Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-29

that I could not move, and handkerchief
round my mouth prevented me from utter
ing a sound. 1t was at this instant that
my unfortunate husband entered the room.
He had evidently heard some suspicious
sounds, and he came prepared for such
a scene as he found. He was dressed m
his shirt and trousers, with his tavorlte
blaCkthoru cudgel in his hand. he ruShed
at the burglars but another-it was an
elderly man, stopped. picked the poker out
of the CRATE, and struck him horrible blow
as he passed. He fell with groan ana
never moved again. l tainted once more,
but again it could only have been for very
few minutes during which l was insensloIe.
When / opened my eyes | found that they
had collected the silver from the sidebodrd,
and they had drawn a bottle of wine which
stood there. Each of them had a glass in
his hand. have already told you, have |
not, that one was elderly. with beard.
and the others young. hairless lads. They
might have been a father with his two sons.
They talked together in whispers. Then
they came over and made sure that | was
securely bound. Finally they withdrew,
closing the window after them. 1t was
quite a quarter of an hour before l got my
mouth free. When 1 did so. my screams
brought the maid &c my assistance. The
other servants were snon alarmed. and we
sent for the local police, wlo instantly
communicated with London. That is
really all that 1 can tell you. gentlemen,
and | trust that it will not he necessary
for me to go over so painful a story again.
ANY questions Mr.. H0lmes?' asked Hop
kins.
Il will not Impose any further tax upon
Lady Brackenstalis patience and time
said Holmes. Before l go into the dining
room l should like to hear your experience"
He looked at the maid.
Il saw the men before they ever came
into the house." said she las l sat by
my bed room window l saw three men in
the moonlight down by the lodge gate yOn-
der, but l thought nothing of it at the time.
1t was more than an hour after that L
heard my mistress scream, and down | ran.
to find her, poor lamb. just as she says, and
him the floor, with his blood and brains
over the room. 1t was enough to drive a
woman out of her wits. tied there, and her
very dress spotted with him, out she never
wanted courage, did Miss Mary Fraser of
Adelaide, and Lady Brackens all Of Abbey
Grange hasn't learned new ways You've
questioned her long enough, you gentlemen.
and now she is coming to her own room,
just with her old Theresa, to get the rest
that she badly needs
With a motherly tenderness the gaunt
woman put her arm round her mistress and
led her from the room.
She has been with her all her life said
Hopkins. 'Nursed her a baby, and
came with her TO England when they first
left Australia eighteen months ago The
resa Wright is her name, and the kind OF
maid you don't pick, up nowadays. This
way, Mr. Holmes. if you please,"
The keen interest had passed out of
Holmes expressive face, and I knew that
with the mystery all the charm of the case
had departed. There still remained an ar
rest TO be effected, but what were these
commonplace rogues, that he should soil
his hands with them? An abstruse and
learned specialist who finds that he has
been called in for case of measles would
experience something of the annoyance
which L read in my friends eyes. Yet the
scene In the dining room of the Abbey
Grange was sufficiently strange to arrest
his attention and to recall his waning in
tereSt.
1t was very large and high chamber,
with carved oak ceiling, oaken paneling,
and fine array of deers' heads and ancient
weapons around the walls. At the further
end from the door was the high French
window of which we had heard. Three
smaller windows on the right hand side
filled the apartment with cold winter sun
shine. On the left was a large deep fire.
place, with a massive, overhanging oak
mantelpiece. Beside the fireplace was a
heavy oaken chair with arms and cross
bars at the bottom. In and out through
the open woodwork was woven a crimson
cord, which was secured at each side to
the crosspiece below. In releasing the lady,
the cord had been slipped off her. but the
knots with which it had been secured still
remained. These details only struck our
attention afterward, for our thoughts were
entirely absorbed by the terrible object
which lay upon the tiger-skin hearthrug N
front of the fire.
1t was the body of a tall, well-made man,
about forty years of age. He lay upon his