Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-09-14

Stanley HOpkln gave Il cfN OIL JOY.
''Thank YOU, sir. That will, indeed,
be a weight off my mind"
Holmes shook his finger at he in
spector.
1T would have been an easier task a
week ago" said he. But even now
my visit may not be entirely fruitlesS.
Watson, if You can spare the time I
should be very glad of your company.
If you will call a four wheeler. Hop
kins, we shall be ready to start for
Forest Row in a quarter of an hour"
Alighting at the small wayside sta
ton. we drove for some miles through
the remains of widespread God
Which were nce part of that great for
est which for so long held the Saxon
invaders at bay-the impenetrable
weald. for sixty years the bulwark
Of Britain. Vast sections of it have
been cleared. for this is the seat of the
first iron works of the country. and the
trees have been felled to smelt the ore.
Now the richer fields of the north have
absorbed the trade, and nothing save
these rayaged groves and great scars
in the earth shows the work of the past.
Here, in a clearing upon the green
slope of a hill. stood q long. low stone
house. approached by a curving drive
running through the fields. Nearer the
road and surrounded on three sides by
bushes was a small clubhouse, one Win
dow and the door facing in our direc-
ton. 1t was the scene of the murder.
Stanley Hopkins led us first to the
house, where he introduced US to a bag
gard, gray haired woman, the widow
Of the murdered man, whose gaunt and
deep lined face. with the furtive look OF
terror in the depths of her red trimmed
eyes, told Of the years of hardship and
ill usage which she had endured. With
her was her daughter. a pale, fair hair
ed girl. whose eyes blazed defantly at
us as she told us that she was glad that
her father was dead and that she bless
ed the hand which had struck him
down. It was a terrible household that
Black Peter Carey had made for him
self. and it was with a sense of relief
that We found ourselves in the sunlight
again. making our way along a path
which had been worn across the fields
by the feet of the dead man.
The clubhouse wa the simplest Of
dwellings, wooden walled. single roof
ed, one window beside the door and one
on the farther side. Stanley Hopkins
drew the key from his pocket Inc had
stopped 70 the lock when he paused
with a look $f attention and surprise
upon his face.
"Some one has been tampering with
It," he said.
There could be no doubt of the fact.
The woodwork was cut, and the
scratches showed white through the
paint, as if they had been that instant
done. Holmes had been examining the
window.
"Some one has tried to force this
also. Whoever it was has failed to
make his way in. He must have been
a very poor burglar"
'This is a most extraordinary thing
said the inspector. 81 could swear
thai these marks were not here yester.
day evening"
Some curious person from the vii.
lage, perhaps" l suggested.
Very unlikely. Few of them would
dare to set foot in the grounds, far
less try to force their way into the
cabin. What do you think Of it, Mr.
Holmes:"
II think that fortune is very kind t.
u.s."
"You mean that the person will com
again"
ut is very probable. He came ex
pecting to find the door open. IL
tried to get in with the blade Of
very small penknife. He could no
manage it. What would he dog
Come again mex night with a NOR
useful tool"
$50 l should say. 1t will be GU
fault If we are not there to receiv
him. Meanwhile let me see the insid
of the cabin"
The traces o. the tragedy had bee
removed, but the furniture within til
little room still stood as it had bee
on the night Of the crime. For tw
hours with most intense concentrate
Holmes examined every object in turf
but his face showed that his quest wa
not a successful one. Once only h
paused in his patient investigation.
"Havc you taken anything off TIL
shelf, Hopkins!"
"No; ! nave moved nothing"
"Something has been taken. There
less dust in This corner Of the she
than elsewhere, 1t may have been
book lying On its side. 1t may ha,
been q box. Well, well, ! can do not
ing more. Let us walk in these bca,
tiful woods, Watson, and give IL 70
hours to the birds ana the flowers. "
shall meet you here later, iIopkin
and see II W. can come to closer qua
tiers with the gentleman who has pa
this visit III the night"