The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-19

" iose' ~ We were TO come TO STOKE Moran |
today. would It be possible for us to see over
these rooms without the knowledge Of your
AS 1t happens he spoke Of coming into
town today upon some most Important business
1t is probable that lie will be away all day,
and that there would be nothing to disturb you |
We have housekeeper now, but she is old and
foolish and could easily get her out Of the
way !
n Excellent. You are not averse to this trip
Watson?' w s.:
''By no means" |
t'Then we shall both come. What are you
going to do yourselfT'
II have one or two things which would wish
to do now that am in town. But shall re-
turn by the twelve O'Clock train, so as to be
there in time for your coming
- And you may expect US early in the
afternoon, have myself some small business
matters to attend to, VIII you not wait and
breakfastT' N
mo- I must 60. ID Ny heart is lightened al
ready since I have conhded my trouble to you.
/ shall look forward to- seeing you again this
afternoon She dropped her thick black veil
over her face and glded from the room. q
And what do you think: st It all, w atson ~
asked Sherlock Holmes, leaning back in his
chair. - b $500 1850 .t
ut seems to me to be "a most dark and sin
lister business. ~ II ~ & ~.
Ozark enough and sinister enough A,g
''Yet If the lady is correct in saying that
the flooring and walls are sound, and that the
door, window and chimney are impossible, then
her sister must have been undoubtedly alone
when she met her mysterious end.''
What becomes, then, of these nocturnal
whistles, and what Of the very peculiar words
of the dying woman?'' IT. <
81 cannot Think -.
when you combine the ideas Of whistles at
night, the presence of band of gypses who
on intimate terms with this old doctor, the
fact that we have every reason to believe tina,
the doctor has an interest In preventing his
stepdaughters marriage, the dying allusion to
band, and finally, the fact that Miss Helen
Stoner heard a metallic clang, which might
have been caused by Of those metal bars
which secured the shutters falling back into
their place, I think that there is good ground
to think that the mystery may be cleared along
those lines" s..@s- f. "-
"But what then. did the gypsies do?'
II cannot imagine" ~
II see many objections to any such theory"
''And SO do I. 1t is precisely for that reason
that we are going to Stoke Moran this day. 1
want to see whether the objections are fatal,
| Or If they may be explained away. But what
in the name Of the devil" -
The ejaculation had been drawn from my
companion by the fact that our door had been
had framed himself in the aperture. His cos
tune was peculiar, mixture Of the profess
.sional and of the agricultural. having black
'tophat, long frock co9t, and a pair of high
| CATERS, with a hunting crop swinging in his
4 hand. So tall was he that his hat actually
brushed the crossbar Of the doorway and his
breadth seemed to span it across from side to
side. A large face, scared with a thousand
| wrinkles, burned yellow with the sum- and
marked with every evil passion, was turned
from one to the other Of US, while his deepset,
bile-shot eyes, and his high thin fleshless nose,
| gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce
old bird Of prey.
! (Which of you is Holmes7" asked the ap-
partition liz -, .-......... .... .-,.
tiny name, sir, but you have the advantage
|
II am DR.. Grimesby Roylottt, Of Stoke Mo.
ram -
"Indeed, DOCTOR said Holmes. blandly.
| "Pray take seat" ..a,
| IT will do nothing Of the kind. My step.
| daughter has been here. I have traced her
| What has she been SAYING to your"
"It is a little cold for the time Of the
year, said Holmes.
'.What has she been saying to your
screamed the old man. furiously. ,s-
."But have heard. that the erocuses prom
Use well,'' continued my companion, imperturb
ably.
'Ha! You put me off, do you?' said OUT
new visitor, taking a step forward and shaking
his hunting-crop II know you, you scoundrel!
I have heard of you before. You are Holmes
the meddler." ~ .&.
My friend smiled. r'z.st -.e
Holmes, the busybody!'
His smile broadened.
''Holmes, the Scotland yard Jack-in-ofice"
Holmes chuekled heartily "Your converse
ton is most entertaining" said he. 'Wher
you so out close the door, for there is a de-
cided draught.'
II will go when I have said my say. DOM
you dare to NEEDLE with my affairs. I know
that Miss Stoner has been here I traced her
4 am dangerous man to fall foul OIL See
/ here.'' He stepped swiftly forward, seizet
the poker and bent it into a curve with his
huge brown hands.
"see that you keep yourself out Of my grip
he snarled, and hurting the twisted pokel
into the fireplace, he strobe out of the room.
"He seems very amiable person. SAID
Holmes, laughing. IT an, not quite SO bulky
but il he had remained I might have shown
him that my grip was not much more feeble
than his own AS he spoke he picked up the
steel poker, and with a sudden effort straight
ened it out again, t-
Fancy his having the insolenca to confount
me with the official detective force! This in
ctdent gives zest to our investigation, how
ever, and only trust that our little frient
will not suffer from her imprudence in al
lowing this brutetsto trace her. Aid now
Watson, we shall order breakfast, and after
wards I shall walk down to Doctors Commons
where hope to get some data which may hell
US in this matter
1t was nearly o'clock when Sherlock Holme
4 returned from his excursion. He held in hi
hand sheet Of blue paper, scrawled eye
with notes and figures,
/ ST have seen the will Of the deceased wife,
said he. ''To determine Its exact meaning
have been obliged to work out the presen
prices of the investments with which it il
8 concerned The total income, which at thu
\ time of the wife's death was little short o
e1,1oo, is now, thru the fall in agriculture
prices, not more than e75o. Each daughte
! can claim an income Of $3.50, in case OF mar
rage 1t is evident therefore, that If botl