The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-06-07
CHAPTER vI-coSrrNUEn.

1 took the thorn up gingerly and
held it in the light of the lantern. Il
was long, sharp and black, with g
glazed look near the point as though
some gummy substance had dried,upor
it. The blunt end had been trimmed
and rounded off with knife.
''Is this an English thorn?" he asked
mo, it certainly is not"
"With all these data you should be
sble to draw some just inference. But
here are the regulars; so the auxiliary
forces may beat retreat"
As he spoke, the steps which had
been coming nearer sounded loudly on
the passage, and a very stout, portly
man in gray suit strobe heavily into
the room. He was red-faced, burly and
plethoric, with a pair of very small
twinkling eyes which looked keenly
out from behind swollen and puffy
pouches. He was closely followed by
an inspector In uniform, and by the
still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto.
Here's a businessI" he cried, in a
muff1ed husky voice. Heres pretty
businessl But who are all these2 Why,
the house seems to be as full as rab-
bit-warren."
81 think you very much recollect me,
Mr.. Athelney JONES'" said Holmes,
quietly.
why, of course 1 dor' he wheezed.
'It's Mr.. Sherlock Holmes, the theo-
rist. Remember you! I'll never forget
how you lectured US all on causes and
- ~ ha
gate jewel case. It's true you set us on
the right track; but you'll own now
that it was more by good luck than
good guidance"
1T was piece of very simple rea-
soning."
''Oh, come, now, comel Never be
ashamed to own up. But what is all
this? Bad businessl Bad businessl
Stern facts here-no room for theories.
How lucky that happened to be out at
Norwood over another case! was at
the station when the message arrived.
What d'you think the man died OFF"
''Oh, this is hardly case for me to
theorize over" said Holmes, dryly.
mo, no. Still, we can't deny that
you hit the nail on the head sometimes.
Dear me! Door locked, 1 understand.
Jewels worth half a million missing.
How was the Window"
Fastened; but there are steps on
the sill"
''Well, well, If it was fastened the
steps could have nothing to do with
the matter. That's common sense.
Man might have died in fit; but then
the jewels are missing. Ha! 1 have a
theory. These flashes come upon me
at times. Just step outside, sergeant,
and you, Mr.. Sholto. Your friend can
remain. What do you think of this,
Holmes? Sholto was, on his own con-
fession, with his brother last night.
The brother died in a fit, on which
Sholto walked off with the treasure.
How's that?'
''On which the dead man very con-
siderately got up and locked the door
on the inside"
''Huml There's flaw there. Let
us apply common sense to the matter.
This Thaddeus Sholto was with his
brother, there was quarrel; so much
we know The brother is dead and the
Jewels are gone. So much also we
know. No one saw the brother from
the time Thaddeus left him. His bed
had not been slept in. Thaddeus is
evidently in most disturbed state of
mind. His appearance is-well, not at
tractive. You see that 1 am weaving
my web round Thaddeus. The net be-
gins to close upon him"
"You are not quite in possession of
the facts yet" said Holmes. This
splinter of wood, which l have every
reason to believe to be poisoned, was
in the mans scalp where you still see
the mark; this card, inscribed as you
see It, was on the table; and beside it
lay this rather curious stone-headed
instrument. How does all that fit INTO
your theory?"
Confirms it in every respect" said
the fat detective, pompously. House
Is full of Indian curiosities. Thaddeus
Brought this up, and if this splinter be
poisonous Thaddeus may as well have
made murderous use of it as any other
n n m