?'
There Is one thing. sand John Open
shaw. lie rummagcd IN his coat pocket,
and drawing ont a piece of dl>colorCd,
hluC-tmtcd payer. he land II ont upon
the table Il have some remembrance,
SAID hc. that on the day when my
uncle burned the papers ! observed that
the small. unburncd margins Whici
Law amid che ashes were Oi tins par
ticular color | found this single shcC'
upon the floor of his room. and | an
inclined 10 think that II may bc ono O
- the papers which has, perhaps ttittcrc'
out irom among the Others. and IN tina
way have escaped destruction. BcvOn,
% the mention oi pipS, | do not see tina
= IL helps Us much. | think myself tina
n Is a page from some private diary
p Tho writing is undoubtedly my uuclc'S.
lloltlcs moved the lamp, and VIC hotl
+. bent tvcr the sheet Of paper. Whicl
showed hv is ragged edge that It he,
indeed hcCn torn from a book. II wa
q IlAAfNas -NAAlfNs ANAafs anu AAANaAl
wcrc the following cnlgmajical notices
.. 9TH. Hudson came. same old plat
] form.
9Th. Set tho pipS on McCauley, Para
moro, and John swain, Of -. Aug
2 uStiUC.
2 9th. NcCaulcy cleared.
7 10th. John Swain cleared.
I "l2th. Visited Paramorc. All we'll "
: Thank your said Holmes. foldin
o up the paper. and returning II 10 on
r visitor And now YOU must on no aC
n count lose another instant. We canno
n spare time even 10 discuss what yo
= have told me. You must get home II
: Stantly and act
T What shall / do?'
: There l. but one thing 10 do.
!, must be done al once. ! gu must pl
= thus piece Of paper which YOU hal
C. shown US IN the brass box which yC
- have described. Nou must also put
: a note 10 say that all the other papc
= were burned by your uncle and IA.
= tins l. the only one which remain
= You must assert that IN such words
n will carry conviction with them. Ha'
N ing done this. YOU must az once put II
ANNA AAA Aff0lA AAAf FAAAAAAsAlf 81 AAANh tal
j. Do YOU understand
q Entirely"
? DO not think OF revenge ,or an
g thing OF the sort, at present til.I
" that We may gain that by means of n
ic law: but We have our web 10 Wcav
~ while theirs is already woven. The tir
ID consideration Is 10 remove the prcssiI
10 danger which threatens YOU. The ~e
n. Ond Il 10 clear up the mystery and
" punish the guilty parties
| Il thank YOU said the Young ma
p rising, and pulling on his Overcos
~ You have given me, fresh lie and HOP
NJ | shall certainly do as you advise"
Id DO not lose an instant And, abo
lg all, take care Of yourself in the mea
while, for do not think that there ci
OF be a doubt that yQu are threatened