The San Francisco call., 1905-05-28

out the French police having their sus-
picions aroused? II is a case, my dear
Watson. where the law is as dangerous
to US as the criminals are Every mans 8
hand is against US. and yet the inter-
ests at stake are colossal. Should /
bring It to a successful conclusion. it
viii certainly represent the browning
glory of my career. All, here is my
latest from the frontr He glanced
hurriedly at the note which had been
handed in. "HalIoa. Lestrade seems
to have observed something OF interest.
Put on your hat. Watson. and we will
stroll down together to Westminster"
1t was my first visit to the scene of
the crime-a high. dingy. narrow
chested house, prim. formal and solid,
like the century which gave 1t birth
Lestrades bulldog features gazed out
at US from the front window and he
greeted US warmly when a big consta-
bic had opened the door and let US in.
The room into which we were shown
was that in which the crime had been
committed, but no trace of il now re-
mained. save an ugly, irregular stain
upon the carpet This carpet was
small square drugget in the center of
the room. surrounded by broad ex-
panse of beautiful old-fashioned
wood flooring IN square blocks highly
polished. Over the fireplace was q
magnificent trophy OF weapons, one Of
which had been used on that tragic
night. In the window was a sumptu-
bus writing-desk. and every detail OF
the apartment, the pictures. the rugs
and the hangings all pointed to a taste
which was luxurious to the verge OF
efeminacy.
Seen the Paris newsr" asked Le-
strade.
Holmes nodded
Our French friends seem to have
touched the spot this time. No doubt
it's Just as they say She knocked at
kept his life in water-tight compart-
ments-he let her IN. couldn't keep her
in the street. She told him how she
had traced him. reproached him, one
thing led to another. and then with
that dagger so handy the end soon
came 1t wasn't all done IN an instant.
though, for these chairs were all
swept over yonder. and he had one IN
his hand as If he had tried to hold her
of with It We've got IT all clear as
II we had seen IT"
Holmes raised his eyebrows
And yet you sent for me-?
"Ah. yes, that's another matter-a
mere trif1e. but the sort OF thing you
take an interest in-Queer. you know.
has nothing TO do with the main fact
can't have. on the face OF It"
What is 1t. then?"
We'll. you know, after a crime
OF this sort we are very careful
10 keep things in their position.
Nothing has been moved. Of
hcer in charge here day and night. This
the investigation oyer-so far as this
room is concerned-we thought we
could tidy up a bit This carpet. You
see. 1t is not fastened down. only just
laid there. We had occasion to raise it.
We found
Yes? You found"
Holmes face grew tense with anx-
iety.
We'll. I'm sure you would never
guess in a hundred years what we did
find. You see that stain on the carpet
Well. a great deal must have soaked
through, must it not?'
Undoubtedly it must.v
We'll, you viii be surprised 10 hear
that there Is no stain on the whit
woodwork to correspond
No stain. But there must
Yes. so you would say. But the
fact remains that there isn't"
He took the corner of the carpet IN
his hand and, turning IL over, he show
ed that it was indeed as he said.
But the underside is as stained a.
the upper. 1t must have left mark
Lestrade chuckled with delight al
having puzzled the famous expert.
Now, I'll show you the explanation.
There is a second stain, but 1t does not
correspond with the other. See fcr
yourself" AS he spoke he turned over
another portion of the carpet and there
sure enough. was great crimson spit
upon the square white facing of the
oId-fashioned floor. What do you
make OF that. Mr.. Holmes %
why, it is simple enough. The two