Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-07-22

enough" said he. rs there train TO
North Walsham tonigbtT'
turned up the time table. The last
had just gone.
Then we shall breakfast early and
take the very first In the morning.
said Holmes. sour presence is most
urgently needed. All. here is our ex-
pecred cablegram. One moment. Mrs.
Hudson: there may be an answer. No.
that is quite as i expected. This mes
sage makes il even more essential that
we should not lose an hour in letting
Hilton Cubitt know how matters stand,
for il is singular aud a dangerous
web in which our simple Norfolk squire
Is entangled."
So indeed 1t proved. and as come TO
the dark conclusion OF a story which
had seemed TO me 10 be only childish
and bizarre experience once again the
cismay and horror With which I was
flied. Would that had some brighter
Guiding to communicate 20 my readers,
but these are the chronicles OK fact.
and I must follow TO their dark crisis
the strange chain OF events which for
some days made Riding Thorpe Manor
household word through the length
and breadth OF England
We had hardly alighted al North
Walsham and mentioned the name OF
our destination when the station mas
ter hurried toward Us. Il suppose that
you are the detectives from Londonf"
said be.
A look OF annoyance passed over
Holmes face
What makes you think such a
thingf"
Because Inspector Martin from
Norwich has just passed through. But
maybe you are the surgeons. She's not
dead, or wasn't by last accounts. You
may be in time 20 save her yet. though
II be Tor the gallows"
Holmes brow was dark with anxiety.
we are going 10 Riding Thorpe Man
or" said he. but we have heard moth
ing OF what has passed there"
It's a terrible business" said the
station master. "They are shot. both
Mr.. Hilton Cubitt and his wife. she
shot him and then herself. so the serv-
ants say. He's dead aud her life IS de-
SPARED Of. Dear. dear. one Of the old
and one OF the most honoredr
Without word Holmes hurried 10 n
carriage. and during the long seven
mile drive be never opened his mouth.
Seldom have I seen him so utterly de-
spondent lie had been uneasy during
all our journey from town. and I had
observed that be had turned over the
morning papers with anxious attention,
but now this sudden realization OF his
worst fears left him In a blank melan-
choly He leaned back in his seat. lost
ia gloomy speculation. Yet there was
much around 10 interest Us. for we
were passing through rs singular
countryside as any in England. where
few scattered cottages represented
the population or today. while on ev-
cry hand enormous square lowered
churches bristled up from the fat
green landscape and told OF the glory
and prosperity OF old East Anglia. At
last the violet rim OF the German
ocean appeared over the green edge OF
the Norfolk coast. and the driver point
Ell with his whip to two old brick and
timber gables which projected from a
grove OF trees. that's Riding Thorpe
Manor" said he.
AS we drove up 20 the porticoed front
door I observed In front OF Il. beside the
tennis lawn. the black tool house and
the pedcstaled sundial with which we
had such strange associations. A dap
per little man. with a quick alert
manner and waxed mustache. had
just descended from high dogcart.
He introduced himself as Inspector
Martin OF the Norfolk constabulary.
and he was considerably astonished
when he heard the name OF my COM
panlon.
why. Mr.. Holmes. the crime was
only committed az this morning. How
could you hear OF il In London and get
90 the spot rs soon as ~
IT anticipated II. came in the hope
OF preventing H."
Then YOU must have important evil
dence OF which we are ignorant. for
they were said 20 be a most united
couple"
Il have only the evidence OF the dane
ing men," said Holmes. IT Will ex-
plain the matter 10 you later. Mean
while, since IL is too late 10 prevent this
tragedy. am very anxious that
should use the knowledge which pos
sess In order 10 insure that justice be
done. VIII you associate me in your
Investigation or will you prefer that
should act independently
Il should be proud TO feel that we
We're acting together, Mr.. Holmes"
said the Inspector earnestly.
In that case should be glad 10 hear
the evidence and 10 examine the prem
ises without an instant OF unnecessary
delay"
Inspector Martin had the good sense
10 allow my friend to do things In his
own fashion and contented himself
with carefully noting the results. The
local surgeon. an old, white haired
man, bad just come down from Mrs.
Hilton Cubitt's room, and be reported
that her injuries were serious, but not
necessarily fatal The bullet had
passed through the front OF her brain.
and IL would probably. be some time be-
fore she could regain consciousness.
On the question OF whether she had