Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-10
while he finished his breakfast.

while he finished his breakfast.
my dear Watson" said he 90 b.
rose from the table and paced up ant
down the room, you are most lont
suffering. but II have told you moth.
ing In the last three days It IL because
there IL nothing to tell. Even now
this report from Paris does not help
10 much"
"Sureiy II is 6nai as regards tho
mans death"
'The mans death 10 a mere incident,
a trivial episode. in comparison with
our real task. which 10 to trace this
document and save a European catas.
trophe. Only one important thing has
happened In the last three days, and
that IL that nothing has happened.
get reports almost hourly from the gov.
eminent, and Il 10 certain that nowhere
IN Europe 10 there any sign Of trouble.
Now, II this letter were loose-no, II
can't be loose-but II It isn't loose
where can It be? Who has Il? Why 10
It held back? That's the question that
beats in my brain like hammer.
Was II. indeed, 4 coincidence that Lu
cas- should meet his death on the night
when the letter disappeared: Did the
letter ever reach him? II SO. why Ia II
not among his papers? Did this mad
wife Of his carry It OF with her? II
40. 10 II IN her house In PARISH How
could search for It without the
French police having their suspicionG
aroused? 1t Is q case, my dear Wat.
son. where the law IL ms dangerous ta
US as the criminals are. Every mans
hand Is against US, and yet the inter.
ests at stake are colossal. should
bring II to successful conclusion II
will certainly represent the crowning
glory Of my career. All, here is my
latest from the 'front.': He glanced
hurriedly Mt the note which had bees
handed in. Hello. I.estrade scent
to have observed something Of interest
Put on your hat, Watson, and we viii
stroll down together to Westminster
1t was my first visit to the scene OF
the crime-a high, dngy, narrow chest
cd house, prin,, formal and solid, like
the century which gave 1t birth. Le
strade's bulldog features gazed out al
MS from the front window, and be
greeted us warmly when a big consta,
bic had opened the door and let US in
The room into which we were shown
was that in which the crime had been
committed. but no trace Of it now re.
manned save an ugly, irregular stair
upon the carpet This carpet was 8
small square drugget in the center OF
the room, surrounded by broad ex.
pansc Of beautiful. old fashioned wood
flooring in square blocks highly polish.
ed. Over the fireplace was a magnih.
cent trophy Of weapons, one Of which
had been used on that tragic night. In
the window was sumptuous writing
desk, and every detail Of the apart
ment, the pictures. the rugs and the
hangings. all pointed TO taste which
was luxurious to the verge Of effemi.
macy.
"Scen the Paris news:' asked lie.
strade.
Holmes nodded.
"Our French friends seem to have
touched the spot this time. No doubt
it's just as they say. She knocked al
the door-surprise visit, I guess, Tor he
kept his life in water tight compart
ments-he let her in, couldn't keep he.
in the street. She told him how she
had traced him. reproached him: one
thing led to another, and then with thai
dagger 80 handy the end soon came
1t wasn't all done in an instant, though
for these chairs were all swept ovei
yonder, and he had one in his hand al
IL he had tried to hold her OF with It
We've got it all clear as II we had seel
it,"
Holmes raised his eyebrows.
"And yet you have sent for mel"
"Ah. yes, that's another matter; Z
mere trifie. but the sort OF thing you
take an interest in-queer, you know,
and what you might call freakish. II
has nothing to do with the main fact
can't have on the face Of it,"
"What Is 1t, them
'Well. you know, after a crime OF
this sort we are very careful to keep
things in their position. Nothing has
been moved. Officer in charge here day
and night. This morning. as the man
was buried and the investigation over
so far as this room is Commemorative
thought we could tidy up q bit. This
carpet-you see. 1t is not fastened
down. only just laid there. We had
occasion to raise it. We found
Yes? You found
Holmes face grew tense with anx.
iety.
We'll, I'm sure you would never
guess In hundred years what We did
find. You see that stain on the car
pet7 Well. q great deal must have
soaked through. must 1t noti"
Undoubtedly II must"
well. you will be surprised to hear
that there 10 no stain ON the white
woodwork to correspond"
mo stain! But there must
Yes. 20 you would say But the fact
remains that there isn't"
He took the corner Of the carpet In
his hand. and. turning It over. he show.
ed that 1t was indeed as he said.
But the underside Is as stained 40
the upper. 1t must have left mark"
Lestrade chuckled with delight Al
having puzzled the famous expert.
Nov. Ill show you the explanation.
There Is q second stain. but It does not
correspond with tho other. Sec for
yourself" Al he spoke he turned over
another portion OF the carpet. aud