Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-24

| appeared on the scene"
"Is it possiblei' gasped the banker
"You then reused his anger by calling
him names at moment when he felt that
he had deserved your warmest thanks He
could not explain the true state of affairs
without betraying one who certainly de-
served little enough consideration at his
hands. He took the more chivalrous view,
! however, and preserved her secret"
"And that was why she shrieked and
tainted when she saw the coronet," cried
| Mr.. Holder. ooh, my God what blind
| fool have been! and his asking to be al
lowed to go out for five minutes. The dear
| fellow wanted to see if the missing piece
were at the scene of the struggle. How
cruelty have misiudged him."
"When arrived at the house." contin-
| ued Holmes, II at once went very carefully
round it to observe if there were any traces
| in the snow which might help me- knew
that none had fallen since the evening be-
fore, and also that there had been strong
frost to preserve Impressions 1 passed
along the bridesmaids path, but found it all
trampled down and dindistinguishable. Just
beyond it, however, at the far side of the
kitchen door, a woman had stood and talked
with man whose round impressions on one
side showed that he had wooden leg. I
could even tell that they had been dis
turbsd, for the woman had run back swiftly
to the door, as was shown by the deep toe
and light heel marks, while wooden leg had
waited little and then gone away. I
thought at the time that this might be the
maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had
already spoken to me. and inquiry showed
that it was so. passed round the garden
without seeing anything more than random
tracks, which took to be those of the po-
lice but when got into the stable lane
MI
snow in front of me.
"There was a double line Of tracks of a
booted man, and a second double line which
saw with delight belonged to man with
naked feet. I was at once convinced from
what you had told me that the latter was
your son. The first had walked both ways,
but the latter had run swiftly and as his
tread was marked in places over the de-
preston of the boot it was obvious that he
had passed after the other. followed them
up, and found that they led to the hall
window, where Boots had worn all the
snow away whila waiting. Then walked
to the other side, which was 100 yards or
more down the lane. 1 saw where Boots
had faced round, where the snow was cut up
as though there had been o struggle, and
finally where a few drops Of blood had
fallen, to show me that was not mistaken.
Boots had then run down the lane, and another
little smudge of blood showed that it was
lie who had been hurt When he came to
the high road at the other end 1 found that
the pavement had been cleared, SO there
was an end to that clew.
"On entering the house, however, I ex-
amined, as you remember, the sill and
framework of the hall window with my lens,
and I could see that some one had passed
out. could distinguish the outline of an
instep where the wet foot had been placed
in coming in. was then beginning to be
able to form an opinion as to what had oc-
CURED. A man had waited outside the win
dow. some one had brought him the gems,
the deed had been overseen by your son, he
had pursued the thief, had struggled with
him, they had each tugged as the coronet,
their united strength causing injuries which
neither alone could have effected. He had
returned with the prize, but had left frag
ment in the grasp of his opponent. So far
was clear. The question now was, who was
the man, and who was it who brought him
the coronet
''It is an old maxim of mine that when
you have excluded the impossible, whatever
remains, however improbable must be the
truth. Now, I knew that 1t was not you
who had brought it down, so there only re-
mained your niece and the maids But lift
were the maids, why should your son al
low himself to be accused in his place?
There could be no possible reason. As he
loved his cousin, however, there was an ex-
cellent explanation why he should retain
her secret-the more SO as the secret was a
disgraceful one. When remembered that
you had seen her at that window, and how
she had tainted on seeing the coronet again,
my conjecture became certainty.
'tAnd who could it be who was her con-
federate? A lover evidently, for who else
could outweigh the love and gratitude which |
she must feel to you? I knew that you went |
out little and that your circle of friends was |
very limited one But among them was
Sir George BurnwelL had heard of him
before as being a man Of evil reputation
among women. It must have been he who |
wore those boots and retained the missing |
gems Even though he knew that Arthur |
had discovered him, he might still fatter
himself that he was safe, for the lad could |
not say word without compromising his |
own family.
"Well, your own good sense will suggest |
what measures took next l went in the !
shape of loafer to Sir Georges house, man. |
aged to pick up az acquaintance with his !
valet, learned that his master had cut his |
head the night before, and finally at the ex-
pense of shillings made all sure by buying
down to Streatham, and saw that |
they exactly fitted the tracks,
81 saw an addressed vagabond in the lane
Yesterday evening"" said Mr.. Holder
Precisely. 1t was L I found that I |
had nv man, so I came home and changed |
nv clothes. 1t was a delicate part which
had to play then for I saw that prosecu-
tion must be avoided to avert scandal, and
knew that so astute william would see that
our hands were tied in the matter. went
and saw him. At first, of course, he denied
p,,k r l
particular that had occurred, he tried to
bluster and took down life preserver from
the wall. L knew my man, however, and
clapped pistol to his head before he could
strike. Then he became little more
reasonable. I told him that we would give
him price for the stones he held-G1, 600
apiece. That brought out the first signs of
grief that he had shown. 'Why, dash it,
allr said he, I've let them 20 at e6O0 for
the three 1 soon managed to get the ad-
dress of the receiver who had them on
promising him that there would be no pros
ecution. Of I set to him, and after much
chaffering got our stones at q thousand
apiece. Then 1 looked in upon your son,
told him that all was right, and eventually
got to my bed about 2 o'clock, after what
may call really hard days work.
"a day which has saved England from
great public scandal" said the banker, ris-
ing. "Sir, cannot find words to thank
you," but you shall not find me ungrateful
for what YOU have done. Your skill has
indeed exceeded all that have ever heard
of. And now I must fly to my dear boy to
apologize to him for the wrong which I
have done him. As to what you tell me of
poor Mary, it goes to my very heart. Not
even your skill can inform me where she is
now."
81 think We may safely say" returned