The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-08
A Story of Crime and
Mystery.
THE CASE OF GEORGE CANDLBMAS,
Written for The Sun by George r. Sims
CHAPTER XII.
THE UNI ELLA.

don his theory that Sir Arthur Strangeways
was directly concerned In the mysterious dis
appearance OF George Candlemas.
His first impression had been that the old
gentleman who paid q mysterious visit to the
missing mans mother. was tho missing man
himself. disguised because he had killed. his
wfes lover and was In hourly terror OF the
crime being brought to light.
Subsequent discoveries had compelled him,
much against his will, to abandon this view OF
the mystery. and now he was beginning to be
uneasy in his mind about the alternative the
DRY. that there had been meeting, a quarrel,
possibly q fight and that the lover had
murdered George Candlemas.
1t Is very hard for q detective to spend his
nights and days in accommodating evidence
against his own theory Tho bloodhound OF
the law" feels neither fatigue of body nor
weariness OF soul when. having made up his
mind that his arrival at a certain spot will
crown his efforts with success, he finds that
the clearing OF each obstacle tthe race Is fire.
ouently steepleohasel lands him nearer the
goal he always had in view.
But when, after wandering for weeks through
a Hampton court maze OF clues, he finds that
the contre is not the place he intended and de-
sired to reach. then he Is apt to get savage
with himself and everybody else, and to grow
disguised with his task.
Mr.. Binks had risen from the ranks. He had
joined the force a young man. had commenced
as an ordinary police constable, and grad
ually worked his way up TO his present
proud elevation, and was now we'll In view OF an
inspectorship. He was policeman to tho
backbone. and took q polceman's view OF life
aud character.
His businessas soon as he was convinced that
Sir Arthur was not George Candlemas. was
to prove that Sir Arthur was the person re-
sponsible for Candlemas's disappearance.
1t was. therefore. with something moro than
ANNOYANCE that he found himself following up
evidence which pointsd rather to Sir Arthur's
innocence than to his guilt. The evidence that
pointed to Sir Arthur's guilt he grasped to his
soul with hooks Of steel: the evidence that
pointed to his innocence he held at arms length.
The moment OF triumph he had enjoyed when
Sir Arthur's boot fitted the footmarks rouni
the spot where the blood stained handker-
chief had been discovered. WAS succeeded by
hours OF despair and humiliation when. later
on. he made II more thorough examination of
the ground
He had noticed at the first examination that
there were other footmarks which Sir Arthur's
He therefore Immediately on his return to
town called upon Mrs Candlemas and begged
The old lady. who had now become terribly
anxious. az there was still no sign of the miss
with pale face and with fearful eyes.
She was quite willing now to leave the mat
recognized her sons overcoat and his hat
when they we're shown to her, and when she
with diiflculty that she kept her composure
sufficiently to continue the interview:
Mr.. Binks had no trouble In obtaining her
that the Baronet was gravely compromised.
hose Candlemas's old lover that he was the
man her son had set forth to chastise; that
had been found in Sir Arthurs possession and
her sons handkerehiet, covered with blood
s sS been R & and
delitaiy o. his si,ion. He mad written to
cumstances he could not Invite. nor did lie ex-
Peet my further confidence on her part All
he c,uld do now was o assist Justice by every
Mr. Binks, in the prosecution Of his in
fact. which he impaired to the heartbroken
mother gentleman fully answering the de:
Ter @ OF her s1a mSa ~ R t Saoa
He had been told that Sir Arthur was away.
and would not return till the afternoon of tho
18TH; He mad gone away; saying that he
ZONES. one Of the female servants at Strange;
Mr.. Candemas. and had declared IL was that
Of me gentleman who called: MS features
rev ." ke sf TACT '4'
Fisk. Sir Arthurs man. had Confirmed this
evidence. Jones. In reportlng tho visit. had
told MIN that gentleman hal called who was
Sir; binkS .atisiiod Mrs. Gapdlemas that her
the Arthur OF tho letter was, had undoubt.
edly gone 70 Strangeways Hall on the 10th, and
that was the place where every trace OF him
D.. BIT on the 10th Sir Arthur. you say. was at
...Undou ottedly, but your son said he would
return r, on the 18th"
q ha S,,,na Ia to-
the three day.. some ono must have seen him.
he must have lived somewhere. He would
nights. / don't despair yet, madam, Of finding
out What became Of MIN in the interim, but I
turned on The evening Of the 18th -" - ~
And saw Sir Arthur"
tho S h re W.a da or oy sro Oh
E SPs Be- h H tho
That night he returned to tho hall with blood
Oh ne stiskma g., heavy onH-whinh he carrsd,
the time to his man servant, who remarked 1t,
by saying that he had 1aii. struck dog which had
sprAng out at him and he struck him with the
hs Tne is oW
hefNgsounts I2r s'hheda(i9G blood that night"
ing Soe IN or hsnd bayys
decsIrs ARHF b thinks 50 qE s6 o, GY he
tramp. and lie struck in sclfdefence."
My son." cried Mrs. Candlomas. after a
blow like that would not have run away,
especially II he knew, as he must have done,
who was his assaLlant d., you think he would
have gone there TO demand an explanation Of
Sir Arthur and then run away without u word.
because the man he was In search OF hit him
No, my son, as ! told you; was man OF
violent, almost unguyernable. temper. He
would have closed with his assailant. and
there would haye been deadly struggle"
(which | believe there was" "a d the letec-
tive; +" Besides, II your son walked away, as
hlr Arthur protends, how did Sir Arthur come
by his oYercoat and hatY
How does he account for their posse ssion ?"
He says he got the hat by accident. and
took the oyssTcoat from man in tho street
diGnantly. :" begin to believe with you that
have been shamcfully duped by this man, and
that no only came here and asked me to let
him make the Investigation because he feared
The police might discover his share in my sons
DISAPPEARANCE
am glad you think that, madam" exelaim-
Cd Mr. Binks rising. Now you will help mo
AL you can to Eroye the truth OF my surmlses."
Indeed will shall not know a moments
rest until the fate OF my unhappy son is placed
beyond all doubt. or lie is restored to my arms
WaaNl .ll.