Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-10
you fasten all The wlndows?''

Were they all fastened this morning7"
yes"
You have a maid who has a sweetheart?
! think that you remarked to your uncle
last night that she had been out to see
hlm?"
Yes, and she was the girl who waited
IN the drawing room. and who may have
heard uncle's remarks about the coronet"
II see You infer that she may have
gone out TO tell her sweetheart. and that
the two may have planned the robbery"
But what is the good Of all these vague
theories" creid the banker impatiently,
when I have told you that I saw Arthur
with the coronet in his hands7"
wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must
come back to that About this girl, Miss
Holder You saw her return by the kitchen
door, l presume?"
Yes; when l went to see IL the door
was fastened for the night l met her
slipping in. I saw the man, too in the
gloom"
do you krow hlm?"
"Oh. yes; he is the green grocer who
brings our vegetables around His name
is Francis Prosper"
HE stood said Holmes. "to the left Of
the door-that is to say. further up the
path than Is necessary to reach the door?'
Yes he did"
And he Is a man with a wooden leg?"
Something like fear sprung up in the
young ladys expressive black eyes. "why,
you are like a magician" said she. How
do you know that" She smiled, but there
was no answering smile in Holmes thin,
eager face
II should be very glad now 70 go up
stairs" said he. 81 shall probably wish
TO 20 over the outside of the house again
Perhaps I had better take look at the
lower windows before I go up"
He walked swiftly round from one to
the other pausing only at the large one
which looked from the hall onto the stable
lane. This he opened, and then made
very careful examination Of the sill with his
powerful magnifying lens. Now we shall
go upstairs" he said at last.
The bankers dressing room was a plainly
furnished little chamber with a gray car
pet a large bureau and a long mirror
Holmes went to the bureau first and looked
hard at the lock.
(which key was used to open it?" he
asked
THAT which my son himself Indicated
that Of the cupboard of the lumber room"
Have you It here?"
THAT is 1t on the dressing table"
Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened
the bureau
1T is a noiseless lock-" said he 1T is
no wonder that It did not wake you. This
case ! presume, contains the coronet We
must have a look at It," He opened the
case and. taking out the diadem, laid It
upon the table. II was a magnificent spec
linen of the jewelers. art, and the thirty
six stones were the finest that I have ever
seen. At one side Of the coronet was a
cd
gems had been torn away.
Now, Mr.. Holder" said Mr. Holmes,
here is the corner which corresponds to
that which has been so unfortunately lost.
might beg that you will break It off?"
The banker recoiled in horror. II should
not dream Of trying" he said.
Then l will" Holmes suddenly bent his
strength upon it, but without result. II
feel II give little" said he; but though
am exceptionally strong in the fingers, It
would take me all my time to break IT,
An ordinary man could not do It. Now,
what do you think would happen II I did
break IT, Mr.. Holder? There would be a
noise like a pistol shot Do you tell me
that all this happened within a few yards
OF your bed and that you heard nothing of
it?"
Il do not know what to think It is all
dark to me-"
But perhaps it may grow lighter as we
60 What do you think, Miss Holder"
1 confess that 1 still share my uncIe's
perplexity."
Your son had no shoes or slippers on
when you saw him?"
He had nothing on save only his trou.
sers and shirt"
THANK you We have certainly peen IA
VOred with I,,,i, s,,.l.,.- -
Inquiry, and It will be entirely our own
fault II we do not succeed In clearing the
matter up. With your permission, Mr..
Holder l shall now continue my investiga-
lions outside"
He. went alone at his own request. for he
explained that any unnecessary footmarks
might make his task more difficult. For
an hour or more he was at work, returning
at last with his feet heavy with snow and
his features as inscrutable as ever
1 think that I have seen now all that
there is to see, Mr.. Holder" said he: 81
can serve you best by returning to my
rooms"
they?"
II cannot tell"
The banker wrung his hands 1T shall
never see them again!" he cried and
my son? You give me hopes?"
My opinion is in no way altered"
Then for Gods sake, what was this
dark business which was acted in nv house
last night?"
III you can call upon me at my Baker
street rooms tomorrow morning between
ana 10 l shall be happy 10 do what can
10 make II clearer. l understand that Won
give me carte blanche to act for YOU pro
Vided only that I get back the gems and
that you place no limit on the sum l may
draw"
Il would give my fortune to have them
back"
Very good. l shall look into the matter
between this and then. Goodbye; II is lust
possible that I may have to come over
here again before evening"
II was obvious to me that my compan
ions mind was now made up about the
case, although what his conclusions
were was more than could even
dimly imagine, Several times during our
homeward journey l endeavored TO sound
him upon the point but he always gIided
away TO some other topic until at last 1
gave It over in despair It was not vet
3 when. We found ourselves in our room,
once more. He hurried to his chamber and
was down again in few minutes, dressed
as common loafer. With his collar turned