Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-07-01

1 You SAID, MIS-. fstAlng, lnaI you We're
Il awakened by loud explosion. WheI
you said that did you mean that il
seemed to you to be louder than the
second one?'
/ "Well, sir, it wakened me from my
sleep, and so it is hard to judge. But
it did seem very loud"
/ "You don't think that it might have
i been two shots fired almost at the same
instant?"
81 am sure couldn't say, sir"
81 believe that it was undoubtedly
| so. / rather think, Inspector Martin,
| that we have now exhausted all that
this room can teach us. If you will
| kindly step round with me, we shall
see what fresh evidence the garden has
to offer"
| A flower bed extended up to the
I study window, and we all broke into
| an exclamation as we approached 1t.
The flowers were trampled down, and
the soft soil was imprinted all over
with footmarks. Large, masculine feet
they were, with peculiarly long, sharp
! toes. Holmes hunted about among the
| grass and leaves like retriever after
| a wounded bird Then, with cry Of
satisfaction, he bent forward and pick
ed up little brazen cylinder.
81 thought So" said he. ''The re-
volver had an ejector, and here is the
third cartridge. 1 really think, In
spector Martin, that our case is almost
complete"
The country inspectors face had
shown his intense amazeme1ft at the
rapid and masterful progress of Holmes
investigation. At first he had shown
some disposition to assert his own posi-
ton, but now he was overcome with
admiration and ready to follow with
out question wherever Holmes led.
"Whom do you suspect?' he asked.
"I'll go into that later. There are
several points in this problem which |
have not been able to explain to you
yet Now that | have got so far l
had best proceed on my own lines and
then clear the whole matter up once
and for ALL"
"Just as you wish, Mr.. Holmes, so
long as we get our man."
Il have no desire to make mysteries,
but it is impossible at the moment of
action to enter into long and complex
explanations. I have the threads Of
this affair all in my hand. Even if
this lady should never recover con-
seriousness we can still reconstruct the
events Of last night and insure that
Justice be done First Of all, wish to
know whether there is any inn in this
neigh borhood known as Elrige's"
The servants were cross questioned,
but none of them had heard of such
place. The stable boy threw light up
on the matter by remembering that
farmer of that name lived some miles
off in the direction of East Ruston.
''Is it a lonely farm?"
Every lonely, sir"
"Perhaps they have not heard yet of
ali that happened here during the
night?' N
maybe not, SIR
Holmes thought for a little, and then
a curious smile played over his face.
Saddle horse, my lad" said he. 81
shall wish you to take a note to Ell
RIGGS farm"
He took from his pocket the various
slips Of the dancing men. With these in
front of him he worked for some time
at the study table. Finally he handed
note to the boy, with directions to
put it into the hands Of the person to
whom it was addressed, and especially
to answer no questions of any sort
which might be put to him. I saw the !
outside of the note, addressed in strag- |
Cling, irregular characters, very unlike !
Holmes usual precise hand. 1t was
consigned to Mr.. Abe Slaney, Elrige's
farm, East Ruston, Norfolk.
II think, inspector" Holmes remark
ed, "that you would do well to tele-
graph for an escort, as, If my calcula-
tons prove to be correct, you may have |
q particularly dangerous prisoner to
convey to the county Jail The boy
who takes this note could no doubt for |
ward your telegram. If there is an aft
train to town Watson, 1 think
we should do we'll to take it, as have
a chemical analysis of some interest to !
finish, and this investigation draws rap
ly to close"
When the youth had been dispatched !
with the note, Sherlock Holmes gave
bis instructions to the servants. If any
visitor were to call. asking for Mrs.
Hilton Cubitt, no information should |
be given as to her condition, but he was
to be shown at once into the drawing
room. He impressed these points upon
them with the utmost earnestness.
Finally he led the way into the draw
ng room, with the remark that the
business was now out of our hands and
that we must while away the time as
BEST we might until we could see what
was in store for us. The doctor had de-
parted to his patients and only the in
'pector and myself remained
Il think that can help you to pass
an hour in an interesting and profit
able manner said Holmes, drawing
lis chair up to the table and spreading
)ut in front of him the various papers