Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-25
The Return Of
Sherlock Holmes
BY A. CONAN DOYLE. ~.
III.
The Adventure of the Dancing Men.
Copyright. by A.
Copyright

Watson" ~
m not much of a story-teller," said
our VISITOR nervously clasplng and I'M
f t,'Is MS great: strong hands. You'll
JUST ask me anything that l don't make
clear. tn begin at the time of my mar
rage last year, but l want to say first of
all that, though I'm not a rich man, my
people have been at Riding Thorpe for a
matter OF five centuries, and there is no
better known family in the county of Nor
tolk Last year l came up to London for
the jubilee, and / stopped at boarding
mouse in Russell Square, because Parker
the vicar of our parish, was staying in it,
There was an American young lady there
Patrick was the name-Elsie Patrick. In
some way we became friends until before
my month was up l was as much in love
as man could be. We were quietly mar
rled at registry office, and we returned to
Norfolk a welded couple. You'll think 1t
very mad, Mr.. Holmes that a man of a
good old family should marry wife in
this fashion, knowing nothing of her
past or of her people, but if you saw her
and knew her, it would help you to under
stand.
''5he was very straight about It, was Ell
sic. can't say that she did not give me
every chance of getting out of 1t If l wish
ed to do So I have had some very dis
agreeable associations In my life,' said she,
1 wish to forget all about them l would
rather never allude to the past for 1t is
very painful to me. If you take me, Hill
NOI gu VII take Il woman VINO mas noun
ing that she need be personally ashamed
of; but you will have to be content with
my word for 1t. and to allow me to be ST.
lent as to all that passed up to the time
when l became yours. If these conditions
are too hard, then go back to Norfolk, and
leave me to the lonely life in which you
found me- 1t was only the day before our
wedding that she said those very words to
me. l told her that l was content to take
her on her own terms, and L have been as
good as my word.
We'll, we have been married now for a
year and very happy we have been. But
about month ago at the end of June l
saw for the first time signs of trouble
One day ny wife received a letter from
America. ! saw the American stamp. She
turned deadly white. read the letter and
sion to 1t afterward. and l made none, for
a promise is promise. but she has never
known an easy hour from that moment.
ihere Is always look Of fear upon her
face-a look as If she were waiting and ex-
pecting. She would do better to trust me-
She would find that l was her best friend
But until she speaks 1 can say nothing
Mind you, she is a truthful woman Mr.
Holmes, and whatever trouble there may
nave been in her past life it has been no
fault of hers am only a simple Norfolk
squire, but there Is not a man in England
who ranks his family honor more highly
than do. She knows it well. and she knew
II well before she married me. She would
never bring any stain upon it-of that am
sure
well, now 1 come to the queer part of
my story. About week ago-it was the
IueSday of last week. found on one of
the window sills a number of absurd little
dancing figures like these upon the paper.
They were scrawled with chalk I thought
that II was the stable boy who had drawn
them, but the lad swore he knew nothing
about it. Anyhow, they had come there
during the night. had them washed OUT,
and | only mentioned the matter to nv
wife afterward To my surprise, she took
1t very seriously. and begged me IL any
more came to let her see them. None did
come for week, and then yesterday morn
ing l found this paper lying on the sun
dial IN the garden. / showed 1t to Elsie,
and down she dropped in dead faint,
Since then she has looked like a woman
in dream half dazed and with terror al
ways lurking in her eyes. 1t was then that
| wrote and sent the paper to you. Mr.
Holmes. 1t was not thing that l could
take to the police. for they would have
Laughed at me. but you viii tell me what
10 do. am not rich man, but If there
IS any danger threatening my little woman
her" eo
i, He was fine creature. this man of the
old English sofl-simple, straight and gen
tie. with his great, earnest blue eyes and
broad, comely face. His love for his wife
and his trust In her shone In his features.
Holmes mad listened to his story with the |
utmost attention, and now he sat for some
time in silent thought
Don't you think, Mr. Cubitt." said he
at last, that your best plan would be to
make a direct appeal to your wife and to
ask her TO share her secret with your
Hilton Cubitt shook his massive head.
promise is a promise, Mr. Holmes. IF
Elsie wished to tell me she would If not.
1t is not for me to force her confidence. Rut
am justified in taking my own line-and
will
Then | will help you with all nv heart.
In tie first place. have you heard of any
strangers being seen In your neighbor-
hood?''
mo"
Il presume that it Is very quiet place.
Any fresh face would cause comment ?''
In the immediate neghborhood. yes.
But We have several small watering places
not very far away. And the farmers take
in lodgers.''
These hleroglyphics have evidently
meaning If it is purely arbitrary one il
may be impossible for us to solve it, If
on the other hand, IT is systematic have
no doubt that we shall get to the bottom of
it. But this particular sample is so short
that can do nothing, and the facts which
you have brought me are so indefinite that
We have no basis for an investigation l