Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-17


spare energy and nerve force for diges-
ton" he would say in answer 10 my
medical remonstrances- l was not sur
prised, therefore, when this morning he
left his untouched meal behind him and
started with me for Norwood A crowd
OF morbid sightseers were still gathered
round Deep Dene House, which was
Just such suburban villa as | had pic
tured. Within the gates Lestrade met
us, his face flushed with victory, his
manner grossly triumphant.
We'll, Mr. Holmes have you proved
US to be wrong yet: Have you found
your tramp" he cried.
Il have formed no conclusion what
ever" my companion answered.
But we formed ours yesterday. and
now it proves 10 be correct. so You
must acknowledge that we have been
little in front of you this time. Mr..
Holmes"
You certainly have the air of some
thing unusual having occurred" said
Holmes.
Lestrade laughed loudly.
You don't like being beaten any
more than the rest OF us do said he
"A man can't expect always TO have
IT his own way, can he, DR. Watson?
Step this way. if you please, gentle
men, and / think / can convince you
once for all that il was John McFar-
lane who did this crime"
He led us through the passage and
out into a dark hall beyond.
This is where young McFarlane
must have come out TO get his hat
after the crime was done" said he.
Now, look at this" With dramatic
suddenneSs he struck 4 match and by
its light exposed a stain of blood upon
the whitewashed wall. As he held the
match nearer l saw that it was more
than a stain. 1t was the well marked
print OF thumb.
Look at that with your magnifying
glass, Mr.. Holmes"
Yes, l am doing So"
"You are aware that no two thumb
marks are alike:"
Il have heard something of the kind"
well, then, will you please COM
pare that print with this wax impress
sion of young McFarlane's right thumb
taken by my orders this morning."
AS be held the waXen print close u
the blood stain it did not take q mag
nIfying glass to see that the two were
Undoubtedly from the same thumb. 1t
was evident to Inc that our unfortunate
client was lost.
THAT is final" said Lestrade.
Yes, that is final" l Involuntary
echoed
ut is final" said Holmes.
Something I'm his tone caught my car,
and i turned to look at him. An eX-
traOrdinary change had come over his
face. 1t was writhing with inward
merriment. His two eyes were shining
like stars. 1t seemed to me that he
was making desperate efforts to re
strain a convulsive attack of laughter.
Dear me! Dear me- he said at
last. well, now, who would have
thought it? And how deceptive mp
pearances may be, to be sure! Such
a nice young man to look at. 1t is a
lesson to US not TO trust our own iudg-
ment, is it not, Lestrade?"
Yes. some of us are little too much
inclined to be cocksure, Mr.. Holmes"
said Lestrade. The mans insolence
was maddening. but we could not re-
sent il.
What a prOvldential thing that this
young man should press his right
thumb against the wall In taking his
hat from the peg. Such a very natural
action, too, IL you come to think of it."
Holmes was outwardly calm, but his
whole body gave a wriggle Of sup
pressed excitement as he spoke. BY
the way, Lestrade, who made this re-
markable discovery"
1T was the hOusekeeper, Mrs. Lex
ington, who drew the night constable's
attention TO it,
where was the night cOnstableE'
HE remained on guard in the bed
room where the crime was committed
so as to see that nothing was touched"
But why didn't the police see this
mark yesterday"
well. we had no particular reason
to make a careful examination of the
hall. Besides, it's not in very promi-
nent place, as you See"
mo, no-of course not. l suppose
there is no doubt that the mark was
there yesterday"
Lestrade looked at Holmes as if he
thought he was going out of his mind.
I confess that l was myself surprised
both at his hilarious manner ana al
his rather wild observation.
II don't know whether you think that
McFarlane. came out of jail in the
dead OF night I'm order to strengthen
the evidence against himself" said
Lestrade. Il leave it to any expert
in the world whether that Is not the
mark OF his thumb"
1T is unquestionably the mark Of
his thumb
There, that's enough" said Lestrade.
Il am a practical man, Mr.. Holmes.
and when l have got my evidence |
come TO my conclusions. II you have
anything TO say you will End me writ
ing my report in the sitting room
Holmes had recovered his equanimi-
ty. though I still seemed 10 detect
CLEANS OF amusement in his express
sion.
- rnrr