The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-05

AaNtt itihaNr4 4 NuNktcltU4
Very lnlitely 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.
Holmesy"
Il think that fortune is very kind to
us"
"You mean that the person will come
again.
1T is very probable. He came ex-
pecting TO nnd the door open. He
tried 10 get in with the blade Of
very small penkuife He could not
manage IT, What would he dor
Come again next night with a more
useful tool"
$50 | should say IL viii be our
fault II we are not there 60 receive
him. Meanwhile let me see the inside
Of the cabin"
The traces Of the tragedy had been
removed. but the furniture within the
little room still stood as II had been
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 quest was
not a successful one. once only he
paused IN his patient investigation.
Haze YOU taken anything OF this
shelf liopkinsT
NO. | have moved nothing"
"SGmething has been taken There Is
less dust in this corner OF the shelf
thnn elsewhere. II may have been
book lying on It's side 1t may have
been a box Wen, well. I can do moth
ing more Let us walk in these beau
tiful woods. Watson. and give few
hours TO the birds ana the flowers We
shall meet you here later. Hopkins,
ana see II we can come to closer quar-
ters with the gentleman who has paid
this visit in the night"
1t was past IL o'clock when we form
ed our little ambuscade Hopkins was
tfor leaving the door OF the hut open,
but Holmes was Of the opinion that
this would rouse the suspicious OF the
stranger. The lock was a perfectly
simple one, and only a strong blade
was needed 10 push IL back. Eolmes
also suggested that we should wait. not
inside the hut. but outside 1t among
The bushes which grew round the far
ther window. In this way we should
be able TO watch our man II he struck
a light and see what his object was In
this stealthy nocturnal visit
II was a long and melancholy vigil,
and vet brought with II something OF
the thrill which the hunter feels when
he lies beside the water pool and waits
for the coming Of the thirsty beast OF
prey. What savage creature was Il
which might steal upon us out of the
darknessY Was 1t a fierce tiger of
crime, which could only be taken fight
ing hard with flashing fang and claw,
or would 1t prove TO be some skulking
jaelSal, dangerous only 90 the weak and
unguarded?
In absolute silence we crouched
among the bushes, waiting for what
ever might come. At first the steps
Of few belated villagers or the sound
Of voices from the village lghtened our
vigil, but one by one these Interruptions
died away aud an absolute stiffness fell
upon US, save for the chimes OF the dis
tant church, which told us OF the prog
ress OF the night. and for the rustic and
whisper Of a fine rain falling amid the
foliage which rooted US In
Half past had chlmed. and II was
the darkest hsur which precedas the
dawn, when we all started as a low
but sharp click came from the direction
of the gate. Some one had entered the
drive. Again there was a long silence,
and had begun TO fear that It was
false alarm, when q stealthy step was
heard upon the other side OF the hut
and moment later metallic scraDing
and clinklng. The man was trying to
force the lock This time his skill was
greater or his tool was better, for there
was sudden snap and the creak OF
the hinges. Then match was struck,
and next instant the steady light from
a candle filed the interior Of the hut
Through the gauze curtain our eyes
were all riveted upon the scene within
The nocturnal visitor was young
man, frail and thin, with black mus
tache, which intensified the deadly
pallor OF his face. He could not have
been much above twenty years Of age
l have never seen any human being
who appeared to be IN such pitiable
fright, for his teeth were visibly chat.
tering, and he was shaking IN every
limb He was dressed Ike a gentle.
man, In Norfolk jacket and knicker-
bockers, with cloth cap upon his
head. We watched him staring round
with frightened eyes. Then he laid
the candle end upon the table and dis
appeared from our view into one OF
the corners. He returned with large
book. one OF the logbooks which form
ed line upon the shelves. Leaning on
the table. he rapidly turned over the
leaves OF this volume until he came 10
the entry which be sought Then, with !
an angry gesture OF his cllnched hand. !
be closed the book, replaced il in the
corner and put out the light. He had
hardly turned 70 leave the hut when
Hopkins hand was on the fellows col |
lar. and I heard his loud gasp Of ter
r0r as he understood that he was taken. !
The candle was relit, and there was
our wretched captive, shIvering aud |
covering in the grasp OF the detective !
lie sank down upon the sea chest and |
looked helplessly from one OF US 70 |
the other.
Now, my ine fellow" said Stanley |
Hopkins, who are you and what do |
you want hereT'
The man pulled himself together and |
faced us with an dAsrt al self compo-