"The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to look out bedroom window about two o'clock morning beautiful moonlight night, lawn in front house was silvered over and almost as bright as day standing, rapt peaceful beauty scene, when aware that something was moving under the shadow copper beeches As it emerged moonshine what giant dog, as large as calf, tawny tinted, with hanging jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones It walked slowly across the lawn and vanished shadow other side That dreadful sentinel sent chill to my heart which that any burglar done

"And now very strange experience you I had, , cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in great coil bottom trunk One evening, child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the furniture room and by rearranging my own little things an old chest of drawers room, the two upper ones empty and open, the lower one locked I had filled the first two with my linen and as I had still much to pack away naturally annoyed at not having the use third drawer It struck me fastened by mere oversight, so out my bunch of keys and tried to open it The very first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open only , but that never guess what my coil of hair

" it up and examined it same peculiar tint, same thickness But then the impossibility thing obtruded itself upon me How could my hair locked drawer ? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the contents, and drew bottom my own hair I laid the two tresses together, and I assure you were identical not extraordinary ? Puzzle as , make nothing at all of what it meant I returned the strange hair drawer, and nothing matter Rucastles as that I had put myself wrong by opening drawer which they had locked

" naturally observant, remarked, Mr Holmes, and I soon had pretty good plan whole house in my head one wing, however, which appeared not inhabited at all door which faced that which led quarters Tollers opened suite, but invariably locked One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr Rucastle coming out door, his keys hand, and look face which made him very different person round, jovial man accustomed His cheeks were red, his brow was all crinkled with anger, veins stood out at his temples with passion He locked the door and hurried past me without word or look

"This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for walk grounds with my charge, I strolled round side I the windows part house There were four in row, three were simply dirty, while the fourth was shuttered up They were evidently all deserted As I strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr Rucastle came out , looking as merry and jovial as ever

"'Ah ! ' said he, ' not think me rude if I passed you without word, my dear young lady preoccupied with business matters '

"I assured him that not offended ' ,' said I, 'you seem quite suite of spare rooms up there, and shutters up '

"He looked surprised and, as it seemed , little startled at my remark

"'Photography is one hobbies,' said he ' my dark room up there But, dear me ! what an observant young lady come upon believed it ? ever believed it ? ' He spoke in jesting tone, but no jest eyes as he looked at me suspicion there and annoyance, but no jest

"Well, Mr Holmes, moment that I understood that something suite of rooms which not , all on fire over them not mere curiosity, though my share more feeling of duty--a feeling that some good might come from my penetrating place They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps woman's instinct which that feeling At any rate, there, and keenly lookout for any chance the forbidden door

" only yesterday chance came tell you that, besides Mr Rucastle, both Toller wife find something deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying large black linen bag door Recently he drinking hard, and yesterday evening very drunk; and when upstairs the key door at all that he had left it there Mr and Mrs Rucastle were both downstairs, child was , I had an admirable opportunity I turned the key gently lock, opened the door, and slipped through

" little passage in front of me, unpapered and uncarpeted, which turned at right angle farther end Round this corner were three doors in line, the first and third were open They each led into an empty room, dusty and cheerless, with two windows one and one other, so thick with dirt evening light glimmered dimly through them The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it fastened broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked at one end to ring wall, and fastened other with stout cord The door itself was locked , key was not there This barricaded door corresponded clearly shuttered window outside, and yet I glimmer from beneath it room was not in darkness Evidently skylight which let in light from above As I stood passage gazing sinister door and wondering what secret it might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps room and saw shadow pass backward and forward against the little slit of dim light which shone out from under the door mad, unreasoning terror rose up in me sight, Mr Holmes My overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran some dreadful hand were behind me clutching skirt dress I rushed down the passage, door, and straight arms of Mr Rucastle, who was waiting outside

"'So,' said he, smiling, ' you, then when the door open '

"'Oh, so frightened ! ' I panted

"'My dear young lady ! my dear young lady ! '-- think how caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened you, my dear young lady ? '

"But his voice was just little too coaxing He overdid it keenly on my guard against him

"' foolish enough empty wing,' I answered 'But so lonely and eerie dim light that frightened and ran out again Oh, so dreadfully still in there ! '

"'Only that ? ' said he, looking at me keenly

"'Why, what did ? ' I asked

"'Why that I lock this door ? '

"' that know '

"' people out no business there Do ? ' still smiling most amiable manner

"' if I had known--'