The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-26
The Return of Sherlock Hol-
CONTINUED From Page one.)
mes.

had already thrice appeared, and
which I have copied on that paper.
There was no other sign of the fell
low anywhere, though l ran all over
the grounds. And yet the amazing
thing is that he must have been there
all the time, for when | examined the
door again in the morning he had
scrawled some more of his pictures
under the line which | had already
SEEM
''Have you that fresh drawing?' %
Yes, it is very short, but | made a
copy of it, and here ii is.
Again he produced paper showing
the form of the new dance.
Tell me-" said Holmes-and l
could see by his eyes that he was
much excited-''was this mere addi-
ton TO the first, or did it appear to
be entirely separator
ut was on a different panel Of the
door,"
Excellent. This is far the most
important of all for our purpose. ii
fills me with hopes. Now Mr.. Hilton
Cubitt, please continue your most in
teresting statement"
IL have nothing more TO say, Mr..
Holmes. except that | was angry with
my wife that night for having held
me back when | might have caught
the skulking rascal. She said that
She feared that L might come 10 harm.
For an instant il had crossed my
mind that perhaps what she really
feared was that he might come TO
harm, for / could not doubt that she
knew who this man was. and what he
meant by these strange signals. BYk
there is q tone in my wires VOICE
Mr. Holmes, and q .look in her eyes
which forbid doubt, and am sure
that it was indeed by own safety that
was in her mind. There's the whole
case, and now L want your advice as
to what | ought to do. My own in
clination Is to put half dozen of my
farm lads in the shrubbery. and
when this fellow comes again 10 give
him such q hiding that he Will leave
us in peace for the future.
81 fear it is too deep ease for
such simple remedies" said Holmes
How long can you stay in London
II must go back today. L would
not leave my wife alone at night for
anything. She is very nervous. and
begged me TO come back.
Il dare say you are right. But if
you could have stopped, / might pos
sibly have been able TO return with
you i'm q day or two. Meanwhile you
will leave me these papers, ana |
think that it is very likely that | shall
be able to pay you visit shortly
and to throw some light upon your
case"
Sherlock Holmes preserved his calm
professional manner until our visitor
had left us, although it was easy for
me. who knew him so well, To see
that he was profoundly excited. The
moment that Hilton Cubitts broad
back had disappeared through the
door my comrade rushed to the table,
laid out all the slips of paper contain
ing dancing men in front of him, and
threw himself into an Intricate and
elaborate calculation. For two hours
/ watched him as he covered sheet
after sheet of paper with figures and
letters. so completely absorbed in his
task that he had evidently forgotten
my presence. Sometimes he was max
ing progress and whistled and sang at
his work; sopetimes he was puzzled,
and would sit for long spells with
~ furroWed brow and a vacant eye.
Finally he sprang from his chair with
Il cry OF satisfaction, and walked up
and down the room rubbing his hands
together. Then he wrote a long tele-
gram upon q cable form. IF my an
swer TO this is as | hope. you will have
n very pretty case to add to your coll
lection, Watson" said he. Il expect
that we shall be able to go down to
Norfolk tomorrow, and TO take our
friend some very definite news as to
the secret OF his annoyance.
/ confess that | was filled with
curiosity, but / was aware that Holmes
liked to make his disclosures at his
own time and in his own way, so
waited until it should suit him TO take
ME into his confidence.
But there was Il delay in that an
swering telegram, and two days OF
impatience followed, during which
Holmes pricked up his ears at every
ring of the bell On the evening OF
the second there came letter from
Hilton Cubitt. All was quiet with
him. save that a long inscription had
appeared that morning upon the
pedestal OF the sun-dial. He inclosed
n copy of it, which he then produced:
Holmes bent over this grOtesque
frieze for some minutes, and then sud
denly sprang to his feet with an eX-
clanation of surprise and dismay His
face was haggard with anxiety.
1--WE have let this affair go far
enough" said he. us there a train
tn North Walsham tonight
turned up Cfle time table. The
last had just gone.
Then we shall breakfast early and
take the very first in the morning,
said Holmes "Our presence is most
needed. All, here is our expected
cablegram, One moment, Mrs. Hud-
son, there may be an answer. NO,
that is quite as | expected. This mes
sage makes it even more essential
that we should not lose an hour in
letting Hilton Cubitt.-hnow how mat
tiers stand, for it is singular aud
dangerous web in which our simple
Norfolk squire is entangled.
So indeed, it proved. and as | come
to the dark conclusion of a story
which had seemed to me TO be only
childish and bizarre, / experience once
again the dismay and horror with
which l was filled. Would that | had
some brighter ending to communicate
TO my readers, but these are the
chronicles of fact, and l must follow
to their dark crisis the strange chain
of events which for some days made
Riding Thorpe Hanor a household
word through the length and breadth
of England.
We had hardly alighted at North
Walsham, and mentioned the name of
our destination. when the stationmas-
ter hurried towards us. Il suppose
that you are the detectives from Lon.
dom" said he.
A look of annoyance passed over !
Holmes face.
What makes you think such a