Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-08-03

Holmes You remember, Inspector
Martin, when the servants said that ON
leaving their room they were at oAp
conscious OF 4 smell Of powder l re
MARRIED that the point was an extreme
" important one?"
Yes, sir; but l confess 1 did not
quite follow YOU"
ut suggested that at the time of the
firing the window as we'll as the door
Of the ~ had been open. Otherwise
the fumes of powder could not have
been blown 50 rapidly through the
house. \ draft in the room was nee
eSsary for that Both door and Win
dow were only open for Il very short
time, however"
"Hpw do You prove that?'
Because the candle was not gut
tered
"Capitaf!" cried the inspector. cap
itaL.~
Feeding sure that the window had
been open at the time of the tragedy,
l conceived that there might have been
q third person in the affair, who stood
outside this opening and fired through
It Any shot directed at this person
might hit the sash. l looked. and there,
sure enough was the bullet mark
"But bow came the window to be
shut and fastened?"
THE woman's first instinct would be
to shut and fasten the window. But,
hello. What is this"
1t was a lady's hand bag which stood
upon the study table-a trim little hand
bag of crocodile skin and silver.
Holmes opened it and turned the con-
tents out. There We're twenty fifty
pound notes Of the Bank of England,
held together by an india rubber band
nothing else.
This must be preserved, for 1t will
figure in the trial." said Holmes as he
handed the bag with its contents to the
inspector. ut is now necessary that
we should try to throw some light upon
this third bullet. which has clearly,
from the splintering of the wood, been
fired from inside the room. I should
like to see Mrs. King, the cook, again
You said, Mrs. King, that you were
awakened by a loud explosion. When
you said that did you mean that it
seemed to you to be louder than the
second one?"
We'll sir, it wakened me from my
sleep, and so it is hard to judge. But
it did seem very loud"
You don't think that it might have
been two shots fired almost at the same
Instant
II am sure l couldn't say, Sir"
Il believe that it was undoubtedly
so. I rather think, Inspector Martin,
that We have now exhausted all that
this room can teach us. If you will
kindly step round with me. we shall
see what fresh evidence the garden has
to offer"
A flower bed extended UP to the
study window. and we all broke into
an exclamation as We approached it.
The flowers were trampled down, and
the soft soil was imprinted all over
with footmarks. Large. masculine feet
they We're, with peculiarly long. sharp
toes. Holmes hunted about among the
grass and leaves like a retriever after
a wounded bird. Then. with a CRY Of
satisfaction. he bent forward and pick
ed up a little brazen cylinder.
Il thought So said he. The re-
volver had an e~jector. ana here is the
third cartridge. l really think. In
spector Martin, that our case is almost
+, complete"
:. The country inspectors face nad
Shown his intense amaZeInent at the
rapid and Mlsterful progress of Holmes
investigation. At first he had shown
some disposition TO assert his own posi-
ton. but now he was overcome with
admiration and ready to follow with
u question wherever Holmes led.
"NNoN DO sou suspect:" lie asked.
III 60 into that later. There are
several points in this problem VIII j
have not been able TO explain t. you
yet. Now that l have gyt 80 far
had best proceed on my own lines and
then clear the whole matter up once
and for all.''
Just as YOU wish. Mr.. Holmes. 50
long az we get our man.
II have 10 desire to make mysteries.
bnt it is Impossible at the moment Of
action to enter into long and complex
explanations. I have the threads Of
this affair all in my hand. Even if
this lady should never o cCn
sciousDcss we can still reconstruct the
events Of last night and insure that
justice be done. First Of all, l wish IL
know whether there is any inn in this
~nelghborhood known as Elrige'S"'
The servants Were cross questioned
but none Of them had heard Of such a
place. The stable boy threw u light up.
on the matter by remembering that =
farmer Of that name lived some miles
Off III the direction Of East Ruston.
is it a lonely farm"
every lonely. sir
perhaps they have not heard yet of
all that happened here during The
night"
Maybe not, sir"
Holmes thought for a little, and Tier
a curious SmiI" played over his face.
Saddle a horse, my lad" said he. 81
shall wish you to take a note to FL
RIGGS farm"