The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-29
stranger to the district. He has twice

He opium WAS pIoUdOly UIouRut LIom
London. The key, having served its
horse may be at the bottom Of one Of
the pits or old mines upon the moor. Is
"What does he say about the era
vatqO
stHe acknowledges that it is his, and,
declares that he had lost it. But q new
element has been introduced into the
case which may account for his lead
ing t the horse from n the Els stable
"We have found traces which show
that party Of gypsies encamped on
Monday night within mile OF the
spot where the murder took place. On
Tuesday they were gone Now, presum-
ing that there was some understanding
between Simpson and these gypsles,
might he not have been leading the
horse to them when he was overtaken
cit is certainly possible"
tsThe moor is being secured for these
gypsies. have also examined every
Stable and clubhouse in Tavistock, and
for radius Of stem miles,,
'sThere is another training-stable
quite close, I underestimate"
must certainly not neglect. AS Des-
borough, their horse, was second in the
appearance Of the favorite. Silas Brown,
the trainer, is known, to have had large
bets upon the event, and he was no
friend to poor Straker. We have, how
ever, examined the stables and there is
nothing to connect him with the affair. '''
"And nothing to connect this man
Simpson with the interests of the
Mapleton stables9'
HNothing at all.''
HoJmes 1eaned hack the carriage,
and the conversation ceased. A few
minutes later our driver pulled up at a
neat little red-brick villa with over
hanging caves which stood by. the road.
Some distance of. across 2 paddock, lay
other direction the low curves OF the
moor, bronze-colored from the fading
broken only by the steeples Of Tavistock
and BY a cluster of houses away to the
westward which marked the Mapleton
stables. We all sprang out with the
exception of Holmes, who continued to
lean back with his eyes fixed upon the
sky in front Of him, entirely absorbed
in his own thoughts. It was only when
I touched his arm that he reused him,
self with violent start and stepped
out of the carriage.
~NExcuse me.'' said he, turning to
Colonel Ross, who had looked at him n !, !,
There was a CLEAN in his eyes and sup"
pressed excitement in his manner which
convinced me, used as / was to his ways,
that his hand was upon a clue, tho !
could not imagine where ne had
UPerhaps you would prefer at once to
90 on to the scene Of the crime, Mr..
Holmes9' said Gregory.
~ think that should prefer to stay
here a. little and 90 into one or two
questions Of detail. Straker was
brought back here, I presumed.
:.Yes; he j lies upstairs The inquest
c has beer Sasi i9 your service
y IF II have always found him an excel
lent servant.
III presume that you made an 1nven-
tory of what he had in his pockets at
| the time of his death, inspectorg'''
"I have the things themselves in the
sitting-room, if you would care to see
Them $500, W. -,
fled into the front room and sat round
the central table while the inspector un,
locked a square tin box and laid small
heap Of things before us. There was
box of vestas, two inches OF tallow
| candle, an: A D P sbrier.root pipe, q
pouch of sealskin with half an ounce OF
1ong.cut Cavendish, silver watch with
gold chain, five sovereigns in gold, an
aluminium ncil-case, a few papers ano
cate. inflexible blade marked Weiss 4
Co., London.
HThis is very singular knife. said
Holmes, lifting it up and examining II
sfains Upon it, Rhat t is the one Which
was found in the dead mans grasp
Watson, this knife is surely IN your
line?" al, ..+,r. 81
II thought so. Avery delicate blade
devised for very delicate work. a
strange thing for a man to carry with
him upon a Rough expedition, especially
as it would not shut in his pocket"
"The tip was guarded by a disc o.
cork which we found beside the body,
said the inspector: 80. His wire tells III
that the knife had lain upon the dress
ing table, and that he had picked 1t w
"a he left the room. It was poor
weapon. but perhaps the best that h
could Law his hands on at the moment. ;
every possibly. How about these
TThree of them. are receipted hay
dealers accounts. One Of them IS
letter of Instructions from COlOnel ISoSs
This other is a milliner g account TO,
thirty-seven pounds fifteen, made out b,
Madame Lesurier of Bond street tt
William Derbyshire. Mrs. Straker tell
, us that Derbyshire was a friend or ne
husband and that occasionally his let
tiers were addressed here.
.sMadam Derbyshire had someWha
expensive tastes,' remarked tonnes
glancing down the account. twenty
; two guineas is rather heavy for singl
costume. However, there appears to b.
nothing more to learn and we may nov
} 90 down to the scene of the crime. :
AS we emerged from the sitting -roon
woman, who had been waiting IN tn
| passage, took a step forward and lai'
!. her hand upon the inspectors sleeve
Her face was haggaISd ana thin ~ an =.
cent horror.
UHave YOU got sthemq Have yo1
found them9' she, painted.
Ono, Mrs. Straker. But Mr.. Holme
5 here has come from London to help US
and we shall do all that is possible. :
"Surely I met you in plymouth at
{ garden-party some little time ago, Mrs
: Strakerq' said Holmes. !.
HNo, sir; you are mistaken 81
! HDear me! Why, I could have swor!
. to it. You wore a costume OF dove-col
= ored silk with ostrich-f feather trim
Q ming
9 II never had such q dress, sir'' an
2 swered the lady.
!. S'Ah, that quite settles it, sal
s Holmes. And with an apology he TO
: lowed the inspector outside. a shor
|. walk across the moor took us to the no