The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-11-22

oo.sAe VI WlAe WHICH StOOu Lnere. Eacn
of them had a glass in his hand l
have already told you, have not, that
one was elderly, with a beard, and the
others young, hairless lads? They
might have been a father with his two
sons. They talked together in whis-
pers. Then they came over and made
sure that l was securely bound. FL
nally they withdrew, closing the win
dow after them. 1t was quite quar-
ter of an hour before l got my mouth
free. When 1 did so my screams
brought the maid to my assistance.
The other servants We're soon alarmed.
and we sent for the local police, who
instantly communicated with London.
That is really all that 1 can tell you,
gentlemen, and trust that it will not
be necessary for me to go over so pain
full story again"
ANY questions, Mr.. Eo::mes?' asked
Hopkins.
II will not impose any further tax
upon Lady Brackenstall's patience and
time" said Holmes. Before 1 90 into
the dining room l should like to hear
your experience" He looked at the
maid.
II saw the men before ever they
came into the house." said she. Gas
I sat by my bedroom window 1 saw
three men in the moonlight down by
the lodge gate yonder, but l thought
nothing of it at the time 1t was more
than an hour after that l heard my
mistress scream, and down l ran to
find her, poor lamb, just as she says,
and him on 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 spot
ted with him; but she never wanted
courage, did Miss Mary Fraser of AIDE
laide, and Lady Brackenstall 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 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 as baby
and came with her to England when
they first left Australia eighteen
months ago. Theresa Wright is her
name, and the kind Of maid you don't
pick up nowadays. This way, Mr..
Holmes, If you pleasew
rTG., iy{o hoI 20
Holmes expressive face, and l knew
that with the mystery all the charm Of
the case had departed. There still re-
manned an arrest to be effected, but
what We're these commonplace rogues
that he should soil his hands with
them? An abstruse and learned spe-
cialist who finds that he has been call
ed in for a case of measles would eX-
perience something Of the annoyance
which l read in my friends eyes. Yet
the scene in the dining room of the Alb
hey GraAge was sufficiently strange to
arrest his attention and to recall his
waning interest
1t was a very large and high cham
Der, with carved oak ceiling, oaken
paneling and fine array of deers
heads and ancient weapons around the
walls. At the farther 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 large, deep
fireplace, with massive, oyerhanging
oak mantelpiece. Beside the fireplace
was heavy oaken chair with arms
and crossbars at the bottom. In and
out through the open woodwork was
woven a crimson cord, which was Sc
cured at each side to the crosspiece be-
low. In releasing the lady the cord
had been slipped off her, but the knots
with which it had been secured still re-
NAMED. These details only struck our
attention afterward, for our thoughts
were entirely absorbed by the terrible
object which lay upon the tiger skin
hearth rug in front Of the fire.
1t was the body Of a tall, well made
man about forty years of age. He
lay upon his back, his face upturned,
VAN A4lSo NAAIC lCSlA SAlOu6l
his short black beard. His two
clinched hands We're raised above his
head, and heavy blackthorn stick
lay across them. His dark, handsome,
aquiline features were convulsed into
spasm of vindictive hatred, which
had set his dead face in terribly
fiendish expression. He had evidently
been in his bed when the alarm had
broken out, for he wore foppish, en-
broidered nightshirt, and his bare feet
projected from his trousers. His head
was horribly injured, and the whole
room bore witness to the savage feroc-
ity Of the blow which had struck him
down. Beside him lay the heavy poker,
bent into curve by the concussion.
Holmes examined both it and the indie
scribable wreck which it had wrought.
HE must be a powerful man, this
elder Randall he remarked
YES" said Hopkins Il have some
record of the fellow, and he is rough
customer"
You should have no difficulty in get