The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-20
T he Speckled Band .

''You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct and if she died from some sudden fright.'
 No, do not think SO. I think that there was probably more tangible cause And now, Miss Stoner we must leave you, for if Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Good bye and be brave for if you will do what have told you you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers that threaten you''
 Sherlock Holmes and had no difficulty In engaging a bedroom and sitting room at the Grown inn. They were on the upper floor. and from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate and of the inhabited wing of Stoke Manor house. At dusk we saw Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past his huge form looming up beside the little figure of the lad who drove him The boy had some slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates and we heard the hoarse roar of the doctors voice and saw the fury with which he shook his clinch- ed fists at him. The trap drove on. and a few minutes later we saw sudden light spring up among the trees as the lamp was lit in one of the sitting rooms
 Do yoiu know, Watson.' said Holmes as we sat together in the gathering dark ness, T have really some scruples as | element of danger"
 Can l be of assistance?"
 Your presence might be invaluable"
 Then I shall certainly come'
 "It is very kind of you
 You speak of danger. You have evil dently seen more in those rooms than was visible tn me-
 No. but I fancy that I may have de- duced little more. l imagine that you saw all that I did
 '.I saw nothing remarkable. save the bell rope, and what purpose that could answer, I confess is more than I can imagine"
 You saw the ventilator. too?''
 'Yes, but I do not think that it is such very unusual thing to have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that rat coufe hardly pass through"
 q knew that we should find a ventila- tor before ever we came to Stoke Mo- ram
 My dear Holmes."
 Oh yes. l did. You remember in her statement she said that her sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that suggested at once that there must be a communication between the two rooms. It could only be small one or it would have been remarked upon at the coroners inquiry. I deduced a venti- lator."
 But what harm can there be in that?"
 Well, there is at least a curious CO., incidence of dates. ventilator is made, q cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the bed dies. Docs not that strike you?'
 T cannot as yet see any connecticut.
 Did you observe anything very pecu- liar about that bed?"
 No"
 ''lt was clamped to the floor Did you ever see a bed fastened like that be- fore 2"
 T cannot say that l have"
 'sThe lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same relative position to the ventilator and to the rope-for so we may call it. since 1t was clearly meant for a bell-pull."
 Holmes" I cried, q seem to see dim ly what you are limiting at. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible crime'
 Subtle enough and horrible enough When doctor does go wrong he Is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profess sion This man strikes even deeper but l think. Watson. that we shall be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough before the night is over for goodness sake let us have quiet pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more cheerful"
 About o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished and all was dark in the direction of the Manor house. Two hours passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke Of II, single bright light shone out right in front of us
 That is our signal said Holmes, sprnging to his feet; Tit come from the middle window
 As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord explaining that niro or, 1oto x-i.;t quaintance, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there A mo- ment later we were out on the dark road chill wind blowing in our faces, and one yellow light twinking in front of us through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand
 There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall Making our way among the trees we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about to en- ter through the window, when out from clump of laurel bushes there darted what seemed to be hideous and dis torted child. who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs, and then ran swiftly across the lawn into the dark ness. Hi
 My Godi' l whispered; did you see it?'
 Holmes was for the moment as startled as l. His hand closed like wise upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into low laugh and put his lips to me ear.
 "It is a nice household he murmured That is the baboon.''
 l had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There was cheetah too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders at any moment. I confess that l felt easier in my mind when, after fol- lowing Holmes example and slipping off my shoes l found myself inside the bed room. My companion noiselessly closed the shutters moved the lamp on to the table and cast his eyes round the room All was as we had seen it in the day time. Then creeping up to me and mak- ing a trumpet of his hand. he whispered all that I could do to distinguish the words:
 'The least sound would be fatal to our plans
 I nodded to show that l had heard.
 We must sit without light He would see it through the ventilator
 l nodded again.
 Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the bed and you in that chair I took out my revolver and laid 1t on the corner of the table.
 Holmes had brought up long thin cane, and this he placed upon the bed beside him. By 1t he ia.d the box of matches and the stump of candle. Then he turned down the lamp and we were left in