The San Francisco call., 1905-03-12

lane, tndL 1 knew nOChlnS or .A1r. lbO-
mas Oldacre- His name was familiar
to me- for many years ago my parehts
were acquainted with him, but they
drifted apart. / was very much sur
prised, therefore. when yesterday,
about 8 o'clock in tls afternoon. he
walked into my office IN the city. But
/ was still. more astOuished when he
told me the object OF HI visit. He had
In his hand several sheets of a note
book, tOvar I'd with scribbIed writing
here they are--and he laid them on my
table.
Here is my WILL said he I want
you. Mr.. McFarlane, to cast it into
proper legal shape. i will sit here while
you do So
Il set myself to copy it, and you can
imagine my ast0nishment when 7
found that. With sorne reservations, he
had left all his property to me. He
was d strange little ferret-like man.
with white eyelashes. and when Iook-
ed I'D at him / found his keen, gray
eyes fixed upon me with an amused
expression. 1 could hardly believe my
own senses as read the terms OF the
Will; but he explained that he was a
bachelor with hardly any living rela-
ton. that he had known my parents
In his youth. and that he had always
heard OF me as very deserving young
man, and was assured that his money
1 could only stammer out nv thanks
The will was duly finished. signed and
witnessed by my clerk This is It on
the blue paper, and these slips. as
have explained. are the rough draft
Mr. Jonas Oldacre then informed me
that there were number OF documents
building leases, title deeds, mort
cages, scrip and so forth-which it
was necessary that I should see and
understand He said that his mind
would not be easy until the whole
thing was settled. and he begged me
to come out to his house at Norwood
that night, bringing The win with me.
and to arrange matters. Remember,
my boy not one word TO your parents
about the affair until everything is
settled We win keep it as a little
surprise for them. He was verv in
sistent upon this point, and made me
promise 1t faithfully.
You can imagine. Mr. Holmes.
that i was not In humor
to refuse him anything that he
might ask He was my 6ene-~
Z factor. and all my desire was to carry
out his wishes IN every particular.
sent telegram home tn FORE. TO say
that had important business on hand,
and that ii was impossible for me TO
say how late might be- Mr. Oidacre
had told me that he would like me to
have supper with him at g. as he might
not be home before that hour. 1 had
some difficulty in finding his house.
however. and it was nearly half-past
before reached 1t. / found him"
'One momentl" said Holmes. Who
opened the door?'
"A middIe-aged woman, who was, I
suppose, his housekeeper-"
And 1T was she, I presume. who
mentioned your manner
Exactly" said McFarlane.
PRAY proceed %
McFarlane wiped his damp brow. and
then continued his narrative:
Il was shown by this woman into q
sitting-room, where a frugal supper
was laid out Af1erward Mr.. Jonas
OIdacre led me into his bedroom. in
which there stood a heavy safe. This
he opened and took out mass OF
documents, which we went over to-
gether. 1t was between II and L when
we finished He remarked that we must
not disturb the housekeeper. He
showed me out through his own
French window. which had been open
all this time"
was the blind DOWN." asked
Holmes.
II will not be sure, but I believe
that it was only half down Yes. I
remember how he pulled it up in order
to swing open the window. i could
not find my stick. and he said, Never
mind, my boy. / shall see a good deal
of You now, hope, and 1 will keep
your stick until you come back to claim
it,. j left him there, the safe open,
and the papers made up in packets
upon the table. 1t was so late that
/ could not get back TO Blackheath. so
i spent the night at the Anerley Arms.
and knew nothing more until read
of this horrible affair In the morning"
Anything more that you would liks
to ask. Mr.. Holmes?" said Lestrade.
whose eyebrows had gone up once or
twice during this remarkable explanA-
tion.
Not until I have been 10 BfAah-
heath"
"You mean TO Norwood sod
Lestrade.
"oh. yes, no doubt that u whax
must have meant" said Holmes, with
his enigmatical smile Lestrade had
learned by more experiences than he
would care TO acknowledge that that
razcr-like brain could cut through that
which was impenetrabls to him. saw
him look curiously at my companion.
'T think / should like TO have q
word with You presently. Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes" said he. Now, Mr.. McEar-
lane. two OF my constables are at the
door, and there is = four-wheeler wait
ing" The wretched young man ~ csc.
and with last besceching glance st us
walked from the room The officers
cOnQucLeQ MN 10 Ine CdD, Dul 0Ssrr41o
remained.
Holmes had picked up the pages
which formed the rough draft ot the
will. and was looking at them with
the keenest interest upon his facs.
There are some points about that
document, Lestrads, are there nct7'
said he pushing them over.
The official looked at them with a
puzzled expression
II can read the first few hines. and
these in the middle OF the second page.
and one or two at the end Those arc
sss clear as print" said he. but tbs
writing In between Is very bad. and
there are three places where cannot
what do you make Of that?" said
Holmes.
ssWell. what do you make Of 1T"
THAT il was written in a train. The
good writing represents stations. the
bad writing movement. and the very
bad writing passing over points. A
scientific expert would pronounce at
once that this was drawn up on a sub