Evening star., 1925-03-15

suit the police, and yet we are utterly
at our wits end as to what to do
and We feel in some strange way thai
we are drifting toward disaster
Edith-NTiss Presbury-feels as 1 do
that we cannot wait passively any
longer"
1T is certainly very curious, sug-
gestive case. What do you think
Watson?"
Speaking as a medical man." said
l. 1T appears to be a case for an
alienist. The old gentleman's cere-
bral processes were disturbed by the
love affair. He made journey
abroad in the hope of breaking him
self of the passion. His letters and
the box may be connected with some
other private transaction-a loan per-
maps or share certificates, which are
in the box"
And the wolf hound no doubt dis
approved Of the financial bargain
No. no, Watson, there is more in ii
than this. Now 1 can only 'sug-
gest t"
WHAT Sherlock Holmes was about
to suggest will never be known
for at this last moment the door was
opened and a young lady shown into
nett sprang up with a cry and ran
forward with his hands out to meet
those which she had herself out
stretched
Edith. dear! Nothing the matter
hope?"
Il felt I must follow you. Oh, Jack
I have been SO dreadfully frightened
1t is awful to be there alone"
Mr.. Holmes, this is the young lady
I spoke of. This is my fiancee."
We were gradually coming tc
that conclusion, were we not, Wat
SOM" Holmes answered with a smile
Il take it, Miss Presbury, that there
was some fresh development in the
case, and that you thought we SHOULD
know"
Our new visitor, a bright handsome
girl, of a conventional English type
smiled back at Holmes as she seated
herself beside Mr.. Bennett.
When 1 found Mr.. Bennett haC
left his hotel L thought 1 should fine
him here. OF course, he had told M
that he would consult you. But oh
Mr. Holmes, can you do nothing fol
my poor father?"
Il have hopes, Miss Presbury but
the case is still obscure. Perhaps
what you have to say may throw
SOHle ITeSh iIBnL upon II.
1T was last night, Mr.. Holmes HI
had been very strange all day. I an
sure that there are times when ht
has no recollection of what he does
He lives as in a strange dream. Yes
terday was such a day. IL was no
my father with whom 1 lived. Hi:
outward shell was there, but it wa!
not really he"
Tell me what happened"
Il was awakened in the night BY
the dog barking most furiously. Poor
Roy, he is chained near. the stable.
may say that / always sleep with my
door locked, for as Jack---asi2 Mr.. Ben
| nett-win tell you, we all have ;
feeling of impending danger. M,
room is on the second floor, 1t hap
pened that the blind was UP in my
| window, and there was bright moon
| light outside. AS I lay with my eye.
| fixed upon the square of light, lis
tening to the frenAed barking OF tht
| dog, was amazed to see my father:
| face looking in at me- Mr.. Holm es
I nearly died with surprise ane
horror There it was pressed agains
| the window pane and one hand seem
| ed to be raised as If to push up thu
window. If that window had opened
l think L should have gone mad. l
was no delusion, Mr.. Holmes. Don
| deceive yourself by thinking SO.
daresay it was twenty seconds or 81
| that l lay paralyzed and watched thu
| face.
Then it vanished, but .Iseouid not
could not spring out of bed ant
look out after It lay cold AM