The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-16

quiries made as to any stranger on the country roads or at the railway station We have heard of none. N nat beats me is the utter want or object in the crime. Not ghost ot a motive can anyone suggest
 An! there l am not in position to help you. But l suppose you want us to come out tomorrow
 IT it Is not asking s.5 much, MT. Holmes There's a train from Char ing Cross to Chatham at six in the morning, and we should be at Yoxley Old Place between eight and nine.'
 Then we shall take 1t. Your case has certainly so ne features of great interest, and I shall be delighted to look into it. Well, it's nearly one and we had best get a few hours sleep I dare say you can manage all right on the sofa in front of the fire. I'll light my spirit lamp, and give you cup of coffee before we start"
 The gale had blown itself out next day, but 1t was a 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 at small station some miles from Chatham. While horse was being put into a trap at the local inn. we snatched a hurried breakfast. and so we were all ready for business when we at last ar rived at Yoxley Old Place. A eonsta- ble met us at the garden gate
 Well. Wilson, any news?"
 ''No, sir-nnthing.
 No reports of any stranger seen?'
 No. sir. Down at the station they are certain that nc stranger either came or went yesterday"
 Have you had inquiries made at inns and lodgings?"
 Yes, sir; there Is no one that we cannot account for"
 Well. It's only a reasonable walk to Chatham. Anyone might stay there or take train without being ob- served. This is the garden path of which I spoke Mir Holmes. I'll pledge my word there was no mark on 1t yesterday"
 'On which side were the marks on the grass?'
 This side, sir. This narrow mar gin of grass between the path and the flower bed. l can't see the traces now, but they were clear to me then.' Yes, yes; someone has passed along said Holmes, stooping over the grass border "Our lady must have picked her steps carefully. must she not, since on the one side she would leave track on the patch, and on the other an even clearer one on the soft bed?'
 Yes. sir; she must have been cool hand"
 l saw an intent look pass over Holmes face.
 You say that she must have come this way?"
 Yes. sir; there is no other"
 "On this strip of grass?'
 Certainly, MT. Holiness
 Hum It was a very remarkable performance-very remarkable Well, l think we have exhausted the path Let us go farther. This garden door is usually kept open, l suppose? Then this visitor had nothing to do but to walk in. The idea of murder was not in her mind, or she would have pro- vided herself with some sort of weapon. instead of having to pick this knife off the writing table. She ad- vanced along this corridor, leaving no traces upon the coeoanut mating. Then she found herself in this study. How long was she there? We have no means of judging
 Not more than a few minutes, sir. I forgot to tell you that Mrs. Marker, the houselSeeper, had been in there tidying not very long before-about a quarter of an hour, she says"
 Well, that gives us a limit Our lady enters this room, and what does she do? She goes over to the writing table. What for? Not for anything in the drawers. If there had been anything worth her taking. it would surely have been locked up. No, it was for something in that wooden bu- reau. Halloal what is that scratch upon the face of it2 Just hold a match. Watson. Why did you not tell me of this. HoplSins?'
 The mark which he was examining began upon the brass-work on the right-hand side of the keyhole, and extended for about four inches, where 1t had scratched the varnish from the surface.
 '.I noticed it, MT Holmes, but you'll always find scratches round key hole"
 This is recent. quite recent. See how the brass shines where 1t is cut. An old scratch would be the same color as the surface. Look at 1t through my lens. There's the varnish, too. like earth on each side of a fur row. Is Mrs. Marker there?"
 A sad-faced, elderly woman came into the room.
 'Did you dust this bureau yesterday morning?"
 "Yes, sir.''
 Did you notice this scratch?"
 No. sir, I did not.
 'I am sure you did not for a duster would have swept away these shreds of varnish. Who has the key of this bureau?