Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-09-26
"well" said he at last ~ supnose ]

WELL" said he at last, IT suppose 1
snail have to come out ;inl have look
at It,"
Stanley Hopkins gave cry of joy.
THANK you, sir. That will, indeed,
be weight off my mind"
Holmes shook his finger at the in
spector.
ut 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.
II you will call four wheeler, Hop
kins, we shall be ready to start for
F0'est Row in quarter of an hour"
Alighting at the small wayside sta
ton, we drove for some miles through
the remains of widespread woods
which We're once 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 ravaged groves and great scars
In the earth shows the work of the past.
Here, in a clearing upon the green
slope of hill, stood long, low stone
house, approached by a curving drive
running through the fields. Nearer the
road and surrounded on three sides by
bushes was 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 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
III usage which she had endured. With
her was her daughter, pale. fair hair
ed girl, whose eyes blazed defiantly 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. 1t was terrible household that
Black Peter Carey had made for him
self, and 1t was with sense of relief
that we found ourselves In the sunlight
again, making our way along path
which had been worn across the fields
by the feet of the dead man.
The clubhouse was the simplest of
dwellings. wooden walled. shingle roof
ed, one window beside the door and one
on the farther side. Stanley Hopkins
drew the key from his pocket and had
stopped to the lock when he paused
with look of attention and surprise
upon his face.
Some one has been tamperlng 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
very poor burglar"
'eThis is most extraordinary thing
said the inspector. II could swear
that these marks We're not here yester-
day evening"
Some curious person from the vii
tlage, perhaps" suggested.
/ Very unlikely. Few of them would
dare to set foot in the grounds, fan
less try to force their way into the
cabin. What do you think of it, Mr.
Holmes2''
II think that fortune is very kind to
u.s."
you mean that the person will come
again?"
ut is very probable. He came eX.
| pecting to find the door open. ZIG
tried to get in with the blade of g
very small penknife. He could moi
manage it. What would he do?'
Come again next night with more
useful tool"
$50 | should say. 1t will be oul
fault if we are not there to receive
him. Meanwhile let me see the inside
Of the cabin
The traces OF the tragedy had beer
removed, but the furniture within the
little room still staod as 1t had bee,
on the night OF the crime. For two
hours with most intense concentration
Holmes examined every object in turn
but his face showed that his Guest wa:
not a successful one, Once only III
paused in his patient investigation.
"Haye you taken anything of thi
shelf, Hopkins:"
NO; have moved nothing
Something has been taken. There il
less dust In this corner of the shei
than elsewhere. 1t may have been
book lying on its Size. 1t may hav,
been box. Well well. I can do moth
Ing more. Let us walk i'll these beau
Etiful woods. Watson. and give few
hours to the birds and the flowers, w
shall EJECT YOU here later, Hopkins
and see il We can come IA closeriqua1
tiers with the gent'sm who has pai
!. thu visit in tha wight"
ITO be continued.