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Atlanta, Ga., W«£ Ending September i4. 1902
The Green Flag,” 4 4 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,
By A. Conan Doyle, Author of 44 The Great Boer War.
Charted for tlie !ega» expenses conneilM
with your iltoiter
•'Exactly.”
"And then after you had sent the let
ter he dissuaded you from keeping the
appointment?*’
“He ttld me tliat it would hurt his
self-respect ihftt any 4 other man should
fil’d the money lor such an object, and
that though he was a poor man hlmselt
he would devote Ms last penny to remov 1 -
ins-the ohst'acles which divided us.”
"He appears tc he a very consistent
character. And the* you heard nothing
urttl you read the reports of the death In
the paucr?”
“.VS."
“And he made you swear to say nothing
about your appointment with Blr
Charles ?”
“He did. . He said that the death was
a very mysterious one, and that I should
certainly be suspected if the facts came
out. He frightened me Into remaining
silent.” 4
“Quite so. But you had your suspi
cions?” • *
She hesitated and looked down.
“I knew him.” she said. "But if he had
kept faith with me I sllpuld always have
done so with him.”
“I think that on the whole you hav/;'
had a fortunate escape,” said Sherlock
Holmes. . “You have had him In your
power and he knew it, and yet you are
alive. You have been walking for some
months very near to the edge of'a preci
pice. We most wish you good moj-ijlng
now, Mrs. Lyons,, and It is ftrobable that
you will very shortly, hear from ua
again.” .•••■' ,
“Our case becomes rounded off, and
difficulty aft#r difficulty. thins away In
front of us,” *sald Holmes, gs we stood
waiting for^ the arrival of' the express
from. town. "I shall soon be In .the posi
tion of being able to put Into a. single
connected narrative one of fha m<ist
„ fr-vringular an-I ;:cne*irhuial ci'i/liOn ,it tn'Otlvrn ~
have nonfood Uat you asked tlmas. student: of criminology will re-
8ir Charles to be at. the gate, at 10 O’clock
We know that t&t was t)he plac? and
hour of his death. 'You' have withheld
what the connection is between these
events.” •
“There is no connection.”
“lit that case the coincidence must In
deed be an extraordinary . one. But 1
think that we shall succeed in establish
ing a connection after ail. I wish to
be perfectly frank with you, Mrs. Lyons.
We regard this case as one of murder,
and the evidence may implicate not only
your friend Mr. Stapleton, bu: his wife
as well.”
The lady sprang from her chair.
“His wife!” she cried.
“The fact Is no longer a secret. The
person who has passed for hl3 sister is
really hie wife.”
Mrs. Lyons had resumed her seat. Her
hands were grasping the arms of her
chair .and I saw that the pink nails had
turned white with the pressure cf her
grip. . • •
“His wife!” she said, again. “His wife!
He is not a married man.”
Sherlock Holmes shrugged his shoul
ders.
“Prove it to me! Prove It to me! .”-nd
If you can do so !” The fierce flash of
ed the trap upon Its return journey. A
small boy was waiting upon the platform.
“Any orders, sir?”
“You will lake this train to town.
Cartwright. The moment you arrive you
will send a wire to Sir Henry Baskervllle.
in my name, to say that if he finds the
pocketbook which I have dropped he’Is
t) send It by registered post to Baker
street.”
“Yes, sir.”
„.”And ask at the station, office If there
Is a message for me.”
The boy returned with a telegram,
which Holmes handed to me. It ran:
“Wire received. Coming down with un-
signr J^irarrant. Arrive five-forty—Le-
stiade.” j
"That is in iniwar to mine of ibis
morning. He is iho best of the profes
sionals. I think, ancf we raw nv-1 tils as
sistance. Now, Wits: a, I think ihit we
cannot employ our tln.e better than by
calling upon your acquaintance, Mis.
Laura Lyons.”
His plan of campaign was beginning
to be evident. He would list the bar-met
in order to convince the Stapletons that
we were really gone, while ws should
actually return at the ■ artan*. when we
•were likely to be needed That-telegram
from London, if me iti mol by Sir Henry
to the Stafdfens, must remove the last
suspicions from their mints. Already X
seemed to see our i-’.a drawing closer
round that lean-jo. ve.l pike.
Mrs. Laura Lyons was In her office, and
Sherlock Holmes opened his Interview
with a frankness and directness wlilch
Considerably amazed her. 1
,l "I am investigating the circumstances
which attended the death of the late Sir
Charts*'Baskervilie," raid he. ”My f-tend
liere, I5r. Watson, hoc informed me of
Whht you have conuuuniCaled, and also
of what- ydu have wlthheil in ccmiec-
ilon wUh that matter.”,,'
■'‘tp r hat have.ll wiila’icrar* she 'asked.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN CONCLUDED.
nMk IR HENRY was more
Jjl pleased than surprised to
a see Sherlock Holmes, for
. I he had for some days been
expecting that recent
I events would bring him
Jj down from London. He
^ |8mI ’bu raise his eyebrows,
however, when he found
that my friend had nelth-
SjpSR3 er an >- luggage nor any
fj r '4Sri/x explanations for Its ab-
sence. Between us we
Boon supplied his wants,
and then over a belated supper we ex
plained to the baronet as much of our
experiences as It seemed .desirable that
he should know. But first i hddthew*-
pleusant duty of breaking the news to
Barrymore and-his wife. To him it may
have been an'Sihmliignted relief, but she
wept bitterly, in her apron. To all the
world he was the man of vlotsnce, half
animal and half demon; but to her he
always remained the little wilful boy
of her owh girlhood, the child who had
clung to her hand. Evil, Indeed, is the
man who has not one woman to mourn
him.
*Tv e been moping In the house all dav
since Watson went off in the morning,”
said the baronet. *T guess I should have
some credit, for J have kept my prom
ise. If I .hafh’t sworn not to go about
alone, I might have had a more lively
veenlng, for I had a message from Sta
pleton asking me over there."
“I have no doubt that you would Ixive
had a more lively evening," said
Holmes, dryly. "By the way, I don’t
suppose you appreciate that we have
been mourning over you as having
broken your neck?” * *
Sir Henry opened his ejres. "How was
that?”
"This poor wretch was drdhsed in your
clothes. I fear your servant - who gave
them to him may get into trouble with
the-police." . . .; vv--i
“That’e lucky for him—in tact. It’s
lucky tor all of you, since you are oil
on the wrong side of the law In this
iflatter. 1 am not sure that as a consci
entious detective my first duty Is not to
arrest the whole household. Watson’s re
ports are most Incriminating documents.”
“But how about the case?” asked the
baronet. “Have you made anything out
of the tangle? I don’t know that Wat
son and ! are much the wiser since we
came down.”
“I think that I shall be In a position
to make the situation rather more clear
to you before long. It has been an ex
ceedingly difficult and most complicated
business. Thece are several points upon
■which we stlli want light—but It Is com-
ig all the same.”
“We've had one experience, as Watson
has no doubt told you. We heard the
hound on the moor, so I can swear that
it is not all empty superstition. I had
something to do with dogs when I was
out west, and I know one when I hear
one If you can muzzle that one and
put him on a chain I'll be ready to swear
you are the greatest detective of all
time.”
”1 think I will muzzle him and chain
him all right if you will give me your
help.”
“Whatever you tell me to do I will do.”
“Very good; and I will ask you also
to do It blindly, without always asking
the reason.”
“Just as you like.”
“If you will do this I think the chances
arc that our little problem will soon be
solved. I have no doubt .”
He stopped suddenly pnd stared fixed
ly over my head Into the atr. The
lamp beat upon his face, and so Intent
was it and so still that it might have
been that of a clear-cut classical statue,
a personification of alertness and expec
tation.
“What Is it?" we both cried.
I could see as he looked down that he
was repressing some Internal emotion.
His features were still composed, but
his eyes shone with amused exultation.
“Excuse the admiration of a connois
seur," said he. as he waved his hand
toward the line of portraits which cov
ered the opposite wall. ’’Watson won’t
allow that I know anything of art. but
that Is mere Jealousy, because our views
upon the subject differ. Now. these are
a really very fine series of portraits."
’’Well, I’m glad to hear you say so.”
said Sir Henry, glancing with some sur
prise at my friend. ’’I don’t pretend to
know much ahout these things, and I'd
be a better Judge of a horse or a steer
than of a picture. 1 didn't know that you
found time for such things.”
"I know what Is good when I see It.
and I see it now. That’s a Kneller. Til
swear, that lady tn the blue silk over
yender. and the stout gentleman with the
w!g ought to be a Reynolds. They are
all family portraits. I presume?"
''Everj- one.”
“Do you know the names?"
“Barrymore has been coaching me In
them, and I think I can say my lessons
fairly well.”
'Not such a hound as mortal eyes had ever seen.
implicitly and do exactly what I tell you.
You can tell your friends that we should
have been happy to- have come with you,
but that urgent business required us to
bo in town. We hope very soon to return
to Devonshire. Will you remmeber to
give them that message?”
“If you Insist upon It."
“There is no alternative, I assure you."
I saw by the baronet's clouded brow
that he was deeply hurt by what he re
garded as our desertion.
"When do you desire to go?” he asked
coldly.
“Immediately after breakfast. We .will
drive In to Coombe Tracey, but Watson
will leave his things as a pledge that
he will come back to you. Watson, you
will send a note to Stapleton to tell him
that you regret that you cannot come.”
"I have a good mind to go to London
withuyou." said the baronet. “Why should
I star here aiooei*’
• - —?
“Because it Is your post, eff duty. Be
cause you gave me your word that you
would do as you were told, and I tell you
to stay.”
“All right, then. I’ll stay.”
“One mo.e’ direction! I wish you to
drive to Merripit house. Send back your
trap, however, and let them know that
you intend to walk home."
“To walk across the moor?”
"Yes.”
"But that Is the very thing which you
have so often cautioned me not to do.”
“This time you may do ft with safety.
If I had not every confidence m your
nerve and courage I would not'suggest
It, but Jt is essential that you should
do it.”
“Then I will do It.”
“And as you value your life, do not
go across the moor In any direction save
along the straight path which leads from
Merripit House to the Grimpen road, and
is your natural way home."
"I will do just what you say.”
- “Very good. I should be glad to get
away as soon after breakfast as posSlk
ble, so as to reach London In the after
noon.”
I was much astounded by this pro
gramme, though I remembered that
Holmes had said to Stapleton on the
night before that his visit would termi
nate next day. It had not crossed my
mind, however, that he would wlsTi c*>
to go with him. nor could I understand
how we could both be absent at a mo
ment which he himself declared to be
critical. There was nothing for it. how
ever. but Implicit obedience; so we T,ade
.goodby to our rueful friend and a couple
of hours afterwards we were at the sta
tion of Coomb? Tracey and had dispatch
ily portraits Is enough to convert a man
to the doctrine of reincarnation. The fel
low Is a Baskerville—that Is evident."
“With designs upon the succession.”
“Exactly. This chance, of the picture
has supplied us with one of our most
otvious missing links. We have him.
Watson; we have him. and I dare swear
that before tomorrow nlghi he will be
fluttering in our net as helpless as one
of his own butterflies. A pin. a cork and
a card, and we add him to the Baker
street collection!" He burst into one of
his rare fits of laughter as he turned
away from the picture. I have not heard
him laugh often, and it has always boded
ill to somebody.
I was up betimes in the morning, but
Ho!c|?s was afoot earlier still, for I saw
him a,s. I dressed coming up the drive.
“Yes. we should have a full day today,"
he remarked, and he rubbed his hands
with the joy of action. “The nets are all
in place, and the drag is about to be
gin. We'll know before the day is out
whether we have caught our big. lean-
jawed pike, or whether he has got
through the meshes."
“Have you been on the moor already?"
“I have sent a report from grimpen
to Princetown as to the death of So'den.
I think I can promise that none of you
will be troubled in the matter. And I
have also communicated with my faith
ful Cartwright, who would certainly
have pined away at the door of my hut,
as a dog does at his master's grave, if I
had not set his mind at rest about my
safety.”
“What Is the next move?”
“To see Sir Henry. Ah. here he is!”
"Good morning. Holmes." said the baro
net. “You look like a general who Is
planning a battle with h!s chief of the
staff."
"That Is the exact situation. Watson
was asking for orders.
“And so do I:”
“Very good. You are engaged, as I
understand, to dine with our friends the
Stapletons tonight.”
"I hope that you will come also. They
are very hospitable peopre, and I am
sure that they would be very glad to
see you."
"I fear that Watsor. and I must go to
LonCon.”
"To London?"
“Yes. I think that we should be more
useful there at the present juncture.”
The baronet's face perceptibly length
ened.
“I hoped that you were going to see me
through this business. The Hall and the
moor are not very pleasant places when
one Is alone."
“My dear fellow, you must trust me
the. days when they had first worked
together. I could well remember the
scorn which the theories of the reasoner
used then to excite in the practical man.
"Anything, good?” he asked.
‘The biggest thing for years,” said
Holmes. "We have two hours befoje we
need think of starting. I think we might
employ it In getting some dinner, • and
then, Lestrade. we will take the London
fog out of your throat by giving you a'
breath of the pure night air of Dart
moor, Never there? Ah, well, I don’t
suppose you will forget your first visit.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
One of Sherlock Holmes' defeats—If, in
deed, one may call it a defect—was that
he was exceedingly loth to communicate
his fupj^ifcns to any other person until
the Instant of their fiHflUment. Partly
it came no doubt from his own master
ful nature, which loved to dominate and
surprise those who were around him.
Partly, also; from his professional cau
tion, which' urged him never to take any
chances. The result, however, was very
trying for those who were acting as his
assistants. I had often suffered under
It; but nevermore so than during that
long drive in the darkness. The great
ordeal was in front of us; at last we
were about to make our final effort, and
yet Holmes had said nothing, and I
could .only surmise what his course of
action would be. My nerves thrilled
with anticipation when at last the cold
wind upon our faces and the dark void
spaces on either side of the narrow road
told me that we were back upon the moor
once again. Ever}- stride of the horses
and ever}- turn of the wheels was taking
us nearer to our supreme adventure.
Our conversation was hampered by the
presence of the driver of the hired
wagonette, so that we were forced to
talk of trivial matters when our nerves
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