one very large central room into which Ferguson led us Here, in huge old-fashioned fireplace with an iron screen behind it dated 1670, there blazed and spluttered splendid log fire

The room, as I gazed round, was most singular mixture of dates and of places The half-panelled walls may well have belonged original yeoman farmer seventeenth century They were ornamented, however, lower part by line of well-chosen modern water-colours; while above, where yellow plaster took the place of oak, hung fine collection of South American utensils and weapons, which brought, , Peruvian lady upstairs Holmes rose, quick curiosity which sprang eager mind, and examined them with some care He returned eyes full of thought

"Hullo ! " he cried "Hullo ! "

spaniel had lain in basket corner It came slowly forward towards its master, walking with difficulty Its hind legs moved irregularly and its tail was ground It licked Ferguson's hand

" it, Mr Holmes ? "

"The dog What's the matter with it ? "

"That's what puzzled the vet sort of paralysis Spinal meningitis, he thought But passing He'll be all right soon -- won't you, Carlo ? "

shiver of assent passed drooping tail The dog's mournful eyes passed from one of us other that we were discussing his case

"Did it come on suddenly ? "

"In single night "

"How ? "

"It may four "

"Very remarkable Very suggestive "

"What do , Mr Holmes ? "

"A confirmation of what I had already thought "

"For God's sake, what , Mr Holmes ? It mere intellectual puzzle , but life and death ! My wife would-be murderer -- my child in constant danger ! Don't play with me, Mr Holmes too terribly serious "

The big Rugby three-quarter was trembling all over Holmes put his hand soothingly upon his arm

" pain , Mr Ferguson, whatever the solution ," said he " spare you all I more instant, but before I leave this house something definite "

"Please God ! excuse me, gentlemen, go my wife's room if any change "

away some minutes, during which Holmes resumed his examination curiosities wall When our host returned clear downcast face that he had made no progress He brought tall, slim, brown-faced girl

"The tea is ready, Dolores," said Ferguson "See that your mistress has everything wish "

"She verra ill," cried the girl, looking with indignant eyes at her master "She no ask for food She verra ill She need doctor I frightened stay alone with her without doctor "

Ferguson looked at me with question eyes

" so glad if of use "

"Would your mistress see Dr Watson ? "

"I take him I no ask leave She needs doctor "

"Then I'll come at once "

I followed the girl, who was quivering with strong emotion, up the staircase and down an ancient corridor end was an iron-clamped and massive door It struck me as I looked at it that if Ferguson tried to force his way wife find it no easy matter The girl drew key from her pocket, heavy oaken planks creaked upon their old hinges I passed in and she swiftly followed, fastening the door behind her

bed woman was lying who was clearly in high fever She was only half conscious, but as I entered she raised pair of frightened but beautiful eyes and glared at me in apprehension Seeing stranger, she appeared relieved and sank back with sigh pillow I stepped her with few reassuring words, and she lay still while her pulse and temperature Both were high, and yet my impression the condition was rather that of mental and nervous excitement than of any actual seizure

"She lie like that one day, two day I 'fraid she die," said the girl

The woman turned her flushed and handsome face towards me

"Where is my husband ? "

" below and would wish you "

" see him see him " Then she seemed to wander off into delirium "A fiend ! fiend ! Oh, what shall devil ? "

"Can I in ? "

"No No one can help finished All is destroyed Do what , all is destroyed "

The woman some strange delusion I honest Bob Ferguson character of fiend or devil

"Madame," , "your husband loves you dearly deeply grieved happening "

Again she turned on me those glorious eyes

"He loves me Yes But do I not love him ? Do I not love him even to sacrifice myself rather than break his dear heart ? how I love him And yet think of me -- speak of me so "

" full of grief, but understand "

"No, understand But trust "

" not see him ? " I suggested

"No, no, forget those terrible words nor the look upon his face see him Go now do nothing Tell him only my child right to my child only message " She turned her face wall and would say no more

I returned room downstairs, where Ferguson and Holmes still sat fire Ferguson listened moodily to my account interview

"How can I send her the child ? " "How do what strange impulse might come upon her ? How can I ever forget how she rose from beside it with its blood upon her lips ? " He shuddered recollection "The child is safe with Mrs Mason, and there remain "

smart maid, the only modern thing which we had seen house, had brought in some tea As she was serving it the door opened and youth entered the room remarkable lad, pale-faced and fair-haired, with excitable light blue eyes which blazed into sudden flame of emotion and joy rested upon his father He rushed forward and threw his arms round his neck abandon of loving girl

"Oh, daddy," he cried, " know that you were due yet I here to meet you Oh, so you ! "

Ferguson gently disengaged himself embrace with some little show of embarrassment

"Dear old chap," said he, patting the flaxen head with very tender hand " early because my friends, Mr Holmes and Dr Watson, persuaded down and spend an evening "

" Mr Holmes, the detective ? "

"Yes "

The youth looked at us with very penetrating and, as it seemed , unfriendly gaze

"What other child, Mr Ferguson ? " asked Holmes "Might we acquaintance baby ? "

"Ask Mrs Mason to bring baby down," said Ferguson The boy went off with curious, shambling gait which told my surgical eyes that suffering from weak spine Presently he returned, and behind him came tall, gaunt woman bearing in her arms very beautiful child, dark-eyed, golden-haired, wonderful mixture Saxon Latin Ferguson was evidently devoted , for it into his arms and fondled it most tenderly

"Fancy anyone having the heart to hurt him," he muttered as he glanced down small, angry red pucker cherub throat