The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-05-26

OOpyrlBnt Dy OOlller 5 weekly.
"She could till as something If she
aUould"
was Uttered with cigarette ends and
with the early editions of the morning
papers. An open telegram lay upon the
table.
what do you think of this, WatsonT
he asked, tossing it across
1t was from Norwood and ran as fol.
lows:
Important fresh evidence to hand Nc
Farlanes guilt definitely established. Ad-
wise you to abandon case. LESTRADE.
"This sounds serious" said l.
1T is Lestrade's little cock-a-doodle
of victory" Holmes answered, with
bitter smile. And yet it may be pre-
mature to abandon the case. After all,
important fresh evidence is a two edg-
ed thing and may possibly cut in
very different direction from that which
Lestrade imagines. Take your break
fast Watson, and we will go out to-
gether and see what we can do. feel
as if l shall need your company and
your moral support To-Day.
My friend had no breakfast himself,
for it was one of his peculiarities that
In his more intense moments he would
permit himself no food, and | have
known him to presume upon his ion
strength until he has tainted from
pure hamilton. "At present / cannot
spare energy and nerve force for diges-
tion," he would say in answer to my
medical remouStrances. | 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 l had pic
tured. Within the gates Lestrade met
us, his face flushed with victory, his
manner grossly triumphant.
"Well, Mr.. Holmes, have you proved
us to be wrong yet? Have you found
your tramp?" he cried.
81 have formed no conclusion what
ever" my companion answered.
But we formed ours yesterday, and
now it proves to 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 l think l can convince you
once for all that it was John McFar-
lane who did this crime"
He led us through the passage and
out into dark hall beyond.
This is where young McFarane
must have come out to get his hat
AFTER the crime was DONE" said he.
Now, look at this" With dramatic
suddenness he struck a 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 a thumb
Look at that with your magnifyng
glass, Mr.. Holmes"
"Yes, am doing So"
"You are aware that no two thumb
marks are alike?"
i have heard something of the kind,
well, then, will you please com
81 pare that nrint with this wax imnres.
sion OF young McFarlanes right thumb
taken by my orders this morning.
AS he held the waxen print close to
the blood stain it did not take a mag
nifying glass to see that the two were
undoubtedly from the same thumb II
was evident to me that our unfortunate
client was lost.
"That is final" said Lestrade.