The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-05
The Return of Sherlock Holmes.


 That's it." said he
 It was short and concise:
 ..The old man is dead"
 'Humr' said Holmes. T think see how things worked. and I can nm derstand how this message would as you say. bring them to a head But while you wait, you might tell me what you can
 The old reprobate with the surplice burst into a volley of bad language.
 By Heaven!" said he. If you saueal on us, Bob Carruthers Tu serve you as you served Jack Wood ley. You can bleat about the girl to your hearts content, for that's vour own affair. but If you round on your pals to this plain-clotheg copper. it will be the worst days work ever you did"
 Your reverence need not be ex- cited" said Holmes. lighting a cigar ette "rhe case is clear enough against you, and all I ask is a few details for my private curiosity. However, if there's any difficulty .n your telling me, I'll do the talking. and then you will see how far you have a chance of holding back your secress. In the first place. three of you came from South Africa on this game-you Williamson, you Carruth- CTS. and Woodley"
 Lie number one" said the old man; "I never saw either of them until two months ago. and I have never been in Africa in my life so smoke it, Mir. Busvbody Holmesl'
 What he says is true.p said Car ruthers.
 '.Well, well, two of you came over. and hunted u2 the girl The idea His reverence is our own homemade article. You had known Ralph Smith in South Africa. You had reason to believe he would not live long. You found out that his niece would in- herit his fortune. How's that-eh?" Carruthers nodded and Williamson swore.
 ''She was next of kin. no doubt and you were aware that the old fellow would make no will.p
 Couldn't read or write" said Car ruthers
 "so you came over the two of you. was that one of you was to marry her, and the other have share of the plunder For some reason. Woediey was chosen as the husband, Why was that?'
 We played cards for her on the voyage. He won.'
 I see. You got tha young lady into your service, and there Woodley was to do the courting. She recognized the drunken brute that he was, and would have nothing to do with him. Meanwhile. your arrangement was rather upset by the fact that you had yourself fallen in love with the lady You could no longer bear the idea of this ruffian owning herr"
 No, by George, I eouldn'tP'
 There was quarrel between you. He left You in n rage. and began to make his own plans independently of you"
 "It strikes me. Williamson. there isn't very much that we can tell this gentleman" cried Carruthers. with a bitter laugh. "Yes, we quarreled, and he knocked me down. l am level with you on that. anyhow. Then I lost sight of Linn. That was when he picked up with this cast padre here. l found that they had set up house. keeping together at this place on the line that she had to pass for the sta tion kept my eye on her after that for l knew there was some deviltry in the wind. I saw them from time to time. for I was anxious to know what they were afte-. Two days ago Woodley came up to my house with this cable, which showed that Ralph Smith was dead. He asked me if would stand by the bargain. l said would not. He asked me if I would marry the girl myself, and give him share. l said I would willingly do so but that she would not have me. He said, Let us get her married, first, and after n week or two she may see things bit different.' said l would have nothing to do with violence. So he went off cursing. like the foul- mouthed black guard that he was. and swearing that he would have her yet She was leaving me this weekend. and I had got a trap to take her to the station. but l was so uneasy in my mind that I followed her on my bicycle She had got a start how ever, and before I could catch her. the mischief was done. The first thing I knew about it was when I saw you two gentlemen driving back in her dog-cart"
 Holmes rose and tossed the end of his cigarette into the grate. 'I have been very obtuse, Watson" said he.