Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-06-06

the L1In6 1HdOOeuS lS1O HIS DCo
had not been slept in. Thaddeus is
evidently in a most disturbed state of
mind. His appearance is-wen, not at
tractive. You see that I 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 I 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 1t in every respect" said
the fat detective, pompously. ''House
is fu11of 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
man. The card is some hocus-pocus-
blind, as like as not. The only ques-
ton is, how did he depart? All, of
course, here is hole in the roof"
With great activity, considering his
bulk, he sprang up the steps and
squeezed through into the garnet, and
Immediately afterwards we heard his
exulting voice proclaiming that he had
found the trap-door.
'He can find something" remarked
Holmes, Struggling his shoulders. He
has occasional glimmerings of reason.
II ny a pas des sots 81 incommodes que
ceux qui ont de l'espritl"
you seel'' said Athe1ney Jones, re-
appearing down the steps again.
| Facts are better than mere theories,
after all. My view of. the case is con-
frmed. There is trap-door commu-
nicating with the roof, and it is partly
| open"
1T was who opened it."
sob, indeed! You did notice 1t,
then?" He seemed little crestfallen
at the discovery. ''Wel1, whoever no
ticed it, it shows how our gentleman
got away. InspectorI'
Eyes, sir" from the passage.
| ''Ask Mr.. Sholto - step this way
Mr.. Sholto, it is my duty to inform you
that anything which you may say will
be used against you. I arrest you in
the queens name as being concerned
| in the death of your brother"
''There, now! Didn't I tell you?"
cried the poor little man, throwing out
his hands and looking from one to the
other of US.
Don't trouble yourself about it, Mr..
Sholto," said Holmes ST think that
I can engage to clear you of the charge"
Don't promise too much, Mr.. Theo-
rist-don't promise too muchw snapped
the detective. ''You may find it a hard
er matter than you think"
Not only will I clear him, Mr..
Jones, but will make you free pres
ent of the name and description of one
of the two people who were in this
room last night. His name, I have
every reason to believe, is Jonathan
Small. He is poorly-educated man,
small. active, with his right leg off
and wearing wooden stump which is
worn away upon the inner side. His
left boot has a coarse, square-tOed sole,
with an iron band round the heel. He
| is middle-aged man, much sunburned,
and has been a convict. These few in
dications may be of some assistance to
you, coupled with the fact that there
is good deal of skin missing from the
palm of his hand. The other man"
''Ah! the other man?" asked Athel-
ney Jones, in a sneering voice. but i'm
pressed none the less, as I could easily
see, by the precision of the others
manner.
Is d TdOAcT pSISOAs Sd1U
Sherlock Holmes, turning upon his heel
ST hope before long to be able to intro
duce you to the pair Of them. A word
with you, Watson"
He led me out to the head of the
stair. This unexpected occurrence,
he said, ''has caused US rather to lose
sight of the original purpose of oul
journey"
ST have just been thinking so,'' I an
swered. sit is not right that Mis-
Morstan should remain in this stricken
house"
''No. You must escort her home
She lives with Mrs. Cecil Forester il
Lower CamberweIl; so it is not verJ
far. will wait for You here if 20,
will drive out again Or perhaps yol
are TOO tired?"
by no means. don't think coulC
rest until know more Of this fantastic
, business. I have seen something o
the rough side of life, but give yol
my word that this quick succession o
strange surprises tonight has shaker
my nerve completely. I should like
However, to see the matter through
with you, now that have got so far.
Your presence will be of great serv
ice to me-" he answered. 1--WE shall
work the case out independently an.
leave this fellow Jones to exu1t owe
any mare's-nest which he may choos
to construct When you have droppe'