Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-07-22


noteF He tossed Il forward on 10 the
table.
II wrote IL 20 bring you here"
''Nou wrote IL? There was no one
on earth outside the Joint who knew
the secret OF The dancing men. How
came YOU TO write it,"
What one man can invent another
can discover said Holmes. .~rhere is
a cab coming TO convey you 10 Nor
witch. Mr.. Slaney But meanwhile Won
have time 10 make some small repara-
ton for the injury you have wrought
Are you aware that Mrs. Hilton Cubitt
has herself lain under grave suspicion
OF the murder of her husband and that
II was only my presence here and the
knowledge which I happened 10 DOS
sess which has saved her from the &C
cusation? The least that you owe her
is TO make IL clear 60 the whole world
that she was in no way. directly OF
indirectly, responsible for his tragic
end
Il ask nothing better" said the Amer
lean. II guess the very best case l
can make for myself is the absolute
naked truth"
1T is my duty TO warn you that il
win be used against you" cried the
inspector, with the magnificent fair
play OF the British criminal law.
Slaney shrugged his shoulders.
"I'l chance that said he. First OF
ALL l want you gentlemen to under
stand that have known this lady
since she was child. There were sew
en- of us in a gang in Chicago, and Ell
sizes father was the boss of the Joint.
He was n clever man. was old Patrick
II was he who invented that writing,
| which would pass as clild's scrawl
unless you just happened 90 have the
key TO it, Well. Elsie learned some of
our ways. but she couldn't stand the
business. and she had q bit OF honest
| money of her own, so she gave us all
the slip and got away TO London. She
had been engaged 10 me. and she would
have married me. ] believe. II l had
taken over another profession. but she
| would have nothing 20 do with any
thing on the cross. II was only after
her maria sc TO this Englishman that l
was able 70 lind ont where she was I
wrote TO her. but got no answer. After
that l came over unG. as letters were
no use. put rs messages where she
| could reas t'ier:.
| well. I aavc heen here n month
now. lived on that farm. where I had
n room down below. ana could get In
and ont every night and no one the
wiser. I tried ali could Il coax Elsie
away. I knew that She read the mes
sages. for once size wrote an answer
under one OF them. Then my temper
got the better Of no. and began TO
threaten her. She seut me letter then.
imploring me 60 20 away. and saying
that IL would break her heart IL any
scandal should come upon her husband.
She said that she would come down
when her husband was asleep nj 3 In
the morning aud speak with me
through the end window. II I would go
away afterward and leave her In peace
She came down and brought money
| with her, trying 90 bribe me 10 go
| This made me mad. and | caught her
arm and tried 20 pull her through the
window. At that moment I'm rushed
the husband with his revolver I'm his
hand. Elsie had sunk down upon the
floor. and we were face 20 face. was
heeled also, and held up my gun "a
scare him of and LET me get away. He
fired and missed me. pulled OF al.
most at the same instant. and down De
dropped. / made away across the gar.
den, and as went heard the window
shut behind me. That's Gods truth
gentlemen. every word Of il; and ]
heard no more about Il until that Lad
came riding up with a note which made
me walk in here Ike jay and give
myself into your hands"
A cab had driven up while the Amer
lean had been talking. Two uniformed
policemen sat inside. Inspector Mar,
tin rose and touched his prisoner on the
shoulder 49, ----- ~.s----
1T is time for US 20 go" 49,
Can see her frstr"
"No. she is not conscious Sherlock
Holmes. l only hope that II ever again
have an important case shall have
the good fortune TO have you by my
side-1--ss-S==n-ss..---Ss sss-xzsS~ees-~s---
We stood at the window and watched
the cab drive away. AS I turned back
my eye caught the pellet Of paper
which the prisoner had tossed upon the
table. II was the note with which
Holmes bad decoyed him.
See II you can read II, Watson" said
he. with smile.
IL contained no word. but this little
line OF dancing men: