Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12

would have been folly to go to a funk ehop
piece Of paper nartaIlv was b 1oens I Wi,s
your superficial knowledge of such matters
you doubtless do not know that when
waste paper is received by junk dealers It
Is separated into several classes. Various
kinds of paper are placed in separate bags.
Are you aware that one of the finest
tooth powders is made of burned linen pa
per! The junk dealer knows that and
places in separate bag all partially
burned linen paper, as it could not be sold
with other linen paper usually intended to-
be made over into material of similar
grade. AS a rule there Is very little part
ly burned linen paper received at a junk
shop. so that the bag into which it is col
lected does not get filled for very long
periods I have known cases where such
material was ten years old in a single junk
shop. So went to the junk dealer for the
purpose of examining the burned linen
paper he had on hand, and he told me
he had been collecting his present stock for
three years, and it was probably within
| that time that Judge Holt laid out the old
will to be burned. / have reason to believe
that the writing on the back of the will
was not placed there before the year 1892,
but there are other evidences that prove
conclusively that the will was nullifed
long before that. but I have no time now
70 give you the foundation for that belief.
The will was with many other old papers,
and 1t was only in a general clearing up
that it was discovered. Cancelled and laid
aside with instructions for its burning
admire your ingenuity" / said. adj
dressing myself to Holmes. but 1 do not
beheve that any court would accept your
evidence as satisfactory
homes smiled and shook his head Then
walking across the room, he picked up
another paper from a table and brought it
to me. >
You doubt" he said, that the paper I
have given you really was a part of the
burned document now in the possession Of
the register of wills. I have told you that
sc netting remarkable caught the eye of
md G q vnd he
Ing OF the will. 1t was this"
He allowed me to read the second paper
he had to exhibit. 1t was indeed re-
was in red ink. as 1 thought, and the let
tiers were large and thickly made I read:
Another evidence of human Inconsistency.
is born to die. or to give way to other af-
fections. J. HOLT"
THAT writing" continued Holmes. .is in
tie hand that wrote the document now held
by the recorder of wills. but being written
| with human blood as I have ascertained
by analysis. The lines are thicker. 1t was
the remarkable appearance of that page
that caused the person burning the raperS
to save them from the flames. and after ex-
animation. to save the charred will. That
sheet was pinned on the front of the will.
and you observe that 1t is burned on the
same edges is the document which now
mystifies the lawyers and the reporters. I
attach no especial Importance to this writ
Ing with blood. or to the expressions used.
scribing thought when deeply affected,
and 1t is difficult to account for such Pc
culiarities."
Holmes. in an abrupt manner indicated
that he didn't care to pursue the subject
longer. He crossed the room and seated
himself by the window in distracted
way. I remained silent several minutes
watching his strange mood. When he
covered his usual manner he begged TO be
| excused for his apparent abstraction, and
remarked that he had been engaged in for.
getting all he knew about the burned WILL
as he didn't care to remember anything
that would be useless to him in the further
pursuance of the subject which would
late solely to the recovery of the later will
made by Judge Holt.
l was about to withdraw when 1t oc-
CURED to me that had had no explanation
Of Holmes appearance on the street on
crutches and with his hand bandsged.
'oh. that was my method of getting ac-
qrainted with you," he replied. Il really
wanted to work this case up for one of the
newspapers. and being a stranger In the
city, knew that il / should appear in pub
lie in the disguise in which you saw me. II
would not be long until / would be spoken
to by curious reporter. I had no other in.
tention, / assure you"
l left Mr.. Holmes with assurances that
If 1 cared to have him discover the missing
will he would look it up in a few hourR