Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-12-14

right"
What, then. do You suppose:"
THAT only we glasses were used and
that the dregs of both We're poured into
a third glass, so as to give the false i'm
preston that three people had been
here. In that way all the beeswing
would be in the last glass, would it
not? Yes, l am convinced that this is
so. But il l have hit upon the true ex-
! PLANTATION of this one small phenom-
enon then in AZ instant the case rises
from the commonplace to the exceed
ingly remarkable, for it can only mean
that Lady Brackenstall and her maid
have deliberately lied to US, that not
one word Of their story is to be be-
lleved, that they have some very strong
reason for covering the real criminal
and that we must construct our case
for ourselves without any help from
them. That is the mission which now
lies before Us, and here, Watson, is the
Sydenham train"
The household at the Abbey Grange
were much surprised at our return. but
Sherlock Holmes, finding that Stanley
Hopkins had gone off to report to head
quarters, took possession of the dining
room, locked the door upon the inside
and devoted himself for two hours to
u of those minute and laborious in
vest1gations which form the solid basis
on which his brilliant edifces Of de
duct1on were reared. Seated in a cor
ner like an interested student who OBJ
serves the demonstration of his pro-
lessor l followed every step of that re-
markable research. The window, the
curtains, the carpet, the chair, the rope
each in turn was minutely examined
and duly pondered. The body Of the
unfortunate baronet had been removed.
and all else remained as we had seen
it in the morning. Finally, to my as
constituent, Holmes climbed up on to
the massive mantelpiece. Far above
his head hung the few inches Of red
cord which were still attached to the
wire. For a long time he gaZed up-
ward at it, and then in an attempt to
get nearer to it he rested his knee upon
a wooden bracket on the wall. This
brought his hand within q few inches
of the broken end Of the rope, but it
was not this so much as the bracket
itself which seemed to Engage his at
tentfon. Finally he sprang down with
an ejaculation of satisfaction.
"1t's all right, Watson" said he. eve
have got u case-one of the most re-
markable in our collection. But, dear
me, how slow witted I have been and
how nearly 1 have committed the blum
der of my lifetime! Now, 1 think that.
with a few missing links, my chain is
almost complete"
you have got your men:"
Man, Watson. man. Only one. but
a very formidable person. Strong as
a lion-witness the blow that bent that
poker. Six foot three in height, active
as a squirrel, dexterous with his fin
gers; finally, remarkably quick witted.
for this whole ingenious story is of his
correction. Yes, Watson, we have
come upon the handiwork Of a very re-
markable individual. And yet. in that
bell rope he has given Us Il clew which
should not have left us Il doubt"
Where was the clew:'
well. if you were to pull down a
bell rope, Watson. where would YOU
expect it to break: Surely ut the spot
where it is attached to the Wire. Why
should it break three inches from the
top, as this one has donc!'
Because ii is frayed tllere:'.
Exactly. This end, which we can
examine, is f&yrt. He was cunning
enough to do tnat with his knife. But
the other end is not fraye(l. You could
not observe that from here, but if YOU
We're Oh the mantclpiece you would
see that it is cut clean off without any
mark Of fraying whatever. You can
reconstruct what occurred. The man
needed the rope. He would not tear
1t down for fear Of giving the alarm
by ringing the bell. What did lie do?
He sprang upon the mantelpierc. could
not quite reach it, put his knee on the
bracket-you will see the impression in
the husband SO got his knife to Dear
upon the cord. / could not reach the
place by at least three inches, from
which infer that he is at least three
inches a bigger mar thar l am. Look at
that mark Upon the seat of the oakcn
chair. What is it,"
Blood"
"Cndoubtedly it is blood. This alone
puts the lady's story out of court. If
she were seated on the chair when
he crime was done, how comes that
mark: No, no; she was placed in the
CHAIR after the death Of her husband.
Iii wager that the black dress shows
a corresponding mark to this. We
have not yet met our Waterloo, Wat
son, but this is our Marengo. for it
begins in defeat and ends in victory.
l should like TO- to have Il few words
with the nurse, Theresa. We must be
wary for awhile If we are to get the
Information which we want"
she was an interesting person, this
stern Australian nurse-taciturn, sus-
piclous, ungracious. 1t took some time
before Holmes pleasant manner and |
frank acceptance Of all she said thaw-
ed her into Il corresponding %amiubiIity. |