The News from Frederick, Maryland • Page 6

Ij A. 005AB DOYLR CHAPTER IV. 'tfee Bttl 111 lit and caze to a door spec ttrew A lij- oot cpoo ---1 tint glart ttrns stooi. a v. a trie, hrt all an uc4 frir.ga of It, which from a tcoucisln He to- -il vr Dow ng.

-v uevrr for as Nature tad Kirra him and a vteltle llae wr ac ir nrove tt co.cva! L) pasbir.g jirt facw. In cJ he pave the In cf fact be thirtieth yrar kept tJ.ia. "Vour Pray hU-p Into my A KII.I!! place, miia, but A 'jofls of art rt south London." i the appear- ir-'ii. be in- rrv It looked as 01 "iiil the first wa- jurf act. IB the h- We i Cf Ytted U-- of p'- lrt r'.

i-- i i (I'l vas i of nmUr black, --) ti that tbi foot sank plr.i-. Into a Two i i i thrown athwart It of aid ii tiuiro h)okah which st-xxi tijuiu a mat tliu corner. A lamp in 'hf la-hlon oi a silvi-r dove was kdiic rx'Ui an aiiiiir.t mildenwlro ta tbc center of rv.uiu As burned It the air with subtle and nroujaUo little nan, still jerking ami "That toy naiue You arv Morhton. of And Ki'titioiin-ir is -Mr tiuituo and this Dr. Watson "A doctor, cru he.

much excited "Have YOU your strthuaci. Mltiht 1 ask Ton would you haxe the kindness? I Lave grave doubts as to uiy mitral valvu. 1 11- value your I may rely upon, but I eb upon the mitral." I listened to his heart as requested, but ires unable to dud anything amiss, snxu Indeed that he was in an ecstasy of feur. fot he shivered (roni head to foot. "It ap- penrs to be normal." I said "You have no for "You will excuse my anilety, Miss Jdnrstan." he remarked airily.

a a great sxifforcr. and I have long had suspi eions as to thnt valva I am delighted to bear thnt the? arc unwarranted Had yonr father. Miss Morstun, refmlnsd from throwing a strain upon his heart he might kave been alive now." I could have struct the man across the face, so hot was I at this callous and offhand reference to so delicate a matter. Hiss Morstau sat down, and her face grew White to the lips. ''I knew In my heart that he was dead, said aha "I can giro you every Hid he, "and, what is more, I can do jou justice, and I will, too, whatever Brother Bartholomew may say.

I am glad to have your friends here, nut only as an escort to you, but also as witnesses to what I am about to do and ear. The three of ns can show a bold front to Brother Bartholomew But let ns BO outsiders, no police or officials. We can settle everything satisfactorily among ourselves without any interference. Nothing would annoy Brother Bartholomew more than any publicity." Ho Bat down upon a low settee and blinked at us Inquiringly with his weak, watery blue inv part," said Holmes, "whatever yon may choose to say will go no further." I nodded to show my agreement. '-That is welll That is well!" said ha "May I offer yon a glass of Chianti, Miss Morstan? Or of Tokay? I keep no other Shall I open a flask? No? Well, then, I trust thnt yon have no objection fto tobacco fjBoto to the mild, balsamic odor of the eastern tobacco.

I am a little nervous, and I find my hookah an invaluable He applied a taper to the great and the smoke bubbled merrily through the rosowater. We eat all three in a semicircle, with our heads advanced our chins upon our hands, while the jerky little fellow, with bis high, bead, pulled uneasily in the canter. "When I first determined to make this to you, "said he, "I might iavs given out my address, but I feared that yon might disregard my request and bring unpleasant people with yon. I took liberty, therefore, of making an appointment in such a way that my man might be able to see you first. I complete confidence in his discretion, Tie had orders.

If he were dissatisfied, proceed no further in the matter. You excuse these precautions, but I am a man of somewhat retiring, and I might say refined, tastes, and there is nothing more nnaestbetic than a policeman. I have a natural shrinking from all form of Toafh materialism. I seldom come In contact with the rough crowd. I live, as you with some little atmosphere of elegance around roe.

I mav call myself a patron of the arts. It is my weakness. The landscape is a genuine Corot, and though a connoisseur might perhaps throw a doubt upon that Salvator Rosa there cannot be the least question about the Bougucrean. I am partial to the modern French school." vrill eicnse me, Mr. Sbolto," said Hiss Morstan, "but I am here at your request to learn something which you desire to icui nit.

It is v.ry late, and I should desire the interview to be as short as possible." "At the best it nrast take some time," be answered, "for -we shall certainly have to g- Norwood as3 see Brother Bar- We hall all go and try if we can get the bettor of Brother Bartholomew. is me for rijrSt to ice. I bad quit-? Hch him last night. Yen cancot raasrine a tarnble fellow he is-when he ancry "If we are i i po to Norwood, it would perbaps be to start at onca I Tennirea to rerr.aTk. Ha la-irhed cr.r.: ears were qnlte led.

"Tiiat wc-a'd hardly cried. ''I don't know what he say 11 I toouzbu yon in trsat sudden way. Xo, I most prepare you by shcwJiic you bow we All stand to each other. In the first place, I must teJl you that there are several poinss in the storr of which I am Ignorant. I can only lay tie facts before you as far as I know them myself.

"My father was, as you may have gnesaed, Major John Sholto, once of th Indian ancy. retired some 11 years and came to live at Pondlcaerry Lodge, ta Upper Norwood. He bad prospered in India and brought back with him a con- soia of money, a largo collection valuable and a staff of native With these advantages be bought A and lived la great Israrv. My nrta ami I OOJT "I rerr which was t- ti.tf Captain ti.j!l» ar.I A i b- iii! afrts-cdof i a rt w- case it a to cot her frc-a a Vv jErtlaa bis with an ed it-? 1'jW his glittertcjj tyes I at 1 c-XiM bet ti.i.'.i: Lew i i we I i -r tit- ai Cj'. ct a a -tr-i i'r a iV; cWrrv V- liivn- a.

was t.J. 1 'i --U ull a t.o I ti -r, t'j lu- i u.ioJi-ti Lrw! LS r-. Larii.lvia us wtu, a h'sa I f.i::.ttl ut the table t.i- i.tii It, ai.il frurii th.il bu t'. o. i- I could It tt.i.t w.i* aud in a I.j'nL bad ro iu- i "11 nud .1 l.i-t and funucd tl.at bt that l.t- tiou Ua "Whi-jj wv uiUTv-it tt.i- ho wa-.

up Lrcathlng hi-avily I hx'k the door and to com? i mi 1: the Thrn. 'Mir h.tiul-i, l.e uiado rv luarkub!" nt v-ice which broken much by as by piiin i shnil try t- it to vou in tilt, own very "I linw unl'- "ru- lie siild. 'which nt this su prvine It is ii'v iruattiu-nt u( poor Mofvtan orplinu Thi (sTtiil which hika bii-n my i life bail withlnl(l h' tin- half at lenst which Kvi. hers. And yi-t 1 nmde no of it myself, so Ml ml a i i i- avarioe.

Tl.v mrrv fi-fliiiK of baa boon so lintr to ino 1 could nn bear to i it i niutln'r S-o timt chaplrt tipped with jvarls l-csido tht nine bottle. thnt I could not loar part with, I it out wtth the design of it her Vou, my sons, will hi-r ii iheARra But send IIIT nothing, not tho chnplet, until 1 ittti gone After nil. men have bocri us bud ai this and havu re 'I will tell you how Morstau he continued, -lie hail suffered for yours from a weak heart, hut ho concealed it from every one I alono knew it in India, be iind through a rviunrknblo chain of circumstances, into POSM.S slon of a considorulile 1 brought over to England, nnd on the night of Morstan'i arrival ho mur here to claim his shnre. Hi? walked over from the station and was ndmittxl by my faithful old Lai Chowdar, who is now dead. Morstan and I hnd difference of opinion as to the division of tjie treasure, and we came to hentvd words.

Morstan had' sprung out of bis chair in paroxysm of anger, when he suddenly pressed his hand to his shk. his fnco turned a dusky hue, and ho frll backward, cutting his bead against the corner of the treasure chest. When I stonpul ovpr him. I found. to my horror, thnt he dcnti.

'For a lonp time I sat half dlstrncted. wondering what 1 should do. My first Impulse was, of course, to cull for assistance, but I could not but recognize tbat there was evory i-hnnce thnt I would ho accused of his murder His death at the moment of qunrrcl nnd the gush in hi? bead. JV9uld be bluck me Again an bfficiai Inquiry could not bo nintle with out bringing out some facts aljout the treasure, which 1 wns particularly anxious to keep secret. He bad told me that no soul upon earth fcnew whore ho pone.

Tbore seemed to bo no necessity why any soul ever should know. "'I wns still pondering over the matter when, looking up, 1 saw my servant. Lai Chowdar, in the Ho stole in and bolted the dnor t.ehind him -iJo not fear, hp Xo oue need know that yon nave killed him. Lot hide him away, and who is the 'I did not kill him, 'said 1 Lai Chowdar gbook bis liead nnd smiled 'I heard it nil. sabib, sjild lie I heard you quarrel, and I beard the blow But, my lipt- are sealed.

All are asltvp in tho hmisc. Let put him away toppthor wa? pnoueh to decide me. If my own could not believe my innocence, how could I hopi' to make it goml lie'oro 10 foolish trades men in a jury box? 'Lai Cbowdar and I disposed of the body that night, ond within a few days the London papers were of tho mysterious disappearance of Captain Morstan. You will see from what I say that I can hardly be blamed in the matter. My fault lies in the fact that we concealed not only tho body, but tho treasure, and that I have clunp to Morstan 's share as well as to my own.

I wish yon, therefore, to make restitution. Put your Burs down to my mouth The treasure is hidden -At a horrible change came over hi expression. His stared wildly. jaw dropped, and be yelled In a wl.Mi I can never forgefc him out. Kur Christ's sako, keep him stared round at the window behind us upon nhlch his gaze was fixed.

A face was looking in at us out of tho darkness- We could see the whitening of ncsd where it was pressed against the glass. It was bearded, hairy face, with wild, cruel eyes and an expression of concentrated malevolence. My brother ard I rushed toward the window, but man was gone. When we returned to my father, his head had dropped and his pulse bad ceased to beat "We searched the garden that night, Vnt found "no of the intruder, pave that just cader the window a single footmark was visible in the flower bed- But for that one trace we might have thought thaiocr taafr-natioss had conjured up that wild. Ceroe face.

We soon, however, rt a that there were secret agencies at work all round ns. The window of lay fatier's room was found open in the morning, bis cupboards and boxes bad been rifled, and npon bis chest was Cxed a torn piece of paper with the words, -The sign of the scrawled across it. What the phrase incasi o- who our secret visitor may hare been we never knew. As far as we can Judge, none of ray father's property bad been actually stolen, though everything had been tarinxi out. My brother and I naturaiiy teis peculiar incident the which hauntil my father.

his life, but it is still a complete mysK'ry to ns. man to bis hookah ami puffed thoughtfully for few ifii.nwnts- We l.at'. ail sat absorbed, iistes- Ing to his extraordinary narrative. At tbe short account of her father's dmth Miss Morstan had turned deadly white, asd for a moment 1 fauad that aha was to faint. tmntod, en of watw KikJi I unletl; u.

ii Uj cJ a-. ml 1 1 ry haJ pro- JOU iS U) SL.C Hi-t' I. cr L-il ty ken cf k-. a-A t- v-v ii ifi lie ut ttrmi 0 to part with -r tttnti luy brolhtr a tin loin; fatbrr't fauit IK i-" if we partrd wtth the i.t.ai.li-t ti tii- to ttud si. wad Kuuld i-, r-ujijc Mm t- m- i M- rtaii olid iiil bt-r a lit ill that at iiilfl.t tirver -aid It kindly jou i tnnii lii- l.ad'l Wt- i "Thnt ai the M- wliK-h 1 liK.l.

it though Hrcitlu-r i i i i ei.uld altogether it in that i plentj' ul I in. It such IKU! i ii.ni- trvatitl j'ounic lady in i i i t'Ti gout njfiit- an The Frt-ncb a very if-at u.ty i things Uur dilli rvtn i- nf this Mibjvvt Went fur that 1 tli'jUL-t't tt U'sl to set up iiijM-lf I left Pondicberry 1 tlu-ohl khitinutgarand Wll- Ilium, i mi- Vtc-u-rduy, however, I h-arned a an i eitn-me itupor- tuncc hiSil oc urrvil The tn-aaurx- h.ij i on Mi r-rn-i. -li-d it t-nly r-'umius for us to drive out to and demand our shim. I explained my views laat night to Brother Hurthol mow Sj wo bhall be ex- peutwl if not Weli-i-nie Mr. Tbaddcus Sfiolto ceased and sat hlmj on I i i i i a a remained silent, with our thoughts upon the now development which tho mysterious bUblnuHn had taken Holmes was the first to surini: to his fit-t Too bavp dor.e well, sir, from flrrt to last," said he.

It Is possible thai we may be able to make you some small return by throwing some light upon that which is still dark to you But, as Miss Montan remarked just now, it is late, anl wo hnd Itcfl put the matter through without delay." Our new acquaintance very deliberately soiled up tho tube of his hnokah and produced from Iohind a curtnin a very long bofroggvd topcoat with astrakhan collar and cuffs This he buttoned tightly up in spite of the extreme closeness of the nlgbt and finished his attire by putting on a rabbit skin cap with banging lapprts which covered tho ears, so that no part of biro was visible save his mobile and peaky face. "My health is somewhat fragile," be remarked as he led the way down tho passage. "I am compelled to be a valetudinarian. Our cab was awaiting us outside, nnd our programme, was evidently for the driver started off at once at a rapid paoo. Thaddeus Sholco talked incessantly in a voice which rose high above the rattle- of the whcols.

Bartholomew is a clever fellow," said he. "How do you think he found out where tho treasure wasf He had cciue. to the conclusion that it was somewhere in doors, so he worked out all tiie. CD bit- space of tho house nnd made measure menta everywhere, so that not one inch should, be uncounted for. Among other things, he found thnt the height of the building was 74 feet, but on adding to gethertbe heights of all tho separate and making every allowance for the space between, which he ascertained by I'orinps, ho could not bring the total to more than 70 feet.

There were four feot unaccounted for. These could only be at the top of the building. He knocked a hole, therefore. in (lie lath aim plaster ceiling ut ttio hiirh est room, and there, sure enough, he came npon another little garret above it, which had been sealed up and wns known to ni one. In the center flood tho treasure chest, resting upon two rafters.

Ho low ervd it through the hole, and there it lies He computes the value of the jewels at 1101 less than half a million sterling." At the mention of this gigantic sum we all stared at one another open eyed MK 1 Morstan. could wo; secure her rights, wi.ul.. change from a needy governess to tbo rieh est heiress in England. Surely it wus tin pliuv of a loyal friend to rejoice MIC! news, yet I am to say that ness took me by tho soul, and that nij heart tf'med as heavy as lead within I stammcntl out some few halting WITS. of congratulation and then sat with my homl drooped, deaf to the K.

1 of our new He was tli-n: a confirmed hypochondriac, and I dreamily conscious that he was pi.iir:: forth interminable trains of symptom-. Imploring information as to tho cvm; tion nnd action of innumoniMc jv sinie of which he Kre a leather ca.se in jockot. I he may not muomber any of a r- which I cave him that nicht i i i (V rinri-s thnt hr- overheard tin- c.iuti against tho great danger of tok 2 than two of cantor oil. I nc cmnirndod strychnine in larcv sedative. that may I ct-rtninly il when our ca! v.p with a jfrk ar.d the coachman SJT.I:..

down t-7 own the door. is rrv Lotiga," Kaul Mr. ciioijj as ti handed hex out. CHAPTER T. It was nearly o'clock when werracbod this final si.i^c of night's We had left damp cf city behind us, ar.d nipht was fairly fine.

A warm wirni View frTn tho w-stward, and heavy rr.rrtd slowly the sky. with half a ir.oon po-ping occasioiial- ly Uu tltif. li uar citar enougo to scv for some distance, bat tfholto took down or.e of tho side larcp? frcm the carriagf to give us a oeMer light cpon oar way. Pi adifhrrry Lodg? in its owr. end was witb VCTT high stone wall toppccl with broken glass.

A single narrow iron damped door formed the only means of entrance. On this cur guide knocked with a peculiar postman- like ratu-u. Who Is there?" acreff voicefrom within "It is Von screlv taow my knock There a soncd and clank-lag i keys. The dooi swt-ng heavily ack. and a short, deep cfcesuxj oar.

in tho opening, with the of the lantern shining ujon his protrujif! face and twinkling, distrubtful eyes. "Thai you, Mr. Thaddeus? But who are th- I no orders tbont them from the master." McMunJo' You 1 toM br-stif-t clgbl that I fcrl2g bunit fnt-ods." Ke taitt'J tis rows today, Mr ami I tv You tu yur are." 'ji-irtl Lllil ta aot! Thin to te-J vl y-x; M-Meri be fsli "If ILl ctjuugti fur 7012 VA siar caniict ii. r-a-- at tiu Lxir. Mr 1 said the rntij ii.

be trumda o' and o' inaa- ilv i me tuf duty, tuy Jutj i o' i.L. SLvrluck gi 1 duu't tiiuk you can n.t. LX-ii't yuu UIiUa With jc-u gM i back?" Not Mr M- pjarwl thr trujh, could 1 Lave Hi o' Ktid given uiv tl.nt I.TUSA bit o' yours uuder the jow I'd ha' kr.vwn you without question Ah, r- one that bise waited your K'fw. I-'U You have itiuifil i l.a-1 Juiuixi tfco fancy." "Yuu MutM.n. it all t-Ue fails I have OL-- ti.

'U to HuUnrs, laughing. ''Our out in the cold now, I am A i i B.i, and your frifiidn, auwtiul. "Very Mr. but orders am very Had to uf yuur friends befurt 1 I let cl.t-m In a vt 'l a wound through ii-solaui grounds to a hugv cluinp of a bouso, square proeaic, all plunged in ibuduw save a moonbeam Etruck DUO (xrtiL-r ai.d in a gunvt window. Thu vu-t of the building, with its and its deathly silence.

a chill to the heart. Kven Thnd- dcus Sholto ill at tnise, nnd the lanu-m quiver. and nittled in his band. cunn- It." he aalrt. must bo niistaks.

I distinctly told that we should be hero, and j-et theru no light in his window. I do nut what to moke cf "Does he always guard the premises in this way?" asked Holmes. "Yes, he has followed my father's cus torn. Ho wns the favorite son, you know, and I sometimes i that my father may navy told hiiu more than he evor told ma That Is Bartholomew's wiudow up there vvhero the moonshine strikes. It is qulto bricht, but there is no light from within, I think." "None." said Holmes.

"But I see the glint of a light in tuut little window be- Hide the door." that is the housekeeper's room. That la where old Mrs. Bcrnstono sits She can tell us all about it But you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two, fcr if we all go in togetbe: and she had no word of our coming she mny be alarmed. But hush. Whaf Is that?" He held up tbe lantern, and bis band shook until tbe circles of light flickered and wavered all round us.

Miss Morstau seized my wrist, and wo all stood with thumping hearts straining our ears. From tbe great black house there soundec through the silent night the saddest anc most pitiful of sounds-- the shrill, brotn. whimpering of a frightened woman. "It is Mrs. Bernstone," said Sholto-.

"Sne is the only woman in the boose. Walt here. I shall be be back in a ment" Be hurried tbe door and knocked la his peculiar way. We coulil see a tall old woman admit him and sway with pleasure at the very sight of him. "Ob, Mr.

Thaddeus, sir. am so glad yon have cornel I am 50 glad you have come, Mr. Thaddeus, sir!" We hoard her reiterated rejoicings until the door was closed, and her voice died away into a muffled monotone. Our guide hnd left us the lantern. Holmes swung it slowly round and peered keenly at the house and at the great rubbish heaps which cumbered the grounds.

Miss Morstan and I stood together, and her band was rn mine. A wondrous subtle thing Is love, for here were we two who bad never scon each other before that day, between whom no word or even look of affection had ever passed, and yet now In an hour of trouble our hands instinctively sought for ench. other. I have inar- reled at it since, bat at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so, and, as she has often told me, there was in her also the instinct to turn to me fur comfort and protection. So we stood band in band, like two children, and there was peace in oar hearts for all the dark things that surrounded us.

What a strange place!" she said, looking round. "It looks as though all the ruoles in England had been let looso in it I nave seen something of the sort on the side of a hill near Bjllarat where the prospectors bad been nt work." "And from tbe same cause," said Holmes. "These are tha traces of the treasure seekers. Yon must remember that they were six years looking for Xo wonder that tbe grounds look. like a gravel pit." At that moment the door of the- burst open.and Thaddeus tholto came running ont, with bis hands thrown forward and terror in his eyes.

"Thecs is something amiss wtth Bartholomew. he cried. "I am frightened. My nerves cannot stand it." He was indeed half Muhbering with fear, and his twitching, foeble face peeping cnt from the astrakhan collar bad tho helpless, appealing expression of a terrified child. "Come Into the house," said Holrscs in bis crisp, firm way "Yes.

do," pleaded Thaddeus Sholtox "I really do not feel equal to giving directions." We all followed elm Into tbs hocse- keepor's room, which stood upon the left hand side of tho passace. The-old woman was pacing acd down, with a scnrx-d look and restless, picking tbe fiight of M-ntan appeared to have a off- -ft hT 1 God Mess your sweet, calr.i 5he cried, hysterical scK it does good to jou. Oh. bat I have been SOTV- ly rrvrl tr. oomjvinioT! her wr.rV; worn hand aridrntjrmr.rcdpcrnef'-wwi.rd^ of comfort which tbecvlor back into tho other's b)oodk- cheeks" Master has locked himself in and wili net answer r.ie," she explained.

"All day I have waiwxi to hear from him, for often to alore. but hrnr aco feared that something was amiss, so 1 went up and peeped through the keyhole, You ruirM; po up, Mr. Thaddens. Yon co up and for yourself. I have Mr irj jiy ar.d in for long ye.irs, but I saw with such a face on him as that.

Shir; -ck Holmes took and the waj. for Tbaddeuj thono's teeth were chnitennn in his htwi. io shaken was he I had to pass my hand undor his am, as we uent up the stairs, for his wore under him. Twice as we awvndeu Holuiea whipped his lens out cf pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to rno to be mere JIH.JH M-iiu'iKe- of dust upon Cue cocoa nut mattiiiK which served car peC trvia tA-p the lamp low aiul oii iitab Morctar; had remained ustb tbe fngtceoed boutr koeper. Tbe fl'gfct cf eodwj ta a straight tuitx ifOtfti.

w.th a liai'jiz. tin ic ai.u it.me K-c Kit a to tine emue Wiy we dune tcrla, ivug ituuiowg Utckvuni Cvwn cumdcr TLr tionl (Jowr tLi wfciti we wen? Ht.lu.« wici out reoriitci; aiai tiieQ to tbe opeL. It WtH Ultd bf a trocni er-C txit. it we COtfc Tbe k.ry wan iiui down to it jti.ll lt.eUi£itlv rvrat? tietilisb in tiU, Watwj-j, raid be, more th-in I tnui ever ix t-u liiiu. do you make of ll?" I to tic lx-i- Jxud tvxvlkd in horror.

wcs strea-jiinj mtc tho room, and it wtu bright a vague and ohifily Luukti.t; straight at me and as it were, in the air, fur all beneath was in nhaduw, there bung a face very of our pauton TbaddeUs. Thi-rv was tbe brtstlo of red hair, the bloodliis The were bow evor In horrible smile, a (lied and un moonlit room nu re jurrinf; to nerves than any scuxvl or contortion. So iiko was the face to that of our little friend that I looked round at him to make luru that ho wus indvtd with ui. Then I recalled nuiid thnl he bud memiuod to us that his brother mid be Wt-ro twins "Thin is I tiaid to Holmes. "What is to U- d.iiie?" "Tbe door come down, he an swered, and agatn.it it ho put all his weight upon kt-k It cr-aied and groaned, did not we flung ourselves upon it cacr more, and this time it pive.

way with a sudden snap, and we found ourselves within Bartholo niew Shultu's ctmmU'r. It appeared to have been fitted up as chemical laboratory. A double lino of glass stoppered bottles was drawn up upo." tbo wall opposite the door, tho table was littered over with Bunsen burners, test tubes and retorts In tbe corner? stood carboys of acid in wicker baskets. One of these appeared to leak or to have been oroken, lor stream of dark colored liquid had trickled out from it, and the air was heavy with a peculiarly tarlike odor. A set of steps stood at ono side of the room in the midst of a litter of lath and plaster, and above them there was an opening in the ceiling large enough for a man to pnss through.

At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together. By the table in a wooden armchair the roaster of tbe bouse was seated all in a heap, with his head sunk spon his left shoulder and that ghastly, inscrutable smile upon his face. He was stiff and cold and bad clearly been dead many hours. It seemed to me that not only his features but all his- limbs- were twisted and turned in the mos: fantastic fashion By his hand upon tbe table there lay a peculiar instrument a brown, close grained stick, with a stone bead like a hammer, rudely lashed on with coarse. twine.

Beside it was a torn sheet of note paper, with some words scrawled npon it. Holmes glanced at it and then banded it tome. "Yon see," be said, with a significant raising of the eyebrows. In the light of tbe lantern I read with a thrill of horror, ''The sign of tbe four." "In God's name, what does it all I asked. ''It means murder," said bef stooping over the dead man.

"Ai, I expected it. Look here!" He pointed, to what looked like a long, dark thorn stuck in. tbe skin just above the ear. "It looks like a thorn," said is a thorn. You may picfc it out But be careftrl, for it is poisoned." I took it up between my finger and thumb.

It csime away from, the skrn so readily, that hardly any mark was- left be hind. One tiuy speck of blood, sliowed where tbe puncture had been. "This is all an insoluble mystery to me," said "It grows darker instead of clearer." "On tbe contrary," ho answered; ''it clearsevery instant. I only require a few missing links to have an entirely- connect edcase." We had almost forgotten our oonrpan- ion's presence since we entered the- chnni ber. Ho was still standing in tht door way, the very picture of terror, wringing his bands and moaning to himself.

Sud donly, however, be broke out into a sharp. querulous cry. "The treasure is gone, he said. "They have robbed him of the treasure. There is the bole through which we lowered it I helped him to do it.

I was the- last person who saw him. I left him here- last night, and 1 heard him lock tbo door as 1 caino down stairs." "What time that?" "It was 1'J o'clock. And now he is dead, and tbe police will be called in, and I shall bo suspected of having bad a baud In it. Oh yes. I am sure I shall.

But you don't think so, gentlemen? Sorely yon don't thiuk that il was Is it like ly that I would have brought you here if it were Oh, dear; oh, dear! I know I shall go mad. He jerked his- farms and stamped his feet in a kind of convolsive frenzy. "You have no reason for fear, Mr. Sholto," said Holmes kindly, putting bis band upon his shoulder. advice and drive down to the station to report tbe matter to tbe pollca Offer to assU: them in every way.

We shall wait here until your return. Tbe little man obeyed in a naif stupefied fashion, and we beard him stumbling down tbe stairs in the dark. ITO oovzxnm. Gold From Sea Water. Professor Hvinicke of Was.hineton nnl- Tsrslty.

St. Louis, is about applying fora process by whicri. be clairis. $1-AX0 of gold can ie from sta water ai a cost of I. every ton of watvr yielding from 2 to 4 cents' worth of srld.

He insists that r.o rjatioii wil! hervaftcr from a of guiu; ed for, tbocgii to come. Wilting to Jh? Suddenly. William Laxton. who a relative in tr-f vroTio. tV ir Any- rr.j-niy' works He to get $3'i a 'rtevV ami four iiour a day.

lie is likely to blow TO atoias at any minute. He will get $1 a ua than Jorumiah SpiUace, who was killed at last explosion Forty rccri aked for the place. -New York World. She XaTlgatrd Ship. The first woman who sailed ash the Atlantic ocean tvai ilrs.

Bath, Me, Her husband died of yellow fever, as did the officers, leaving her and two children and a few of tbe crew ship on tbe Afrtnan ooast. Thn oew were all ignorant men tod understood nothing of navigation. Mrs. Don- fevy navigated the ship herself and tr It sarelv to Sew York. -AU.

ROUND That WM About All Ttet Conld of UM Itake of HmntHtfm. Tbe Diiks Ky? wto is Al- a sb-jrt as- aasestiailT trtai Is a vr, wiieh wto is pntercd to the raecals vbo by txftig aad tbe various sitatir pnicticn whicii tueat IB owe of Uuie lot too rich to be ruuiecL, ww by rac-icg. asd thai get eartiilig It, fell U) opoa bii littci, wbo oo a steireasf ui a nmanrtmt, after a For iiearh out of his 5o of life tbe duke eu'juyni 13 bUowc way his enormous fonuae and eialu-d rank, but Is (AiUxrCO ii. li whea ai owner of vast and a whole iariiig of utlee for be was three dukta, tlirec utiriuiscB, three carls and baruas (vlicd into oue-- diwl, pntc- ticalii' all ihot a great daily paper could of as rfry be showed CB many oocasijcj to bu fKirlass cleiit in the use of his and that be mw perhaps the gvnerooj and versatile all ruuud sporusitin thM thod Islands have produced. His turf transactions were on a heroic Mole.

Ouce he waiiicd to make a bet of to foo.iAio upun a single race, but by the interveutlou uf it waii canceled. The uuka wits also remarkable for his bizarre taste in drvss, which, coniblned with his burly liuure, conspicuous even in a nux- crowd. The duke figures largely In the oarly pagvtf of thuit most curious self revelaUun, "The Journal of Marie The duke had no of the existence of the precocious child of 19, who fell in love with as be drove his four- In-band on the Promenade dus Anglais at Nice and who prayed that aim might become his wife. "I dream of nothing but fame," she "and I must either be Duchess of H. or a celebrity on the staga.

A liuly, a duchess! I would rather be in society tiuui be the first among the world's celebrities, fur in that case I Shall be of another wurld." Ladv's Pictorial. Bow to Live on Tear. TTear by yejir the average man grows poorer that is to say, his wants Increase while his income diminishes. House rent and tazps 0 1 prices of most things are pretty much what they were, but the luxuries of the last century have become the necessaries of this. We may noc keep quite as many servants as our grandmothers did, but their wages have increased, their requirements have doubled, and their Industry has diminished.

In the last century servants' bedrooms were indeed garrets uncomfortable, damp, ill ventilated and without fireplaces, their food was coarse and rough and their consumption of beer unlimited; the cook brewed and baked and made preserves, and tbe maids worked and sewed and ironed and spun. An Immense amount of economy was thus practiced, and the constant supervision of the mistress left no room for waste. Now, our very servants are thriftless fine ladies, incompetent and extravagant, and their employers are almost as Ignorant, to that the expenditure In small families is double what it used to be. Wine, tea, coals are used in profusion, and everything is sent oat to be washed, cleaned or made. This alone necessitates a larger income, without counting tbe Innumerable wants of modern society the traveling, the theater going, the dinners at restaurants or the- perpetoaJ craze for amusement.

How to live on nothing a year is indeed the- question of the day for most of us, andr aa-a rule, can only be inadequately answered- London Graphic. Bptmmff ut Electric XJgbt Boach. What is now called tbe electric light bug Was first seen In Chicago, the city that uses more electric lights than any other in America, and that was one of the first to use them generally. These bugs are now positive nuisance there. Millions of them lie- ott the sidewalks of tbe main Streets, to tw crushed under the feet of the pedestrians.

A great many fall upon their backs and lie In that position, wriggling their feet iu vain endeavors to torn over. The are almost as helpless. They to hove stunned or crippled themselves by flying against the lamp globes. The spread of this pest has been very wonderful They were first noticed in Chicago only two years ago, yet today they are beginning to be- seen In Cleveland, Buffalo and Boston and are very numerous in such summer resorts as Asbory Park, Atlantic City and Long Branch. They are roaches, apparently of tbe same genus as tbe cockroach, but larger, flatter and of the color of York San.

Wlwft Are Danjceroiu. 11 S. Gregory, sheriff of telling some friends the other evening about a plucky deputy and wound tip by saying: "When you find a man as cool and steady as a rock in the face of danger, you can bet en hfm. But the most dangerous men are those vrho laugh or cry -when they have a dispute on band. I knew a man named Drew, down in Texas, who was noted as a very bad rrran.

When he was doing any shooting, he would laugh loudly--a hard, demoniacal laugh, without any merriment in it. Up at Indian Diggings, many years ago, two men named Archer and Pawson had a dispute with a German about a claim. When they claimed the property, he broke down and cried, and they, supposing they would have no trouble taking possession, marched on the ground. The German took up a broken pick and laid them both ont Archer was badly hurt and was a long time gifting over his injuries. After that whenever he saw a man start to cry he got out of the Francisco Call He CooJd.

A well known and busy actress has a little daughter who is a precocious young pagan, and tbe ether night, as the nnrw -was! away. was pet to bed by a friend of hfr mother's. "Do you not sayrour prayers, dear?" "Xop the infantile heathen- "I don't know any, and Trm-m-ma is always away when I go to bed." "Perhaps would like to learn prayer," sngrr-sted she of the missionary tendencies. "Do you think you could?" "Could I learn a prayer?" repeated tbe younger in derisive tones. "I should gay I conld.

I'm very quick study. "-New Fork Mercury. A Proverb Kerlaed; We arc frequently reminded of the inntility of locking the Ix-rn door after the horse is stolen, but we are now told of case where a man's stable has been stolen. The adage might be reviflftd, however, so as to read, "Don't put yonr horse in his stall after your stable ia Itoten. P'-g-tnn TrnnflrriTit.

GREAT TREE. GREATER FAKE. of of the p-vsenT car Wfais to go LuiLil IL. haixJ with ilx rVw-- rx-ccitf bveurd of l-st. tt.

art- Ji the trw (-ors, puzilo of all tLf tie glil in 1-yJ Mr Rocthill, ya a Crip fjvjiii tjiiz to this Ho to L.oLL-i»r, uf about tniuibiuuiia atiii an It in uf which, UJXJH tbo uf tkrw uicu-rs, Bndilh-i. which U- of sulsd pure At precisely thv tr.t- liut iim i.l.iil i nwuy (ruui It wu in iVbruurv, ittv uml no H.iru luek 1 "I'll try apiin," hi-, tiit whcrr-vcr l.i- liiiiiKt-s auj tl.i-re truth in what he -tiiii. Bat at bist Bk-t of the foreign- mission and of Tibet hn-i just hundttl tin- ki-y of tbe The fakir was explained to hira by liirrirt, who, while- un a pittriiuaoe, beciuiie and on c-urn! by tho bUhop adjured his ar.d (xi-ame a Catholic- The- stury is somi-wfcat To raise wind ia the 1 1 lauaiM-rj" LJou-sar it ia ti recourse to expedients. Even" wuuderful thing pays, even in Tibi-t. A nrvat antiquity was given.

to the tret', and iiidectl it was claimed thac it luvd iniui time iiiiutfiuuritil. But, after all, the triek was simple enough, like even- other trick when it is found out. In the spring and ia tbe summer on dark nights a Luua. with his pockets full of hund stumps and endowed with showmen In the shade, climbs all through the tree and stamps the leaves with ail sorts of holy images and characters, the most numerous being the following formula: Dm mane padoie om (glory to Buddha In the lotus). This is also stamped upcn the bark, and the leaves and portions of the bark are sold to tbe visitors.

In this way the lamas tlo a flourishing business. It might aot be safu for a fellow to say openly thnt that was the way it was (lone in the neighborhood of Uousar, pnd this serves to shotv how useful it is for one to know just when and where to keep his mouth shut. The characters are changed frequently, so that the leaves of 1895 do not look one bit like the leaves of 1890. Pere Hue has some leaves, and so has the Prince of Orleans and every other visitor, but they are all different- The naturalists need not bother themselves about finding out the precise family of this tree, it'is well known now, and Its name Is fat-a -New York Sun. Bmre and Foxtklos.

Host of you have read quotations of sliver foT-skins and black foiskins, but did you ever 'see one? The chances are that if you are. not In the fur business you never did. Only 139 were taken In the whole world last season, and every year an of these go to Russia, where they am the for of the royalty and the nobility. The other- day, trudging up The Journal stairs, came Hunnewell, the South Danville for king. He is a real Yankee at a trade, a hustling buyer who has agents in the Nova Sootias and in Cape Breton and all along the rich fur bearing countries, and his transactions amount to $50,000 a year and upward.

Under his arm HnnneweH package, which he tossed lightly to the floor of the reporters' room and disturbed the quiet of the several "desks" at work. "There," said he, "is something yon never saw before--eight silver foiskins in one bunch." There they wsre--four of them beauties, four of them ordinary. Tbe four first named were beautiful skins, pure deep black along the bases of the necks, silver tipped along the backs, while the tails were just shimmered with the silver white. The fur was soft and fine, beautiful to the touch. "That skin," said Mr.

Hunnewell, tossing out one, "is worth $135. This one is worth $150. If that one wereas black as this and were as heavy and soft as it Is now, it -would be worth $300 easily. Considering that- only 139 were taken last year, and that I got 24 of them, I think I got my share. These came from Cape Breton, and I never had so many in one bunch Journal The Stetehoiue, Boston.

The statehouse, with Its gilded dome, is tbe most familiar of all of Boston's places of interest. For a long tune the dome was the highest point in the city, and. visiblo from considerable distance, was the natural crowning of its sky line. The land on which it stands was once Gov- rrnor cow pasture. Its cornerstone was laid in 1795 by tbe Freemasons, of whnr 1 Paul was then tbe grand master.

The house -was first occupied by the Inztelatun: in January. 1793. In 1S53- an r.ortherly to Mount Vemon street vr.is Ir-gun and finished three years, later. tiud of the sixties it was. exft'nsi inside, and even afterward change and improvements were- made.

But the ouyrrew it, and ia, the foik-truci of a in the rrar was anthorizud on the site of the old Hill rtxTvoir- This has been so toward x.r.ir.letiin tLat both of have removed from the old building, together with the arid other executive Hm.i Lawmakers. The bill arr.ending th? law relating to mahcious Uici so as to prohibit throwing mii-iks int'i any or private rcsiO-nci-- houM. 1 or otr. puMie building, store or 11, 4 a enrolled and is nail and News. Koreans In America.

in Virsiniasccms likely to berose of Koreans ia counirj. Beaag Kin of Seoul Itvn a student at Koanoke since January of last year, and now Whanp Hyt-n Mo has arrived at tbe college to study English. SatMTttwif cv Sum. Itont Starca Linen and denim, whether emhroMeed ID white or colors, do not need any irtignh should be Ironed when damp and will then be sufficiently stiff. them in lukewarm suds, never letting the water be really hot, and hang them where they will dry quickly, but not directly in the sun.

In this way the color of tho stuff and the material used in niaKlrg will be preserved. Embroldctes should always be Ironed on the wrong side, and iroced until perfectly dry..