5

were of the most common and vulgar description, “How long is it since your wife asked you for a save in the one chamber at the window of which I hundred pounds?” had seen the strange face. That was comfortable and “Nearly two months.” elegant, and all my suspicions rose into a fierce bitter “Have you ever seen a photograph of her first

flame when I saw that on the mantelpiece stood a

husband?”

copy of a full-length photograph of my wife, which

had been taken at my request only three months ago. “No; there was a great fire at Atlanta very shortly after his death, and all her papers were destroyed.”

 

house was absolutely empty. Then I left it, feeling a “I stayed long enough to make certain that the “And yet she had a certificate of death. You say that you saw it.” weight at my heart such as I had never had before. “Yes; she got a duplicate after the fire.” My wife came out into the hall as I entered my house; but I was too hurt and angry to speak with her, and “Did you ever meet any one who knew her in pushing past her, I made my way into my study. She America?” followed me, however, before I could close the door. “No.”

“ ‘I am sorry that I broke my promise, Jack,’ said “Did she ever talk of revisiting the place?” she; ‘but if you knew all the circumstances I am sure “No.” that you would forgive me.’ “Or get letters from it?”

“ ‘Tell me everything, then,’ said I. “No.”

“ ‘I cannot, Jack, I cannot,’ she cried. “Thank you. I should like to think over the matter a little now. If the cottage is now permanently “ ‘Until you tell me who it is that has been living

in that cottage, and who it is to whom you have given other hand, as I fancy is more likely, the inmates were deserted we may have some difficulty. If, on the that photograph, there can never be any confidence warned of your coming, and left before you entered between us,’ said I, and breaking away from her, I yesterday, then they may be back now, and we should left the house. That was yesterday, Mr. Holmes, and I clear it all up easily. Let me advise you, then, to re-have not seen her since, nor do I know anything more turn to Norbury, and to examine the windows of the about this strange business. It is the first shadow that cottage again. If you have reason to believe that is has come between us, and it has so shaken me that I inhabited, do not force your way in, but send a wire

this morning it occurred to me that you were the man hour of receiving it, and we shall then very soon get to advise me, so I have hurried to you now, and I to the bottom of the business.” do not know what I should do for the best. Suddenly to my friend and me. We shall be with you within an

place myself unreservedly in your hands. If there is

any point which I have not made clear, pray question “And if it is still empty?” me about it. But, above all, tell me quickly what I am “In that case I shall come out to-morrow and talk to do, for this misery is more than I can bear.” it over with you. Good-bye, and, above all, do not fret until you know that you really have a cause for it.”

Holmes and I had listened with the utmost inter-

est to this extraordinary statement, which had been “I am afraid that this is a bad business, Watson,”

delivered in the jerky, broken fashion of a man who said my companion, as he returned after accompa-is under the influence of extreme emotions. My com- nying Mr. Grant Munro to the door. “What do you panion sat silent for some time, with his chin upon make of it?” his hand, lost in thought. “It had an ugly sound,” I answered.

“Tell me,” said he at last, “could you swear that “Yes. There’s blackmail in it, or I am much mis-this was a man’s face which you saw at the window?” taken.”

“And who is the blackmailer?”

“Each time that I saw it I was some distance away

from it, so that it is impossible for me to say.” “Well, it must be the creature who lives in the only comfortable room in the place, and has her photo-

“You appear, however, to have been disagreeably graph above his fireplace. Upon my word, Watson, impressed by it.” there is something very attractive about that livid face “It seemed to be of an unnatural color, and to at the window, and I would not have missed the case have a strange rigidity about the features. When I for worlds.” approached, it vanished with a jerk.” “You have a theory?”