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for Mid-Devon at the next election, has cast a gloom over

the county. Though Sir Charles had resided at Baskerville

Hall for a comparatively short period his amiability of

character and extreme generosity had won the affection

and respect of all who had been brought into contact with

him. In these days of nouveaux riches it is refreshing

to find a case where the scion of an old county family

which has fallen upon evil days is able to make his own

fortune and to bring it back with him to restore the

fallen grandeur of his line. Sir Charles, as is well known,

made large sums of money in South African speculation.

More wise than those who go on until the wheel turns

against them, he realized his gains and returned to England

with them. It is only two years since he took up his

residence at Baskerville Hall, and it is common talk how

large were those schemes of reconstruction and improvement

which have been interrupted by his death. Being himself

childless, it was his openly expressed desire that the

whole countryside should, within his own lifetime, profit

by his good fortune, and many will have personal reasons

for bewailing his untimely end. His generous donations

to local and county charities have been frequently

chronicled in these columns.

"The circumstances connected with the death of Sir Charles

cannot be said to have been entirely cleared up by the

inquest, but at least enough has been done to dispose of

those rumours to which local superstition has given rise.

There is no reason whatever to suspect foul play, or to

imagine that death could be from any but natural causes.

Sir Charles was a widower, and a man who may be said to

have been in some ways of an eccentric habit of mind.

In spite of his considerable wealth he was simple in his

personal tastes, and his indoor servants at Baskerville

Hall consisted of a married couple named Barrymore, the

husband acting as butler and the wife as housekeeper.

Their evidence, corroborated by that of several friends,

tends to show that Sir Charles's health has for some time

been impaired, and points especially to some affection

of the heart, manifesting itself in changes of colour,

breathlessness, and acute attacks of nervous depression.

Dr. James Mortimer, the friend and medical attendant of

the deceased, has given evidence to the same effect.

"The facts of the case are simple. Sir Charles Baskerville

was in the habit every night before going to bed of walking

down the famous yew alley of Baskerville Hall. The evidence

of the Barrymores shows that this had been his custom.

On the fourth of May Sir Charles had declared his intention

of starting next day for London, and had ordered Barrymore

to prepare his luggage. That night he went out as usual

for his nocturnal walk, in the course of which he was in

the habit of smoking a cigar. He never returned. At

twelve o'clock Barrymore, finding the hall door still open,

became alarmed, and, lighting a lantern, went in search

of his master. The day had been wet, and Sir Charles's

footmarks were easily traced down the alley. Halfway down

this walk there is a gate which leads out on to the moor.

There were indications that Sir Charles had stood for some

little time here. He then proceeded down the alley, and

it was at the far end of it that his body was discovered.

One fact which has not been explained is the statement

of Barrymore that his master's footprints altered their

character from the time that he passed the moor-gate, and

that he appeared from thence onward to have been walking

upon his toes. One Murphy, a gipsy horse-dealer, was on

the moor at no great distance at the time, but he appears

by his own confession to have been the worse for drink.

He declares that he heard cries but is unable to state

from what direction they came. No signs of violence were

to be discovered upon Sir Charles's person, and though

the doctor's evidence pointed to an almost incredible

facial distortion—so great that Dr. Mortimer refused at

first to believe that it was indeed