The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-11-22

MS hand ShOne upon his eager, StOOp-
ing face and told me at glance that
something was amiss.
Come, Watson; Gomez he cried
The game is afoot. Not word! Into
your clothes and Gomez
Ten minutes later we We're both in a
cab and rafting through the silent
streets on our way to Charing Cross
station. The first faint winters dawn
was beginning to appear, and we could
dimly see the occasional figure of an
early workman as he passed us, blur
red and indistinct in the opalescent
London reek. Holmes nestled in ST.
lence into his heavy coat and l was
glad to do the same for the air was
most bitter, and neither of us had
broken our fast
1t was not until we had consumed
some hot tea at the station and taken
our places in the Kentish train that
we We're sufficiently thawed, he to
speak and l to listen Holmes drew a
note from his pocket and read it aloud
Abbey Grange, Marsham Kent,
$3.50 a. m.
WY Lear MT. ttOlneS--l should be very
glad of your immediate assistance in what
promises to be most remarkable case
1t Is something quite In your line Except
Tor releasing the lady, will see that ey-
erything is kept exactly as l have found
1t. but beg you not to lose an instant, as
1t is difficult to leave Sir Eustace there
Yours faithfully.
STANLEY HOPKINS.
Hopkins has called me In seven
times, and on each occasion his sum
mons has been entirely justified" said
Holmes. Il fancy that every one of his
cases has found its way into your col
lection, and must admit, Watson tina,
you have some power of selection
which atones for much which 1 deplore
in your narratives. Your fatal habit of
looking at everything from the point
OF view of story instead Of as scien-
tific exercise has ruined what might
have been an instructive and even
classical series Of demonstrations You
slur over work of the utmost fnesse
and delicacy in order to dwell upon
sensational details which may excite
but cannot possibly instruct the read,
err"
why do you not write them your
self?" said, with some bitterness.
II will, my. dear Watson, WILL At
present am, as you know, fairly busy,
but propose to devote my declining
years to tte-c8mnQsition of textbook
which shall focus the whole art Of de-
lection into one volume. Our present
research appears to be case of MUIR
der"
you think this Sir Eustace is dead,
thenY
II should say SO. Hopkins writing
shows considerable agitation, and he Is
not an emotional man. Yes, l gather
there has been violence and that the
body is left for our inspection. A mere
suicide would not have caused him to
send for me- AS to the release of the
lady, 1t would appear that she has been
locked in her room during the tragedy.
We are moving in high life, Watson
-crackling paper, e. B. monogram,
coat of arms, picturesque address l
think that Friend Hopkins will live up
to his reputation and that we shall have
an interesting morning. The crime was
committed before IL last night"
How can you possibly tell?'
"By an inspection of the trains and
by reckoning the time. The local police
had to be called in; they had to COM
municate with Scotland Yard; Hopkins
had to go out, and he in turn had to
send for me. All that makes fair
nights work. Well, here we are at
Chiselhurst station, and we shall soon
set our doubts at rest"
A drive Of couple of miles through
narrow country lanes brought us to q
park gate, which was opened for US by
an old lodge keeper, whose haggard
face bore the reflection of some great
disaster. The avenue ran through 6
noble park between lines of ancient
elms and ended in low, widespread
house pillared in front after the fash
ion Of Palladio. The central part was
evidently of great age and shroudet
in ivy, but the large windows showed
that modern changes had been carried
out, and one wing of the house appear
ed to be entirely new. The youthful
figure and alert, eager face of Inspect
or Stanley Hopkins confronted us IL
the open doorway.
Pm very glad you have come, Mr.
Holmes, and you, too, Dr. Watson
But, indeed, If l had my time owe
again 1 should not have troubled you
for since the lady has come to hersel
she has given so clear an account O
the affair that there is not much lef
for us to do. You remember that Lew
isham gang Of burglars"
what, the three Randalls?"
Exactly; the father and two sons
It's their work. / have not doubt O
it. They did a job at Sydenham fort
night ago and were seen and described
Rather cool to do another so soon an,
so near, but it is they beyond all doub,
It's hanging matter this time"
''Sir Eustace is Dead then?"
Yes; his head was knocked in wit
his own poker"
"Sir Eustace Brackenstall. the drive