The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-11-16

tina was originally supposed. Fresh
evidence has shown that IL Is quite inn
possible that Mr.. Thaddcus Sholto
could have been In any way concerned
In the matter lie and the house
keeper, Mrs. Bernstone. were both re-
leased yesterday evening. IL Is be-
lieved, however, that the police have n
clcw to the real culprits, and that IL Is
being prosecuted by Mr.. Athelney
Jones, OF Scotland Yard, with all his
wcll-Inown energy and sagacity. Fur
thcr arrests may be expected at any
moment"
"That Is satisfactory so far as 1t
goes" thought l. "Friend Sholto Is
safe nj any rate. wonder what the
fresh clcw may be; though IL seems 70
be n stereotyped form whenever the
police have made blunder."
tossed the paper down upon the ta-
BILE, but az that moment my eye caught
an advertisement in the agony column.
1t ran In this way:
"Losr. - Whereas Mordecai Smith,
boatman, and his son Jim left Smiths
wharf % or about three o'clock last
Tuesday morning in the steam launch
Aurora, black with two red stripes,
funnel black with q white band, the
sum OF five pounds viii be paid 20 any
one who can give information to Mrs.
Smith, at Smiths wharf, or at 22l b
Baker street. as TO the whereabouts of
the said Mordecai Smith and the
launch Aurora"
This was clearly Holmes doing. The
Baker street address was enough 70
prove that. II struck me as rather in
genious, because 1t might be read by
the fngitives without their seeing in IL
more than the natural anxiety of a
wife for her missing husband.
IL was long day. Every time that
knock came TO the door, or a sharp
step passed in the street. / imagined
that IL was either Holmes returning or
an answer TO his advertisement |
tried TO read, but my thoughts would
wander of 10 our strange quest and to
the ill-nssorted and villainous pair
whom we were pursuing. Could
there be, ! wondered, some radi-
cal flaw in my companions reason
ing? Might he be suffering from
some huge self-deccption? Was 1t not
possible that his nimble and specu-
lativc mind had built mp this wild
theory upon faulty promises? ! had
never known him 20 be wrong; and yet
the keenest reasoncr may occasionally
be deceived. He was likely, thought,
TO fall into error through the over
refinement Of his logic-his preference
for subtle and bizarre explanation
when n palmer and more common
place one lay ready TO his hand. Yet,
ON the other hand / had myself seen
the evidence, and l had heard the rca-
sons for his deductions. When | looked
back on the long chain of curious cir
cumstanccs, many of them trivial in
themselves, but all tending in the same
direction. / could not disguise from
myself that even II Holmes cxplana-
ton were incorrect the true theory
must be equally outre and startling.
At three o'clock in tho afternoon
there was q loud peal at the bell, an
authoritative voice in the hall, and, TO
my surprise. no less a person than Mr..
Athclney Jones was shown up TO me.
Very different was he, however, from
the hrusquc and masterful professor OF
common sense who had taken over the
case so confidently ut Upper Norwood.
His expression was downcast, and his
bearing meek and even apologetic.
Good day, sir; good day." said he.
"Mr. Sherlock Holmes is out, / under
stand"
Eyes, and cannot be sure when he
will be back. But perhaps you would
care 20 wait. Take that chair and try
one of these cigars"
THANK Won; / don't mind II / do"
said he, hopping his face with rcd
bandanna handkerchief.
And a whislSy-and-soda?n
well, half glass. 1t is very hot
for the time Of year; and have had
good deal TO worry and try me. You
know my theory about this Norwood
casc?"
~ remember that you expressed
ONE
well, have been obliged to recon-
slider IL. had my net drawn tightly
round Mr.. Sholto. sir, when pop he went
through n hole in the middle of e. lie
was able 20 prove an alibi which could
not be shaken. From the time that he
left his brothers room he was never
out of sight OF some one or other. So
IL could not be he who climbed over
roofs and through trap-doors. It's
very dark case, and my professional
credit is at stake. | should be very glad
of little assistance"
I'VE all need help sometimes" said /.
"lOur friend Mr. ShrrIocix Holmes
Is wonderful man, sir" said he, in a
husky and confidential voice. ''lIe's
man who Is not 10 be beat. / have
known that young man 90 into q good
many cases, but ] never saw the case
yet that he could not throw light
upon. He Is irregular In his methods.
and little quick. perhaps. In jumping
at theories, bat, on the whole, think
he would have made most promising
officer and / don't co,.,. ...l.,. lr,....... IL