Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13

madam" said Holmes, though ii Is
! some years since he used my services
in some trifling matter"
Probably you would be more IA
miliar with the name of my son
| Douglas"
| Holmes looked at her with great
interest.
Dear me! Are you the mother OF
Douglas Maberley? l knew him
slightly. But, of course, all London
knew him. What magnificent
creature he was! Where is he now?"
Dead, Mr. Holmes, dead! He was
attache at Rome, and he died there
of pneumonia last month"
Il am sorry. One could not con-
meet death with such a man. l have
| never known any one so vitality alive.
! He lived intensely-every fiber of
! him.
TOO intensely. Mr.. Holmes. That
was the ruin of him. You remember
him as he waS--debonair and splendid.
! You did not see the moody, morose,
brooding creature into which he de-
| veloped. His heart was broken. In
| a single month | seemed to see my
gallant boy turn into WORKOUT.
cynical man."
IA love affair." won1an?"
COR a friend. Well. it was not to
tdik OI my poor tildL dohSO Sou
to come, Mr.. Holmes"
DIR. Watson and l are at your
service"
There have been some very
strange happenings. I have been in
this house more than a year now. and
as | wished to lead a retired life l
have seen little of my neighbors.
Three days ago I had a call from
man who said that he was house
agent. He said that this house
would exactly suit a client of his, and
that If l would part with 1t money
would be no object. 1t seemed to me
very strange, as there are several
empty houses on the market which
urally I was interested in what he
said. l therefore named a price
which was 500 pounds more than l
gave He at once closed with the
offer, but added that his client de-
sired to buy the furniture as well
md would I put a price upon II.
Some of this furniture is from my
Did home. and ii is. as you see. very
good, so that l named good round
sum. To this also he at once agreed.
[ had always wanted to travel, and
the bargain was so good one that
it really seemed that / should be my
Yesterday the man arrived with
the agreement all drawn out. Luck
lily, showed it to Mr.. Sutro, my law
yer, who lives in Harrow. He said
to me, This is a very strange docu-
ment. Are you aware that If you sign
it, you couldn't legally take anything
out of the house-not even your own
private possessions?' When the man
came again in the evening. I pointed
this out. and / said that / meant only
to sell the furniture.
No. no, everything. said he.
"'But my clothes? My Jewels
well, well, some concession might
be made for your personal effects. But
nothing shall go out of the house un.
checked My client is a very liberal
man. but he has his fads and his own
way of doing things. 1t is everything
or nothing with him.
"'Then it must be nothing said I.
And there the matter was left. but the
whole thing seemed to me to be so UNI
usual that l thought
Here we had very extraordinary
Interruption.
HOLMES raised his hand for silence.
= Then he STROBE across the room,
flung open the door and dragged in
great, gaunt woman whom he had
seized by the shoulder She entered
with ungainly struggles, like some
huge, awkward chicken, torn squawk-
ing out of its coop.
Leave me alone. What are you
a-doin' OFF" she screeched.
why, Susan, what is this?"
We'll. ma lam, l was comm in to
ask if the visitors was stayin' for lunch
when this man jumped out at me"
II have been listening to her for the
last five minutes, but did not wish to
interrupt your most interesting mar
rative. Just little wheezy, Susan,
are you not? You breathe too heavily
for that kind of work"
Susan turned a sulky but amazed
face upon her captor. who be you,
anyhow, and what right have you
a-pullin' me about like this?"
1T was merely that / wished to ask
a question in your presence. Did you,
Mrs. Maberly, mention to any one that
you were going to write to me and con-
suit me?"
mo, Mr.. Holmes, I did not"
who posted your letter."
Susan did,
Exactly. Now, Susan, to whom
was it that you wrote or sent O mes
sage to say that your mistress was
asking advice from me?"
It's lie. I sent no message"
Now, Susan, wheezy people may
thing to tell fibs. Whom did you tell?"
Susan" cried her mistress. IT be.
lieve you are a bad, treacherous
woman. / remember now that I saw
you speaking to some one over the
| hedge"
THAT was my own business" said
the woman sulenly.
Suppose / tell you that it was
| Barney Stockdale to whom you
spoke?" said Holmes.
well, If you know, what do you
want to ask for"
II was not sure, but ] know now
Well, now, Susan, it will be worth
! ten pounds to you il you will tell me
who is at the back of Barney"
Some one that could lay down q
thousand pounds for every ten you
have in the world"
| so. a rich man--no, YOU smiled
a rich woman. Now we have got so
| far, you may as we'll give the name
and earn the tenner."
| I'm see you in hell first"
| "Oh. Susan. Language"
| IL am clearing out of here. I've
had enough of you all. I'll send for
my box tomorrow" She fiounced
! for the door.
X \. X *
COOD-BY, Susan. Paragoric is
~ the stuff Now" he con
tinued. turning suddenly from lively
to severe when the door had closed be
hind the flushed and angry woman.
this gang means business. Look
how close they play the game. Your
letter had the 10 pm. postmark