The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-12-28
The Adventures Of
the Second Stain
lContinuedl

(Continued)
What do you think Of that, Holmes p"
had read the account aloud to him
while he finished his breakfast.
My dear Watson" said he as he
rose from the table and paced up and
down the room, you are most long
suffering, but if have told you moth
ing in the last three days it is because
there is nothing to tell Even now
this report from Paris does not helm
us much"
Surely it is final as regards the
mans DEATH"
'"The mans death Is mere incident.
a trivial episode, in comparison with
our real task, which is to trace this
document and save European catas-
trophe. Only one important thing has
happened in the last three days, and
that Is that nothing has happened. 1
get reports almost hourly from the gov
eminent, and it is certain that nowhere
in Europe is there any sign of trouble.
Now, il this letter were loose-no, it
can't be loose-but If it isn't loose
where can it be? Who has it? Why is
1t held back? That's the question that
beats in my brain like hammer.
Was 1t, indeed, a coincidence that Luz
cas- should meet his death on the night
when the letter disappeared? Did the
letter ever reach him? If so, why is it
not among his papers? Did this mad
wife of his carry it of with her? II
30, is 1t in her house in Paris? How
could search for it without the
French police having their suspicious
aroused? 1t is a case, my dear Wat
son, where the law is as dangerous to
us as the criminals are. Every mans
hand is against us, and yet the inter
ests at stake are colossal. Should l
bring it to successful conclusion it
will certainly represent the browning
glory of my career. All, here is my
latest from the 'front.' He glanced
hurriedly at the note which had been
handed in. "Hello Lestrade seems
to have observed something of interest
Put on your hat, Watson. and we will
stroll down together to Westminster"
1t was my first visit to the scene of
the crime-a high, dingy, narrow chest
ed house, prim, formal and solid, like
the century which gave it BIRTH Lee
strade's bulldog features gazed out at
us from the front window, and he
greeted us warmly when a big consta-
bic had opened the door and let us in.
The room into which we were shown
was that In which the crime had been
committed, but no trace of it now re-
NAMED save an ugly, irregular stain
apon the carpet. This carpet was
small square drugget in the center Of
the room, surrounded by a broad ex-
panse Of beautiful, old fashioned wood
flooring in square blocks highly polish
ed. Over the fireplace was magnifi~
cent trophy Of weapons one of which
had been used on that tragic night. In
the window was sumptuous writing
desk, and every detail of the apart
ment, the pictures, the rugs and the
Hangings, oil pointed to a taste which
was luxurious to the verge Of effemi-
macy.
"Seen the Paris news?" asked Le-
strade.
Holmes nodded.
Our French friends seem to have
touched the spot this time. No doubt
it's just as they say. She knocked at
the door-surprise visit guess, for he
kept his life In water tight compart-
ments-he let her in, couldn't keep her
in the street. She told him how she
had traced him, reproached him; one
thing led TO another, and then with that
dagger so handy the end soon came
1t wasn't all done in an instant, though,
for these chairs were all swept over
yonder, and he had one in his hand as
We've got 1t all clear as If we mad seen
It,"
Holmes raised his eyebrows.
"And yet you have sent for me?'
"Ah, yes, that's another matter; a
mere trifle, but the sort Of thing you
take an interest in-queer, you know,
and what you might call freakish. 1t
has nothing to do with the main fact
can't have, on the face Of it."
'What is 1t, then?''
..'Well, you know, after crime of
this sort we are very careful to keep
things in their position. Nothing has
been moved Officer in charge here day
and night. This morning, as the man
was buried and the Investigation over
so far as this room is commemorative
thought we could tidy up bit. This
carpet-you see, it is not fastened
down, only just laid there. We had
occasion to raise it. We found
Yes? You found
Holmes face grew tense with anx-
iety.
well, I'm sure you would never
guess in hundred years what we did
find. You see that stain on the car
pet2 Well, great deal must have
soaked through, must it not?"
Undoubtedly 1t must
'Well, you will be surprised to hear
that there is no stain on the white
woodwork to correspond"
mo stain! But there must