The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-08-23

.
took it very seriously and begged me if
any more came to let her see them.
None did come for week, and then
| yesterday morning I found this paper
| lying on the sundial in the garden. ]
| showed it to Elsie, and down she drop
| ped in dead faint Since then she has
! looked like a woman in dream, half
dazed and with terror always lurking
| in her eyes. 1t was then that | wrote
and sent the paper to you. Mr.. Holmes.
| 1t was not thing that l could take to
the police, for they would have laughed
at me, but you will tell me what to do.
am not rich man, but If there is any
danger threatening my little woman
would spend my last copper to shield
her.
| He was a fine creature, this man of
the old English s0il-simple. straight
and gentle. with his great, earnest blue
eyes and broad comely face. His love
for bis wife and his trust in her shone
in his features. Holmes had listened
to his story with the utmost attention.
and now he sat for some time in silent
thought.
Don't you think. Mr.. Cubitt." said
he at last. that your best plan would
be to make direct appeal to your
wife and to ask her to share her secret
with you2"
Hilton Cubitt shook his massive head
"a promise is q promise, Mr. Holmes.
II Elsie wished To tell me she would
If not. it is not for me to force her con
ddence. But am justified in taking
my own line-and will"
I Then I will help you with all my
heart In the first place, have you
heard Of any strangers being seen in
your neighborhood2'
No"
81 presume that it is very quiet
place. Any fresh face would cause
comment?"
''In the immediate neighborhood, yes
But we have several small watering
places not very far away. And the
farmers take in dodgers"
These hieroglyphics have evidently
meaning. If it is purely arbitrary
one it may be impossible for US to
solve It, II, on the other hand, it Is
systematic, I have no doubt that we
shall get to the bottom of it. But this
particular sample is so short that l
can do nothing, aud the facts which
you have brought me are so indefinite
that we have no basis for an investi-
CATION. would suggest that you re-
turn to Norfolk, that you keep a keen
lookout and that you take an exact
copy Of any fresh dancing men which
, may appear. 1t Is a thousand pties
that We have not reproduction OF
these which were done in chalk upon
/ the window sill, Make discreet in
f qulry also as to any strangers in the
, neighborhood. When you have collect
ed some fresh evidence come to me
again That is the best advice which
can give you, Mr. Hilton Cubitt. Ii
there are any pressing fresh develop
r ments | shall be always ready to run
}, down and see you in your Norfolk
4 home
E The interview left Sherlock Holmes
very thoughtful. and several times il
' the next few days [ saw him take his
q slip of paper from his notebook ant
e look long and earnestly at the curious
D figures inscribed upon it. He made n,
Il alluslOn to the affair. however, unit
: one afternoon fortnight or so later
: was going out when he called m,
t back
f You had better stay here. Watson
g Why"
r Because had wire from Hilton
v Cubitt this morning You remembe
G,,t, >pt Il. VT
was to reach Liverpool street at 20
$ He may be here at any moment
9 gather from his wire that there hav,
f been some new incidents OF impOr
o lance"
V We had not long to wait, for our Nor
IL folk squire came straight from the sta
J. tton as Fast as a hanson could brin,
IL him. He was looking worried and de
II pressed, with tired eyes and line,
II forehead
1t IT'S getting on my nerves, this bust
v ness, Mr., Holiness" said be as he sank
It like wearied man, into an armchair
e It's bad enough to feel that you ar
l. surrounded by unseen. unknown folk
r who have some kind Of design upo
n you, but when, in addition to that, yo
e know that it is Just killing your wifi
d by inches. then 1t becomes as much a
It flesh and blood can endure She
II wearing away under it-just wearin
v away before my eyes"
Has she said anything YETI"
" No. Mr. Holmes, she has not AM
1, yet there have been times when tn
" poor girl has wanted TO speak and We
If could not quite bring herself to TAX
the plunge have tried to help her. bu
r I dare say did 1t clumsily and scare
g. her from it. She has spoken about IN
,e old family and our reputation in til
r county and our pride in our unsullle
,e honor. and I always felt it was leaG
n ing to the point but somehow it turne
% off before we got there"
.e But you have found out somethn
< for yourself?"
at "a good deal, Mr. Holmes, I hav
- | several fresh d0ncing men DflfuraS fC