Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-27

tired like lady. She has remarkably
thick nose. with eyes which nre set close
upon either side Of Il. She has pucker-
cd forehead. a peering expression and
PROBABLY rounded shoulders. There are
indications that she has had recourse to
an opticlan at least twice during the last
few months. Az her glasses are Of re-
markable strength and as opticians are
not very numerous, there should be no
difficulty In tracing her.
Holmes smiled at the astonishment
Of Hopkins, which must have been
reflected upon my features.
"Surely my deductions are simplicity
ITSELF" said he. ut would be difficult
to name any articles which afford n
finer field for inference than pair Of
glasses. especially 80 remarkable pair
as these. That they belong to woman
I infer from their delicacy and also OF
course from the last words Of the dying
man. AS to her being person Of re-
6nement and well dressed, they are, as
you perceive, handsomely mounted in
any one who wore such glnsses could
be slatternly in other respects. You
Will find that the clips are too wide for
your nose, showing that the lady's nose
wns very brond at the base. This sort
Of nose Is usually a short and coarse
| one, but there is a sufficient number Of
exceptions to prevent me from being
dogmatic or from insisting upon this
point In my description. My own face
Is narrow one. and yet l find that
cannot get my eyes into the center nor
near the center of these glasses.
Therefore the lady's eyes arc set very
near to the sides Of the nose. You will
perceive, Watson. that the glasses are
concave and Of unusual strength. A
lady whose vision has been so extreme
~ contracted all her life is sure to have
the physical characteristics of such
vision, which are seen in the forehead.
the eyelids and the shoulders.
YES" I said. II can follow each Of
your arguments. confess. however,
that I am unable to understand how
you arrive at the double visit to the
Optician."
Holmes took tho glasses in his hand.
"You will perceive" he said. that
the clips are lined with tiny bands Of
cork to soften the pressure upon the
nose. One Of these Is discOlored and
worn to some slight extent but the
off and been replaced. I should judge
that the older Of them has not been
there more than few months. They
exactly correspond. so I gather that the
lady went back to the same establish
ment for the second
"By George, it's marvclons"' cried
Hopkins. in an ecstasy Of admiration.
ITO think that had all that evidence
in my hand and never knew IT, had
intended. however, to go the round Of
the London opticians"
"Of course you would. Meanwhile.
have you anything moro to tell US about
the case?"
Nothing. Mr.. Holmes. think that
YOU know as much as do now-prob-
ably more. We have had inquiries
made as to any stranger seen on the
country roads or at the railway sta
ton. We have heard of none. What
beats me Is the utter want Of all object
|
can any one suggest
"Ah. there l am not in u position to
help you. But | suppose you want us
to come out tomorrow
IF it is not asking too much. Mr..
Holmes. There's train from Charing
Cross to Chatham at 6 in the morning,
and we should be at Yoxley Old Place
between 8 and g.
"Then we shall take it. Your case
has certainly some features of great
interest, and ! shall bc delighted to
look into it. Well. it's nearly /. and
we had best get few hours sleep.
dare say you can manage all right on
the sofa In front of the fire. I'll light
my spirit lamp and give you a cup of
coffee before we start"
The gale had blown itself out next
day, but 1t was n bitter morning when
we started upon our journey. We saw
the cold winter sun rise over the dreary
marshes Of the Thames and the long
sullen reaches OF the river. which
shall ever associate with our pursuit OF
the Andaman islander in the earlier
days Of our career. After a long and
weary Journey we alighted mt small
station some miles from Chatham
While horse was being put into q
trap at the local inn we snatched hur
ried breakfast, and SO we were al
ready for business when we at last ar
rived at Yoxley Old Place. A constable
met us at the garden gate.
well, Wilson. any news"
"No, sir-nothing"
mo reports Of any stranger seen"
mo. sir. Down at the station they
are certain that no stranger either
came or went yesterday"
"Have you had inquiries made a
inns and lodgings:"
"Yes. sir. There Is no one that VI
cannot account for"
"Well. it's only n reasonable wall
to Chatham. Any one might stay there
or take train without being observed
This is the garden path Of which
spoke. Mr.. Holmes I'll pledge my
word there was no mark OH 1t yester
day."
ION which side were the marks OF
the grass?''
This side, sir-this narrow margin O.
grass between the path and the flower
bed. l can't see the traces now. bu
they were clear to me then"
eyes. yes; some one has passed