Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / Aug. 21, 1921, edition 1 / Page 18
Part of Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
l-:i ii.fi . THE MORNING STAK, WILMINGTON, -N. C, SUNDAY,: AUGUST 21, 1921. SIX-B 1 i 1 ft.; x4- r J.' ? J, - J'f. If 1 J, t J, ' 1 ; t 1 f fHE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND (Continued From Page Five) 'Were thre grypsies in the plantar Ion t the time?" Tes, there are nearly always- some bere."' "Ah, and what Ala you srather from his allusion to ' a band a speckled and?" "Sometimes I have thought that it ras merely the wild talk of delirium, tometlmes that it may have referred some band of people, perhaps 'o iheee very jrypsies in the plantation, t do not know whether the spotted sandkerchiefs which so many of them rear over their heads might have sug gested the strange adjective which she ised." Holmes shook his head like a man arho is far from being satisfied. "These are very deep waters," said ie; "pray go on with your narrative." You back CHAPTER III. "Two years have passed since then, sontlnued Mies Bioner, "and my life las been until lately lonelier than even. k month ago. however, a dear frienrl, prhom I have known for many yeans, aas done me the honor to ask my hacnd ai marriage. His name is Armltag Percy Armitage the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Read ing. My stepfather has offered no op position to the match, and we are to e married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs were gtarted in the west wing of the build ing, and my bedroom wall has been pierced, eo that I have had to move into the chamber in which mv sister Sied, and t'j sleep in the very bed in which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the lamp, but noth ing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as eoon as It was daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the 'Crown Inn.' which is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your advice.' "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me all?" "Yes, all." "Miss Roylott, you have not. are screening your stepfather." "Why, what do -ou mean?" For answer Holmes pushed the frill of black lace which fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed upon the white wrist. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. The lady colored deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hard ly knows his own strength." There w.ae a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin upon his hands and stared itno the crackling Sre. "This is a very deep businpss." he said, at last. "There are a thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide upon our course of ac tion. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If we were to come to Stoke Mo ran today, would it be possible for us o see over these rooms without the knowledge of your stepfather?" "As it happens, he spoke of com ing into town today upon some most important business. It is probable that he will be away all day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a housekeeper now. but she Is old and foolish, and I could easily gret her out o fthe way." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "By no means." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "I have one or two things which I would wish to do new that I am in town.. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to be there "in time for your coming." "And you may expect us early in ixie auernoan. j. nave myseit some small business matters to attend to. FFill you not wait and breakfast?" "No, I must go. My heart is light ened already since I have confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her face and glided from the room. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes! teanlng back in his chair. "It seems to me to be a most dark nd sinister business." "Dark enough and sinister enough." "Yet if the lady is correct in say ing that the flooring and walls ar; sound, and that the door, windows, and chimney are impassable, then her sis ter must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her mysterious end." "What becomes, then, of these noc turnal whistles, and what of the very oeculiar words o fthe dying woman'" "I cannot think." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of a band .of gypsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, the fart thati we have every reason to believe that the doctor has an interest In pre venting his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying allusion to a band, and, fin ally, the fact that Miss Helen Stonsr heard a metallic clang. Which might have been caused by one of those metal CORNS Lift Off with Fingers bars which seeurl the thtrtters fall-, ins back into the'r place. I think that there is good grund to think that the mystery may bje cleared along those lines." "But what, then, did the gypsies doT" VI cannot Vknagine." "I see maay objections to any such theory." "And so Ao I. It is precisely for that reas&n tha& we are going to Stoke Mo- j, ran this 'Jay. I want to see whether j the objections are fatal, or if they may j be explained away. But what in the name of.' the devil!" ' . I The ''ejaculation had been drawn j from my companion by the fact that our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had framed J himself In the aperture. His costume kwas, a peculiar mixture of the profes- : stomal and of the agricultural, having a fclack top-hat, a long frock-coat, and apair o fhigh gaiters, with a hunting crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his hat actually brushed the "cross bar o fthe doorway, and his 'breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. . A large face, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old bird of prey. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "My name, sir; but you have the ad vantage of me," said my companion, quietly. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Indeed, doctor," said Holmes, blandly. "Pray take a seat." "I will do nothing o fthe kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I have traced her. What has she been say ing to you?" "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man. furiously. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my com panion, imperturably. "Ha! You put me off, do your' said our new visitor, taking a step forward and shaking his hunting crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." My friend smiled. "Holmes, the busybody!" His smile broadened. "Holmes, the Scotland-yard Jack-ln-offlce!" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation Is most entertaining." said he. "When you go out close the door, for there Is a decided draught." "I will go when I have said mv saw Don't you dare to meddle with my af fairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! lam a dan gerous man to fall foul, of ! See here." He stepped swiftly forward, seized the poker and bent it into a curve with hi3 huge brown hands. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace, he strode out of the room. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him that my grip I was not much more feeble than his own.' As he spoke he picked up the-j steel poker, and with a sudden effort ! straightened it out again. j "Fancy his having the insolence to coniouna me with the official detective force! This incident gives est to our investigation. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suf fer from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk down to Doc tors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may help us In this matter." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his ex cursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures. "I have seen the will of the de ceased wife." said he. "To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged 10 worn out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The total income, which at the time of the wife's death, was little short of 1.100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, since It has proved that he has the very strongest motives for standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Wat son, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man Is aware that we are interesting ourselves in his af fairs; so if you are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be very fnuch obliged if you would slip your revolver Into your pocket. An Eley's No. 2- Is an excellent argument with gentlemen who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth brush, are. I think, all that we need" Demi't hurt ; a bit! Drop a little "Free ion e" on' an achlnr corn, instant ly that corn etope tmrtinr. then short ly yon lift it right off with the fingers. Tralyl Your druggist sells a tiny bottle ei 'Freezone- for a few cents, sufficient to remove Vvery hard com, soft corn, or com between the tos, and the cal tnaa. wlthotit soreness 'or irritation. CHAPTER IV. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Lreatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn, and drove for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a perfect day with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant smell of the moist eartl. To me at least there was a strange con trast between the sweet promise of the spring and this sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My compan ion sat In the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the deepest thought, and pointed over the meadows. "Look there!" said he. A heavily-timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the branches there jutted out the gray gables and high roof-trees of a very old mansion. "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the driver. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is where we are going." "There's the village," said the driv er, pointing to a cluster of roofs some distance to the left; "bi-i if you want to get to the house, you'll find it shorter to set over this stile, and so by the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is walking." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," abserved Holmes shading his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." We got off. paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way to Leath erhead. ? "I thought it as well," said : Holmes, (Continued on Page Seven)." - THE UNIVERSAL CAR IN STOCK FOR Immediate Delivery FORD ROADSTERS, FORD TOURINGS, FORD COUPES, FORD SEDANS, FORD TRUCKS, FORDSON TRACTORS ?. 1 Come, Write or Wire Let us repair your Ford. We use only Genuine Ford Parts .OP, Jones Motor Sales Company Exclusive Sales Service Wilmington, N. C. ELVISGTON'S PHARMACY Opposite Postoffice HALL'S PHARMACY 501 Castle Street HANSON'S DRUG STORE 17th and Market Streets Fot Those Who Insist Upon Candy That Is FRESH Wiley's Candies are sold by discriminating dealers who appreciate the importance of supplying you with candy that is both delicious and fresh, WILEY'S DELICIOUS CANDIES Are sold by the following dealers who secure frequent ship ments, enabling them to always have on hand a fresh supply; MILLER'S PHARMACY 26 N. Front Street, THE MUNDS PHARMACY 820 Market Street PAYNE ORI'G COMPANY Fifth and Red Cnm Street Wilmington, North Cur&lina Jijr . A VACATION IXa V-J NECESSITY I 3 bnUmoj 'Satisfaction 5 B U mm. JLL Ajl. bnUtmofSatifaioH A Child Can Work the Buick Clutch 'TS7rHY drive a car that takes V V all your strength to work the clutch? Buick cars drive right because they're built right as more than a half-million Buick owners will testify. Step into our sales room today, ride in the new Buick models and try the clutch yourself. No others compare. Buick Sixes eS-Six-U Three Passenger Roadster IU95 ei-Sxx-i5 Five Passenger Touring - 1525 tg-Six-16 Three Passenger Coupe - 1S5 51- 8ix-i7 Five Passenger Sedan - - f 455 S-8e-i8 Four Passenger Coupe - - SSS5 Se-Siz-49 Seven Passenger Touring 17S5 te-Six-50 Sewn Passenger Sedan - 1 635 Buick Fours St-Fovr-Sb Two Passenger Roadster I 9S5 SS-Four-SB Five Passenger Touring 976 2Four-36 Three Passenger Coupe - 1475 52- Four-37 Five Passenger Sedan - 1650 All Pric0 P. 0. B. Flint, MUkictu mm Time would hang rather, heavily on your hands if you failed to keep in touch with your - friends back home. Tell them about your wonderful time and do it with one of our high-grade FOUNTAIN PENS. Get one of these before you leave. Geo. W. Huggins Co. Jewelers : Watchmakers 105 Market Street BROGUE OXFORDS (C-31 W. D. MacMillan, Jr. MOTOR (CARS 105-107 N. Second St. Phone 2103 WHEN BETIEK AUTOMOBILES ABE BUIt i JOTCR WDX BUILD "THESkl e i Give Your FEET a Wide-Awake Look Here is an Oxford shaped to the natural lines of your feet. The foot settles comfortably into this shape, lou will like to look at these Oxfords and to wear them. All sizes and widths. PETERSON & RULFS Home of Good Shoes" The Certificate of Deposit Is a convenient form of keeping money for those wh' are undecided what else to'do with it. This bank issue certificates of deposit and you wili find them safe and convenient instruments. Citizens Bank and Trust Company S. Vr. Cop. Front nnd Chestnut St Opposite Poatofflce E Read Star Classified Ads !:! !1 !.! i.l i i I'! i1 r 1 1.
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 21, 1921, edition 1
18
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75