Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-07-15

sAoA nave an t1ce3itnt reason Tor
everything that do, You may posi-.
bly, remember that you chatfed me a
little some hours ago when the sun
seemed on your side OF the hedge, SO
you must not grunge me a little pomp
and ceremony now. Might 1 ask you.
Watson, TO open that window and then
10 put n match TO the edge of the
straw
did so. and. driven by the draft.
coil OF gray smoke swirled down the
corridor. While the dry straw cracked
and famed.
Now we must see IL we can find this
witness for you. Lestrade. Might l
ask you all to join in the cry OF 'Fireg'
Now. then-one. two. threel"
Fire" we all yelled
Thank you l viii trouble you once
again.
'Firer'
Just once more. gentlemen, and all
together"
"Fire- The shout must have rung
over Norwood.
IL had hardly died away when an
amazing thing happened. A door sud
denly few open out OF what appeared
to be solid wall at the end OF the cor
ridor and a little wizened man darted
out OF IL like a rabbit out of its bur
row
Capital said Holmes calmly.
Watson. a bucket OF wafer over the
straw. That will do, Lestrade. allow
me TO present You with your principal
missing witness. Mr.. Jonas Oldacre"
The detective stared at the newcom-
er with blank amazement The latter
was blinking in the bright light OF the
corridor and peering at us and at the
smoldering FIRE. 1t was an odious
face-crafty. vicious. malignant. with
shifty. light gray eyes and white
lashes
What's this. thenY' said Lestrade at
last. What have you been doing all
this time. ehf"
Oldacre gave an uneasy laugh shrink
ing back from the furious red face OF
the angry detective.
Il have done no harm"
"No HARM You have done your best
20 get an innocent man hanged. II II
wasn't for this gentleman here I am
not sure that you would not have sue
ceeded."
The wretehed creature began to
Ehimper.
i am sure. sir, 1t was only my prac-
fteal joke"
ooh. a Joke. was it7 You won't find
the laugh on your side. l promise you.
Take him down and keep him in the
sitting room until come. Mr.. Holmes. 7"
he continued when they had gone. II
could not speak before the constables.
but don't mind saying in the presence
OF Or. Watson that this is the brightest
thing that you have done yet. though it
Is mystery 10 me how you did Il. You
have saved an innocent mans life. and
you have prevented a very gpave scan
dal. which would have ruined mg repu-
tation In the force"
Holmes smiled and clapped Lestrade
upon the shoulder.
Instead OF being ruined. my good
sir, you will find that yoar reputation
has been enormously enhanced. Just
make n few alterations in that report
which you We're writing and they will
understand how hard Il Is 20 throw
dust in the eyes of Inspector Lestrade."
And you don't want your name 10
appear"
Not at all. The work is it's swn re
ward. Perhaps ! shall get the credit
also az some distant day. when I per
init my Jealous historian 20 lay out his
fOolscap once more-eh. Watsonf Well
now. let US see where this rat has been
lurking"
lath and plaster partition had been
run across the passage six feet from
the end. with a door cunningly conceal
ed In IL. IL was liz within by Sits I'M
der the caves. A few articles OF furni-
ture and a supply OF food and water
Were within, together viii a number
OF books and papers
There's the advantsEs OF being a
builder" said Holmes as we came out.
He was able 10 fix up his own little
hiding place without any confederate.
save. cf course. that precious house
keeper OF his. whom / should lose no
time In adding to your bag. Lestrade."
I'll take your advice. But how did
you know OF this place, Mr.. Holmes? ?"
Il made up my mind that the fellow
was in hiding in the house. When /
paced one corridor and found il six
feet shorter than the corresponding
one below IL was pretty clear where
he was. ] thought he had not the nerve
to lie quiet before an alarm OF fire. We
could. or course. have gone in and tax
en- him, but IL amused me to make him
reveal himself Besides, / owed you a
little mystihcatien, Lestrade, for your
chan in the morning."
well. sir. you certainly got equal
with me on that But how in the world
did you know that he was in the house
at alT'
The thumb mark. Lestrade. You
said il was tinal. and SO IL was in a
very different sense. I knew 4 had
not been there the day before. ! pay
a good deal Of attention TO matters OF
detail. as you may have observed. and
/ had examined the hail and was sure
that the wall was Clear Therefore IL
had been put on during the night"
''But howg'
Very simply. When these paokets
were sealed up Jonas Oidacre got Nc.
Farlane 10 secure one OF the seals by