Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-02-16
"Tho muscles are as hard as a board, ;.

ed it, what conclusion would 1t suggest to your mindi"
 Death from some powerful vegetable Rlkaloid," Ianswered. Some strychn;ne- like substance which would produce tet- anus"
 That was the Idea. which occurred to me the instant saw the drawn muscles ot the face. On getting into the room l at once looked for the means by which tho poison had entered the system. As you saw, discovered thorn which had been driven or shot with no great force into the scalp. You observe that the part struck was that which would be turned toward the hole in the ceiling if the man were erect in his chair. Now, examine this thorn.'
 took it up gingerly and held it in the light of the lantern. It was long, sharp and black, with a glazed look near the point, as though some gummy substance had dried upon it. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded of with a knife.
 "Is that an English thorn3" he asked.
 'No, 1t certainly Is not"
 With all these data you should be able to draw some just inference. But here are the regulars, so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat"
 As he spoke the stcps, which had been coming nearer, sounded loudly on the passage, and n very stout, portly man in a gray suit strode heavily into the room He was red faced, burly and plethoric, with pair of very small twinkling eyes, which looked kccnly out from between swollen and puffy pouches. He was close ly followed by an inspector in uniform and by the still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto.
 Here's business, he cried in a muf. fled, husky voice. Here's pretty busi- ness. But who are all theseS Why, the house seems to be as full as O rabbit war ren."
 Il think you must recollect me, Mir. Athelncy Jones', said Holmes quietly.
 Why, of course 1 do," he wheezed. It's MT. Sherlock Holmes, the theorist. Remember you? I'll never forget how you lectured us all on causes and infer ences and effects in the Bishopgate jewel case, It's true you set us on the right track, but you'll own now that 1t was more by good luck than good guidance"
 It was piece of very simple reason. ing"
 "Oh, come, now, come. Never be ashamed to own up. But what is all this1 Bad business, bad business Stern fact here-no room for theories How lucky that l happened to be out at Norwood over another case! was at the station when a message arrived What d'you think the man died of?''
 "Oh, this Is hardly case for me to theorize over," said Holmes dryly.
 No, no. Still we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. Dear mel Door locked, l understand. Jewels worth half a million missing How was the windOwf"
 Fastened, but there are steps on the sill '"
 Well, well, If 1t was fastened, the steps could have nothing to do with the matter That's common sense. Man might have died in fit, but then tho jewels are miss ing Hn, have a theory! These flashes come upon me at times. Just step out side, sergeant, and you. MT. Sholto. Your friond can remain. What do you think of this, Holmcss Sholto was, on his own confession, with his brother last night The brother died in n fit, on which Sholto walked of with the treasure How's thatf"
 "On which the dead man very consider ntcly got up and locked the door on the inside"
 Hum! There's flaw there. Let us apply common sense to the matter. This Thaddeus Sholto was with his brother. There was a quarrel So much we know The brother Is dead, and the jewels arc gone. So much also we know. No one saw the brother from the time Thaddcus left him. His bed has not been slept in Thaddeus is evidently in a most disturbed state of mind His appearance is well, not attractive. You sec that l am weaving my web round Thaddeus The net begins to close upon him"
 Ton are not quite in possession of the facts yet" said Holmes This splinter of wood, which l have every reason to be- licvc 10 bo poisoned, was in the man $ scalp where you still seo the mark. This card, inscribed as you sec 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 curiositics. Thaddeus brought this up, and If this splinter be poisonous Thaddeus may as well have made the murderous use of 1t as any other man. The card is some hocus pocus-a blind as like as not. The only question is, How ulO IS ucpuElE All, OI course, nCTe Is q hole in tho roof" With great activity, considering his bulk, he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the gar ret and immediately afterward we heard his exultinS voico proclaiming that he had found tho trapdoor.
 He can find something" remarked Holmes, struggling his shoulders. He has occasional glimmerings of reason Il ny Q pas dcS sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit!"
 You see," said Athelney Jones' reap bearing down the steps again. Facts arc better than mere theories, after all My view of the case in confirmed. There Is trapdoor communicating with the roof, and It Is partly open"
 1t was who opened It."
 "Oh, indeed. You did notice it. then!' He seemed a little crestfallen at the dis covery. Well, whoever noticed it, il shows how our gentleman got away. In spector."
 "Yes, sir, from the passage.
 Ask MT. Sholto to step this way. MT Sholto, 1t is my duty to inform you that anything which you may say will bt used against you. I arrest you in tht queens name as being concerned in tht death of your brother"
 LlOWI tcll your CEleC the poor little man, throwing out hi. hands and looking from one to the othel of us.
 Don't trouble yourself about 1t, Mir Sholto," said Holmes. II think that can engage to clear you of the charge"
 Don't promise tou much, MT. Theorist Don't promise too much" snapped the de tective. You may find 1t harder matter than you think"
 Not only will clear him, Mir. Jones but will make you a free present of thu name and description of one of the two people who were in this room last night His name, have every reason to believe is Jonathan Small He is a poorly edu cated man, small, active, with his right leI oil and wearing a wooden stump which il worn away upon the inner side. His lef boot has Q coarse, square toed sole, witt an iron band round the heel. He is n mid de aged man, much sunburned, and hal baaD f.f rrhaca fos ipl