The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-05-26


hour l had some difficulty in finding
his house. however. and it was nearly
half past before reached it. found
him
lone moment" said Holmes. "Who
opened the door,
"A middle aged woman, who was, l
suppose, his housekeeper"
And it was she. l presume, who
your name"
"EXactly." said McFarlane.
pray proceed"
McFarlane wiped his damp brow and
then continued his narrative:
Il was shown by this woman into
sitting. room. where a frugal supper
was laid out. Afterward Mr.. Jonas
Oldacre led NE into his bedroom. in
which there stood heavy safe. This
he opened and took ont Il mass of docu
ments. which we went over together.
1t was between II and 10 when we
finished He remarked that we must
not disturb the housckeeper He show
ed me ont through his own French win
dow, which had been open all this
time"
was the blind down." asked
Holmes.
81 will not be sure. but believe that
1t was only half down. Yes. remem-
Der how he pulled it up in order to
swing open the window. | could not
find my stick. and he said. Never mind.
my boy. | shall see good deal of you
now. l hope, and I will keep your stick
until you co&e back to claim it. eft
him there, TIE safe open and the papers
made - in packets upon the table. 1t
was 50 late that | could not get back
to Blackheath. so l spent the night ut
the .Aner,ey Arms, and knew nothing
more until l read Of this horrible af-
fair in the morning"
Anything more jhat you would like
to ask. Sir. Holmes" said desirable,
whose eyebrows had gone up once or
twice during this remarkable exg,ana-
ton.
Not until l have been to Black
heath"
You mean to Norwood" said Les
trade
"Oh. yes; no doubt that is what l
must have meant" said Holmes. with
his enigmatical smile. Lestrade had
learned by more experiences than he
would care to acknowledge that that
razorlike brain could cut through that
which was impenetrable to him. saw
him look curiously at my companion.
Il think should like to have a word
with you presently. Mr. Sherlock
Holmes" said he. Now, Mr.. McFar-
lane, two of my constables are at the
door. and there is a four wheeler wait
ing" The wretched young man arose
and with q last beseeching glance at US
walked from the room. The officers
conducted him to the cab, but LeStrade
remained.
Holmes had picked up the pages
which formed the rough draft of the
will and was looking at them with the
kenest interest upon his face.
There are some points about that
document, Lestrade, are there not"
said he, pushing them over.
The official looked at them with a
puzzled expression.
Il can read the first few lines and
these in the middle of the second page
and one or two at the end. Those are
as clear as print" said he, but the
writing in between is very bad. and
there are three places where l cannot
read it at ALL
"What do you make Of that?" said
Holmes.
We'll, what do you make of it?"
THAT ii was written in train. The
good writing represents stations. the
bad writing movement, and the very
bad writing passing over points. A sci
entifc expert would pronounce at once
that this was drawn up on 4 suburban
line, since nowhere save in the imme-
date vicinity Of great city could
there be so quick a succession of points.
Granting that his whole journey was
occupied in drawing up the will. then
the train was an express. only stopping
once between Norwood aud London
bridge"
Lestrade began to laugh.
You are too many for me when ycu
begin to get on your theories, MI.
Holmes" said he. How does this
bear on thc case?"
well, It corroborates the young
mans story TO the extent that the will
was drawn up by Jonas Oldacre in his
journey yesterday. 1t is curious, is il
not, that man should draw up so i'm.
portant q document in so haphazard a
fashion. IL suggests that he did not
think il was going to be of much prac.
teal importance. If man drew up
will which he did not intend ever to b,
effective he might do it So"
well, he drew up his own dealt
warrant at the same time" said LIE
strade.
'oh, you think so?''
Don't you?"
"Well, it is quite possible, but tn,
case is not clear to me yet"
Not clear? Well, if that isn't clea
what could be clear? Here is a younj
man who learns suddenly that if Ger
lain older man dies he will succeed t,
fortune What does he do? He say
nothing to any one, but he arrange
that he shall go out on some pretex
to see his client that night. He wait
until the only other person in the hous,
is in bed, and then in the solitude O
the mans room he murders him. burn
his body in the wood pile and departi