St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1895-09-07

evidence has shown that it is quite i'm
! possible that Mr.. Thaddeus Sholto
could bave been in any way concerned
in the matter He and the house
keeper. Mrs. Bernstone, were both re-
leased yesterday evening. It is. be-
lieyed, however, that the police have a
clew to the real culprits, and that it is
being prosecuted by Mr.. Athelney
Jones, of Scotland Yard, with all his
well-known energy and sagaeity. Fur
ther arrests may be expected at any
moment"
'sIhat is satisfactory SO far as it
goes,' thought l. Friend Sholto is
safe at amy rate. / wonder what the
fresh clew may be; though it seems to
be a stereotyped form whenever the
police have made a blunder."
k I tossed the paper down upon the ta-
Bile, but at that moment my eye caught
an advertisement in the agony column
1t ran in this way:
LOST. -sA Whereas Mordecai Smith,
| l1oatnan, and his son Jim left Smiths
wharf at or about three o'clock last
| Tuesday morning IN the steam launch
Aurora, black with two red stripes,
funnel black with a white band, the
sum of five pounds will be paid to any
one who can give information to Mrs
Smith, at Smiths wharf, or at 221 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 to
prove that. Tt struck me as rather in
| genious, because it might be read by
4 the fugitives without their seeing in it
more than the natural anxiety of a
wife for her missing husband.
1t was long day. Every time that
o knock came to the door, or a sharp
step passed in the street, I imagined
| that it was either Holmes returning or
an answer to his advertisement. /
tried to read, but my thoughts would
wander off to our strange quest and to
| the nl-assorted 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-deception? Was it not
possible that his nimb1e and specu-
lative mind had built up this wild
theory upon faulty premises2 i had
never knoWnthim to be wrong; and yet
the. keenest reasoner may occasionally
be deceived. He was likely, thought,
to fall into error through: the over
refinement of his logic-his preference
| for d subtle and bizarre explanation
when a palmer and more common
place one lay ready to his hand. Yet,
| on the other hand, had myself seen
the evidence, and had heard the rea-
sons for his deductions. When looked
| back on the long chain of curious cir
cumstances, many Of them trivial in
themselves, but all tending in the same
direction, I could not disguise from
| myself that even if Holmes explana-
tion were incorrect the true theory
must be equally outre and startling.
At three O'clock in the afternoon
there was a loud peal at the bell, an
authoritative voice in the hall, and, to
| my surprise, no less a person than Mr..
Athelney Jones was shown up to me.
Very different was he, however, from
1.-the brusque and masterful professor of
common sense who had taken over the
case so confidently at 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. .sf1i3..5 54.
Yes, andI cannot be sure when he
will be back. But perhaps you would
care to wait. Take that chair and try
one Of these cigars ... Il
THANK you; don't mind if do,"
said he, mopping his face with a red
bandanna Handkerchief.
'sAnd a whisky yam d-soda2"
"Well, half a glass. It is very hot
for the time Of year; and have had a
good deal to worry and try me. You
know my theory about this Norwood
case?" 34tft8
81 remember that you expressed
one.
''WeH, have been obliged to recon
slider it. I had my net drawn tightly
round Mr.. Sholto, sir, when pop he went
throughsa hole in the middle of it. He
was able to 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
it could not be he who climbed over
roofs and through trap-doors. It's a
very dark case, and my professional
credit is at stake. / should be very glad
of little assistance"
1--WE an need help sometimes, said I.
our friend, Mr.. Sherlock Holmes,
is wonderful man, sir, :" said he, in
husky and confidential voice. He's
man who is not to be beat have
known that young man go into a good
many cases, but never saw the case
yet that he could not throw light
upon. He is irregular in his methods,
and a little quick, perhaps, in jumping
at theories, but, on the whole, I think
he would have made a most promising
officer, and don't care who knows it.
have had a wire from him this morn
ing, by which understand that he has
got some e1ew to this ShoIto business.
Here is hismessage.
He took the telegram out of his
pocket, and handed it to me. It was
dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock.
go to Baker street at once" it said.
ssIf have not returned, wait for me. I
am close On the track of the sholto
gang. You can come with us tonight
if you want to be in at the finish.
"This sounds well. He has evidently
picked up the scent again, said I.
ssAh, then he has been at fault too"