Nebraska Newspapers

    THE MEBRASEA ADVERTISER
VT. W. KANDI'US, I'uhllMicr.
NEMAHA, NEBRASKA.
ONE OF THE HALLUCINATIONS.
"I'm Rlxty to-duy,
And the Unlit In my oyes,
I'm Ruro Is rig clear
Am the blue of tho nldos.
Do you tUlnlt I am at;ltiif P Ah, Heaven for
lild, For I feci Juu on youtiK us ever I did.
"I'm nctlro nnd HtrotiR,
And my splrlta to-day
, Are us high us they cro
When my hair (isn't Rray.
Do you think 1 tun ukI&i:? Ah, Heaven for
bid, For I feci JtiNt us youriK (in over I did.
"I InURh ut tho yoars,
And I weep for the old,
Whoso eyes have frown dim,
And whose blood htiH grown cold.
Tho fart of It l.s, 1 urn Mmnly u hid,
And I feel Just uh j oun an ever I did."
IKNVOt.
And yet wellurn or sixty in sixty,
And between you nnd mo,
Ho Isn't us youni as
Ho used to be.
V. .1 I.umjiton, In Detroit Tree Pr,s.
fMpPTB
rilAI'TKIl VI. Co.VTi.Nunn.
I took tho thorn up gingerly and
licld it in the light of the lanturn. It
was long, hhiirp and blade, with a
glazed look near the point an though
some gummy hiibatunco hud dried-upon
it. The blunt wild had boon triimued
and rounded off with a knife.
"Is this an English tliornV" ho asked.
"Nf, it certainly is not."
"With all these data you should bo
able to draw some just inference. But
here are the regulars; so tho auxiliary
forces may beat a retreat."
As he spoke, tho stops which had
been coming nearer sounded loudly on
the passage, and a very stout, portly
man in a gray suit strode heavily into
the room, lie was red-faced burly and
piethoric, with a pair ot very small
twinkling eyes which looked keenly
out from behind swollen and puffy
pouches, lie was closely followed by
an inspector in uniform, and by tho
still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto.
"Here's a business'." lie cried, in u
muffled husky voice. "Here's a pretty
business! Hut who arc all these? Why,
the house seems to bo as full as a rabbit-warren.'
"I think you very much recollect ine,
Sir. Athelney Jones," said Holmes,
quietly.
"Why, of course I do!" ho wheezed.
"It's Mr. .Sherlock Holmes, the theo
rist. Hemeinber you! I'll never forget
how you lectured us all on causes and
inferences and effects in the Bishop
gate jewel case. It's true you set us on
the right truck; but you'll own now
that it was moro by good luck than
good guidance."
"It was a piece- of very simplu rea
soning." "Oh, come, now, come! Never be
ashamed to own up. Hut what is all
this? Had business! Had business!
.Stern fuets here no room for theories.
How lucky that I happened to be out at
Norwood over another case! I was at
the station when tho message arrived.
What d'you think the man died of?''
"Oh, this is hardly a case for me to
theorize over," said Holmes, dryly.
"No, no. Still, we can't deny that
you hit the nail on tlie head sometimes.
Hear me! Door locked. I understand.
Jewels worth half a million missing.
How was tho window?"
"Fastened; but there arc steps on
the sill."
"Well, well, if it was fastened the
Hteps could have nothing to do with
the matter. That's common sense.
Man might have died in a fit; but then
the jewels are missing. Ha! I have a
'CONFIRMS IT IN KVKKV UKSl'KCT.
theory. These flushes come upon mo
at times. Just step outside, sergeant,
and you, Mr. Sholto. Your friend can
remain, What do you think of this,
Holmes? Sholto was, on his own con
fession, with his brother Inst night.
The brother died in a lit, on which
Sholto walked oil' with the treasure.
How's that?"
"On which tho dead man very con
siderately got up and locked the door
on the inside."
"Hum! There's a flaw there. Lot
ns upply common sense to the matter.
jj'hia ThwWeus Sholto wns with his
T Aft P Wff
brother; there was u quarrel; so much
we know. The brother is dead and the
jewels are gone. So much also we
know. No ono saw the brother from
the time Thaddeus left him. Mr, bed
had not been slept in. Thaddeus is
evidently in a most disturbed state of
mind. His appearance is well, not at
tractive. You se that I am weaving
my wob round Thaddeus. Tho net be
gins to close ukmi him."
"You are not quite in possession of
the facts yet," said Holmes. "This
splinter of wood, which I have every
reason to believe to be poisoned, was
in the mini's scalp where you still ee
the mark; this card, inscribed as you
see it, was on the table; and beside it
lay tills rather curious stone-headed
instrument- How does all that lit into
your theory?"
"Conllnns it in every respect," said
the fat detective, pompously. "House
is full of Indian curiosities. Thaddeus
brought this up, and if this splinter be
poisonous Thaddeus may as well have
made murderous use of It as any other
man. The card is some hocus-pocus
a blind, as like as not. The only ques
tion is, how did he depart? Ah, of
course, hero is a hole in the roof."
With great activity, considering his
bulk, he sprang up the steps and
squeezed through Into the garret, and
immediately afterwards we heard his
exulting voice proclaiming that he had
found the trap-door.
"He can llnd something," remarked
Holmes, shrugging his shoulders. "He
has occasional glimmerings of reason.
I'l n'y a pasties sot si incommodes quo
ceux qui out de l'esprit!"
"You sec!" said Athelney Jones, re
appearing down the steps again.
"Facts are better than mere theories,
after all. My view of the ease is con
tinued. There is a trap-door commu
nicating with the roof, and it is partly
open."
"It was I who opened it.M
"Oh, indeed! You did notice it,
then?" lie seemed a little crestfallen
at the discovery. "Well, whoever no
ticed it, it shows how our gentleman
got awuy. Inspector!"
"Yes, sir," from the passage.
"Ask Mr. Sholto to step this way.
Mr. Sholto, it is my duty to inform you
that anything which you may say will
be used against you. I arrest you in
the queen's name as being concerned
In the death of your brother."
"There, now! Didn't I toll you?"
cried the poor little man, throwing out
his hands and looking from one to the
other of us.
"Don't trouble yourself about it, Mr.
Sholto," said Holmes "I think that
I can engage tooleuryouof thocharge."
"Don't promise too much, Mr. Theo
rist don't promise too much!" snapped
the detective. "You may llnd ita hard
er matter than you think."
"Not only will I clear him, Mr.
Jones, but I will make you a free pres
ent of the name and description of one
of the two people who were in this
room last night. Ills name, I have
every reason to believe, is Jonathan
Small. He is a poorly-educated man,
small, active, with his right leg off
and wearing a wooden stump which is
worn away upon the inner side. His
left boot has a coarse, square-toed sole,
with an iron band round the heel. He
is a middle-aged man, much sunburned,
and lias been a convict. These few in
dications may be of some assistance to
you, coupled with the fact that there
is a good deal of skin missing from the
palm of his baud. The other man "
"Ah! the other man?" asked Athel
ney Jones, in a sneering voice, but im
pressed none the less, as I could easily
see, by the precision of the other's
manner.
"Is a rather curious person," said
Sherlock Holmes, turning upon his heel.
"I hope before long to be able to intro
duce you to the pair of them. A word
with you, 'Watson."
He led mo out to the head of the
stair. "This unexpected occurrence,"
ho said, "has caused us rather to lose
sight of the original purpose of our
journey."
"I have just been thinking so," I an
swered. "It is not right that Miss
Morstan should remain in this stricken
house."
"No. You must escort her home.
She lives with Mrs Cecil Forrester in
Lower Camberwell; so it is not very
fur. I will wait for you here if you
will drive out ngain. Or perhaps you
are too tired?"
"By no means I don't think I could
rest until 1 know more of this fantastic
business. I have seen something of
the rough side of life, but l give you
my word that this quick succession of
strange surprises to-night lias shaken
my nerve completely. I should like,
however, to see tho matter through
with you, now that l have got so far."
"Your presence will lo of great serv
ice to me," he answered. "We shall
work the case out independently and
leave this fellow Jones to exult over
any mare's-nest which he may choose
to construct. When you have dropped
Miss Morstan I wish you to go on to
No. 3 l'inchln lane, down near the wa
ter's edge at Lambeth. The third
house on the right-hand side is a bird
stutter's; Sherman Is the name. You
will see a weasel holding a young rab
bit In the window. Knock old .Sher
man up and toll him, with my compli-
ment.s mat I want Toby ut once. You
will bring Toby back hi the cab with
you."
"A dog, I suppose.''
"Yes a queer monrrql, with a most
amazing power of MHUit I would
rather have Toby's help than that
of the whole dcU'ttivu force of
London." .
"I shall bring him, then," said I. "It
Is one now. I ought to be back before
throe, if I can get a fresh horse."
"And J," said Holmes, "shall sec
what 1 can learn from Mrs. llernstonc,
and from tho Indian servant, who, Mr.
Thaddeus tells me, sleeps In the next
garret. Then I shall study the great
Jones's methods and listen to his not
too delicate sarcasms. 'Wir slnd ge
wohnt dass die Menschen vorhohnen
was sic nlcht verstchen.' Goethe Is al
ways pithy."
CHAl'TI'H VIL
tub i:tisoinor Tin: HAin:i:r..
The police had brought a cab with
them, and in this I escorted Miss
Morstan back to her home. After the
angelic fashion of women, she had
borne trouble with a calm face as long
as there was someone weaker than her
self to support, and I had found her
bright and placid by the side of the
frightened housekeeper. In the cab,
however, she first turned faint, and
then burst into a passion of weeping
so sorely had she been tried by the
adventures of the night. She has told
me since that she thought me cold and
distant upon that journey. She little,
guessed the struggle within my breast,
or the effort of self-restraint which
held me back. My sympathies and my
love went out to her, even as
my hand had in tho garden. 1 felt
that years of the conventionalities of
life could not teach me to know her
sweet, brave nature as had this one
day of strange experiences. Yet there
were two thoughts which sealed the
words of affection upon my lips. She
was weak and helpless, shaken in mind
and nerve. It was to take her ut a dis
advantage to obtrude love upon her at
such a time. Worse, still, she was
rich. If Holmes' researches were suc
cessful she would be an heiress. Was
it fair, was it honorable, that a half
pay surgeon should take such advan
tage of an intimacy which chance had
brought about? Might she not look
upon me as a mere vulgar fortune
seeker? I could not bear to risk that
such a thought should cross her mind.
This Agra treasure intervened like an
Impassable barrier between us
It was nearly two o'clock when we
reached Mrs. Cecil Forrester's. The
servants had retired hours ago, but
Mrs. Forrester had been so interested
by tho strange message which Miss
Morstan had received that she had sat
up in the hope of her return. Sho
opened the door herself, a middle-aged,
graceful woman, and it gave me joy to
see how tenderly her arm stole round
the other's waist and how motherly
was the voice in which she greeted her.
She was clearly no mere paid depend
ent, but an honored friend. I was in
troduced, and Mrs. Forrester earnestly
begged me to step in and to tell her our
adventures. I explained, however, the
importance of my errand, and prom
ised faithfully to call and report any
progress which we might make with
the case. As we drove away I stole a
glance back, and I still seem to see
that little group on tho step, the two
graceful, clinging ligures, the half
opened door, tho hall light shining
through stained glass, tho barometer,
and the bright stair rods. It was sooth
ing to catch oven that passing glimpse
of a tranquil English home in tho midst
of the wild, dark business which had
absorbed us.
And the moro I thought of what had
happened, tho wilder and darker it
grew. I reviewed the whole extraor
dinary sequence of events as I rattled
on through the silent gas-lit streets.
There was the original problem; that
at least was pretty clear now. Tho
death of Capt. Morstan, tho sending of
the pearls, the advertisement, the let
ter Ave had had light upon all those
events. They had only led us, how
ever, to a deeper and far more tragic
mystery. Tho Indian treasure, the
curious plan found among Morstan's
baggage, the strange scene at Maj.
Sholto's death, the rediscovery of the
treasure Immediately followed by the
murder of the discoverer, the very sin
gular accompaniments) the crime, the
footsteps, the remarkable weapons, the
words upon the card, corresponding
with thoe upon Capt. Morstan's chart
here indeed was a labyrinth in which
a mnu less singularly endowed than my
fellow lodger might well despair of
ever finding the clew.
Pinohin lane was a row of shabby
two-storied brick houses in the lower
quarter of Lambeth. I had to knock
for some time at No. 3 before I could
make any impression. At lust, how
ever, there was the glint of a caudle
behind tho blind, and a face looked out
at the upper window.
"Go on, you drunken vngalond," said
tho face. "If you kick up any more
row I'll open the kennels and let out
forty-three dogs upon you."
"If you'll let one out it's just what I
have come for," said I.
"do on!" yelled the voice. "So help
me gracious, 1 have a wiper in this bay,
an' I'll drop it on you're 'cad if you
I don't hook It."
"Hut I want a dog!" I cried.
"I won't be argued with!" shouted Mr.
Sherman. "Now stand clear; for when
I say 'three,' down goes tho wiper."
"Mr. Sherlock Holmes " I began, but
the words had a most magical effect,
for the window instantly slammed
down, and within a minute the door
was unbarred and open. Mr. Sherman
was a lanky, lean old man, with stoop
ing shoulders, a stringy neck and blue
tinted glasses.
"A friend of Mr. Sherlock Js always
welcome." said he. "Stop in, sir. Keep
clear of the badger; for he bites. Ah,
naughty, naughty, would you take- a
nip at the gentleman?" This to a btoat
which thrust its wicked 'head and red
eyes between the bars of its cage.
"Don't mind that, sir; It's only a slow
worm. It hain't got no fangs, so I
gives it the run o' the room, for It
keeps the beetles down. You must not
mind my boin' just a little short wl'
you at first, for I'm guyed at by the
children, and there's muny a one just
comes down this lane to knock me up.
What was it that Mr. Sherlock Holmes
wanted, sir?"
"He wanted a dog of yours"
"Ah! that would bo Toby."
"Yes, Toby was tho name."
"Toby lives at No. T on the left
hero." Ho moved slowly forward with
his candle among the queer animal
family which ho had gathered round
him. In the uncertain, shadowy light
I could see dimly that there were
glancing, glimmering eyes peeping
down at us from every crunny and
corner. Even tho rnfters above our
heads were lined by solemn fowls, who
lazily shifted their weight from one
leg to tho other as our voices dis
turbed their slumbers.
Toby proved to be an ugly, long
haired, lop-eared creature, half span
iel and half lurcher, brown-and-whitein
color, with a very clumsy waddling
gait. It accepted, after some hesita
tion, a lump of sugar which tho old
naturalist handed to mo, and, having
thus sealed an alliance, it followed inc
to tho cab, and made no dlfilcultios
about accompanying me. It had just
struck three on the palace olock when
I found myself back once moro at Hon
dlcherry lodge. Tho ex-prize-fighter
McMurdo had, I found, been arrested
as an accessory, and both he and Mr.
Sholto had been marched oil' to the
station. Two constables guarded the
narrow gate, but they allowed mo to
pass with the dog on my mentioning
the detective's name.
Holmes was standing on the door
step, with his hands in his pockets,
smoking his pipe.
"Ah, you have him there!" said he.
"Good dog, then! Athelney Jones has
gone. We have had an immense dis-
M0jw J
B,iiiiHil,lflil!llir'Miiii
yiiliiiili'iillilii"" ' '"HI
1 niiiiiii'b
f'HllllltlR
NOW STAND CLEAR."
play of energy since you left. Hellas
arrested not only friend Thaddeus, but
the gatekeeper, the housekeeper, and
the Indian servant. We have the place
to ourselves, but for a sergeant upstairs
Leave the dog here, and come up."
We tied Toby to tho hall table, and
reascended tho stuira. Tho room was
as we had left it, save that a sheet had
been draped over the central figure. A
weary-looking police sergeant reclined
in the corner.
"Lend mo your bull.'s-eye, sergeant,''
said my companion. "Now tie this bit
of card round 1113' neck, so as to hang it
in front of me. Thank you. Now I
must kick off my boots and stockings!
Just you carry them down with you.
Watson. I am going to do .a little
climbing. And dip my handkerchief
into the creosote. That will do. Now
come up into the garret with mo for a
moment."
Wc clambered up through tho hole.
Holmes turned his light onco more
upon the footsteps in the dust.
"I wish you particularly to notice
these footmarks," he said. "Do you ob
serve anything noteworthy about
them?"
"They belong," I said, "to a child or
a small woman."
"Apart from their size, though. I-.
there anything els'e?"
"They appear to bo much as other
footmarks."
"Not at all. Look here! This is the
print of a right foot in the dust. Now
I make one with my naked foot beside
it. What is tho chief difference?"
"Your toes are all cramped together.
The other print has each toe distinctly
divided."
"Quito so. That is the point Bear
that in mind. Now, would you kindly
step over to the flap-window and smell
the edge of the woodwork? I shall
stay over hero, as I have this handker
chief in my hand."
I did as ho directed, and was in
stantly conscious of a strong tarry
smell.
TO IIC OOSTIXUtU),!
A Chanca for Iniuntorit.
"I dare say," rcinnrkod Mr. Hilltops,
"that some time somebody will make a
fortune by inventing something that
will enable us to get a straight part in
our hair the first time. Every bod y
knows that often though we try and
try again the part still looks more'liko a
zigzag streak of lightning than a
straight part, and we lose much time
in this way, and sometime we lose our
temper. What a blessing the hair
parterwlll be, a simple and inexpen
sive contrivance that will need to be
passed over the head but once, giving a
btraight part every timel"
111,,, IIIIIIHllJjitfrfililllllll
flilK'flTilWTO
4Jgf
ii
PITH AND POINT.
The Professor "What do you re
gard as the most objectionable featuro
In our modern plays?" First Nlghter
"The scale of prices." The Great 1
Divide.
"So the insolent fellow refused to
pay his rent?" "He did not say bo in
words, but he intimated it" "How
so?"' "He kicked mo down-stairs." Le
Figaro.
Dora "Have you decided what you
will wear at the hotel hop to-night?'
Cora "Do you know, I have thought
of absolutely nothing." Clothier aud
Furnisher.
Mrs. Norris "In this book I have
written down most of the little inci
dents of our married life." Old Bonder
"Ah! Sort of family bcrap-book, ch?"-
Brooklyn Life.
"How's ull tho boys makln' out
now?" "None of 'em a-dolu' of any
thing, 'ceptlu' of Jim." "An' what's
Jim a-doin'of?" "Louthi' around!" At
lanta Constitution.
The Cigarette. Old Man Guff
"There's nothing quite us rank as a.
cigarette, is there?" Old Man Nuff "I
can't rcnall anything, unless it is the
party smoking it." Detroit Free Press.
Mr. Dunn (unpaid bill in his hand)
"When shall I call again, Mr. Owens?"
Mr. Owens "Well, It would hardly bo
proper for you to call again until 1
have returned the present call." Har
per's Bazar.
Be "Wasn't Brown's wife named
Stono before she was married?" She
"Yes, and it was a very suitable- namo.T
Bo "What do you mean?" She "Oh.
nothing! Only she threw herself at his
head." Life.
A Close Father. She "You must
ask father for his consent" He "He
won't give it to me." She "Why not?"
He "lie's too close. Ho never gave
anything to anybody in his life." De
troit Free Press
Student "Several of my friends
are coining to dine here, so I want iu
big table." Mine Host "Just look at
this one, sir. Fifteen persons could
sleep quite comfortably under it."
Fliegenden Blatter.
Fogg thinks it a remarkable in
stance of the superior intelligence of
tho house fly that it can remember,
after lying dormant all winter, which
member of the family is possessed of a.
bald head. Boston Transcript.
Ethel (looking at tho statue of tho
Venus of Mllo) "It seems to me, Maud,
that tho women of ancient times had
larger waists than they have now."
Maud "Well, perhaps the men had
longer arms" Pearson's Weekly.
Benevolent Old Lady "Why do
you drink? Don't you know that rum
is your worst enemy?" Bed-Nosed
Mike "J hat's zhust wasser matter.
Don't zho Bible shay a man should,
love iz enemies?" Philadelphia Rec
ord. "I want to bee a big, roomy Hat,"
exclaimed the pompous man, as ho
strode into tho real estate agent's
office, "and I'm in a hurry, too."
"You'll find a mirror in the wash
room," replied tho clerk, politely.
Chicago Post
"Married!" sighed the elderly
friend. "Married, and with no provi
sions for the future." "No," smiling
ly chirped tho young bride, "there arc
no provisions for the future in tho
house. He just detests canned goods."
Indiana polls JournaL
A Mount Washington school teach
er told her pupils to write a sentence
containing the word towards. This ia
what one small boy produced, after a
great deal of mental exertion: "I
torcd my j pants yesterdaj'." Pitts
burgh Chronicle-Telegraph.
BUZZING IN HIS POCKET.
The Alarm Clock Ho Curried Wouldn't:
Stop IUikjIii);,
An engraver, who always uses a,
clock to time his work at his place of
business, was the victim of a practical
joke the other evening.
For some reason it was necessary to
take this clock homo on a car, and hia
brother fixed It so tho alarm would
sound during tho trip.
Tho car was going along smoothly
with the man standing in quite a
prominent place when tho alarm
Bounded.
Tho passengers, trying to locate tho
noise, found that it originated in an
innocent little package held in tho
gentleman's hand, but the scene
reached Its height when the man be
came frantic in his endeavors to hide
Uie timepiece either in his coat-pocket
or inside his vest
Some one from an obscure corner re
marked that it was time to get up for
breakfast
Tho owner of tho clock was just go
ing to hurl it through a closed window
when with a few closing taps of the
bell it became silent Columbus Dis
patch. Tiro Menu Men,
"My husband," said the large, fleshy
lady, "has a habit of marking all para
graphs iu tho paper that say meat
things about women."
"So you will not fall to see them,
eh? Still, that is not as mean a trick
as mine plays Ho cuts them all out
Then 1 huvo to get another paper,
only to find that I have boon foolou
again." Indianapolis Journal.
When men first take up an opinion,
and then seek for reasons for it, they
must be contented with such as the
absurdity of it will ufford. South.