The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-06-02
What makes you think such a

thing:"
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 tine 10 save her yet though
il be for the gall0ws."
Holmes brow was dark with anxiety
We are going 10 Riding Thorpe Man
or" said lie. but We have heard moth
ing Of what has passed there
It's g terrible business" said the
station master. They are shot. both
M Hilton Cubirt and his wife. She
shot him and then herself. 30 the serv-
ants say. Hes dead and her life IS de-
SPARED Of Dear dear. one Of the Old
est families in the county Of Norfolk
and one Of the most h0nored.'
Without q word Holmes hurried % a
carriage. and during the long seven
mile drive he ne-er opened his mouth.
Seldom have I seen him 80 utterly de-
spondent. He had been uneasy during
al our journey from town. and I had
observed thar he had turned over the
morning papers with anxious attention
but now this sudden realization Of his
worst fears left him IN q blank melan-
ch0ly He leaned back il his seat. lost
in gloomy speculation. Yet there was
much around 70 interest Us. for We
wera passing through q singular q
country side a. any in England where
a few scattered cottages represented
the population Of 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 st
last the violet rim OF the German
ocean appeared over the green edge Of
the Norfolk coast. and the driver point
Cd with L.~ whip 70 two Old brick and
timber gables which projected from q
grove Of trees. That's Riding Thorpe
Manor" said he
As we drove up 10 the portcoed front
door I observed in front Of il. beside tie
tennis lawn. The black tool house and
the pedestaied sundial with which we
had such strange associations. ! dap
per Nt-Ie man. with quick alert
manner and waved mustache. had
Just descended from q high doccart.
He introduced himself a. Inspector
Martin Of he Norfolk c0nSta bulary.
and he was considerably astonisAed
when he heard the name Of my com
pGn.ol
why 9Ir. Holmes. the crime was
only committed al 8 this morning. How
could You hear Of il in London and get
10 the spot q soon as I:
4 anticipated it. I came in the hope
Of preventing it.
Then Won must have important evi-
dence = which We are ignorant. for
they were said 70 be a most united
couple
4 have Only the evidence Of the dane
ing men" said Holmes. y VIII ex-
plain the matter 10 Won later. Mean
while. since il i 100 late 10 prevent this
tragedy. an VERY anxious that
sho1.l use lie knowledge which I pos
sess II order 10 insure that justice be
done VIII you associate me il your
investigation or viii you prefer that I
should act Independently:
= should De proud 70 feel that we
were acting together. Mr.. Holmes, "
said the inspector earnestly.
In thar case I should be glad 10 hear
the evidence and TO examine the prem
ises without an instant Of unnecessary
delay.
Inspector Martin had the good sense
TO allow ny friend 10 do things IN his
own fashion and contented himself
with carefully noting TIE results. The
local surgeon. al old white haired
man. had JUST come down from Mrs.
| Hilton Cu5.rt's room. and 10 reported
| that Ter iuju>ies were serious. but not
necessarily fatal The bullet lad
passed through the front Of her brain.
+ and il would probably be some time be
( fore she could regain Consciousness.
I On the question Of whether she had
( been shot or had shot herself lie would
[ not venture To express any decided
/ opinion. Certainly the bullet had been
4 discharged al very close quarters.
There was only the one pistol found in
/ the room. two barrels Of which had
I been emptied. Mr.. Hilton Cubitt had
+ been shot through the heart Il was
/ equally conceivable that he had shot
her and then himself or that she had
been the criminal for the revolver lay
( upon the floor midway between them.
HAS be been novel; asked Holmes.
we have moved nothing except the
lady. We could not leave her lying
wounded upon the floor
How long have You been here, doc
tor
Since I O'Clock"
ANY one elseE"
Yes. the constable here"
and you have touched nothing?"
/ Nothing
You have acted with great discra-
ton. Who sent for voue"
The housemaid. Saunders"
WAS il she who gave the alarm?"
she and Mrs. King. the cook"
where are they nows"
IN the kitchen. I believe"
''Then I think we had better hear
their story al once"
The old hall, oak paneled and high
] Widowed had been turned into q court
Of Investigation. Holmes sat IN 8
great, old fashioned chair, his fnexora.
bic eyes cleaning out Of his haggard
face. 1 could read in them a set pur.
] pose 10 devote his life 10 This nnes1