Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-21

ject 1t on account Of apparent imposSibll1-
ties. 1t is only left for us to prove that
these apparent responsibilities are, in real
tty. not such.
''There are two windows in the chamber.
One Of them is unobstructed by furni-
ture, and is wholly visible. The lower por-
ton of the other is hidden from view by
the head of the unwieldy bedstead which
is thrust close up against it. The former
was found securely fastened from within.
It resisted the utmost force Of those who
endeavored to raise it. A large gimlet- hole
had been pierced in its frame to the left,
and a very stout nail was found fitted
therein, nearly to the head. Upon examin-
ing the other window, a similar nail was
seen similarly fitted in it; and a vigorous
attempt to raise this sash, failed also. The
police were now entirely satisfied that
egress had not been in these directions.
And, therefore, it was thought a matter of
supererogation to withdraw the nails and
open the windows.
my own examination was somewhat
more particular, and was so for the reason
I have just given-because here it was, 1
knew, that all apparent impossibilities
must be proved to be not such in reality.
II proceeded to think thus-a posterlor1
The murderers did escape from one of these
windows. Hhis being SO, they could not have
refaStened the sashes from the inside, as
they were found fastened-the consideration
which put stop, through its obviousness,
to the scrutiny of the police in this quar-
ter Yet the sashes were fastened. They
must, then, have the power of fastening
themselves There was no escape from this
conclusion. t stepped to the unobstructed
easement, withdrew the nail with some diff
fculty, and attempted to raise the sash. 1t
resisted all my efforts, as l had anticipated.
A concealed spring must, 1 now knew,
exist; and this confederation OF my Idea
convinced me that my premises, at least,
we're correct, however mysterious still ap-
peared the circumstances attending the
nails. careful search soon brought to
light the hidden spring. I pressed it, and.
satisfied with the discovery, forebore to
upraiSe the sash.
'I now replaced the nall and regarded 1t
attentively. A person passing out through
this window might have reclosed it, and the
spring would have caught-but the nail
could not have been replaced. The con-
clusion was plain, and again narrowed in
the field Of my Investigations. The assas-
SINS must have escaped through the other
window. Surprising, then, the springs upon
each sash to be the same, as was probable.
there must be found a difference between
the nails. or at least between the modes Of
their fixtures. Getting upon the sacking of
the bedstead, l looked over the headboard
infinitely at the second easement. Pass ng
my hand down behind the board, / readily
discovered and pressed the spring which
was, as I had supposed, identical in char
acter with its neighbor. l now looked at
the nall. 1t was as stout as the other, and
apparently fitted in the same manner
driven in nearly up to the head
Z You will say that I was puzzled, but, il
you think SO, you must have misunderstood
the nature of the inductions. To use a
sporting phrase, I had not been once AT
fault The scent had never for an instant
been lost. There was no flaw in any. link
of the chain. I had traced the secret to its
ultimate resultant that result was the
nail. It had, say, in every respect the APP
pearance of its fellow in the other w.n-
dow; but this fact was an absolute nullity
conclusive as 1t might seem to be) when