The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-06-02

words into action. | at once came t.
Norfolk with my friend and colleague.
DR.. Watson. but, unhappily, only in
time TO find that the worst had already
occurred"
1T is Il privilege to 'be associated
with you in the handling of a case"
said the inspector warmly. You will
excuse me, however, if l speak frankly
to you. You are only answerable to
yourself but l have to answer to my
superiors. If this Abe Slaney. living
at Elrge's, is indeed the murderer, and
if he has made his escape while am
seated here l should certainly get into
serious trouble
You need not be uneasy. He will
not try to escape"
How do you know"
"To fly would be confession of
guilt"
''Then let us go to arrest him."
81 expect him here every instant"
'But why should he Gomez
Because l have written and asked
him."
But this is incredible. Mr.. Holmes!
Why should he come because you have
asked him? Would not such a request
rather rouse his suspicious and cause
him to fly"
Il think l have known how to frame
the letter." said Sherlock Holmes. In
fact, if | am not very much mistaken,
here is the gentleman himself coming
up the drive
a man was striding up the par
which led to the door, He was tail,
handsome swarthy fellow. clad in a
suit of gray flannel, with panama
hat, bristlng black beard and a
great, aggressive hooked nose, and
flourishing Il cane as he walked. He
staggered up the path as if the place
belonged to him, and we heard his loud,
confident peal at the bell.
Il think, gentlemen" said Holmes
quietly, that we had best take up our
position behind the door, Every pre-
caution is necessary when dealing with
such fellow. You will need your
handouts, inspector. You can leave the
talking to me-"
We waited in silence for minute
one of those minutes which one can
never forget Then the door opened
and the man stepped in. III an instant
Holmes clapped a pistol to his head,
and Martin slipped the handouts over
his wrists. 1t was all done so swiftly
and deity that the fellow was help
less before he knew that he was at
tackled. He glared from one to the
other of as with pair of blazing black
eyes. Then he burst into bitter laugh.
We'll, gentlemen, you have the drop
on me this time. | seem to have knock
ed up against something hard. But l
came here in answer to a letter from
Mrs. Hilton Cubitt Don't tell me Ilat
she is in this. Don't tell me that she
helped to set trap for me!''
Mrs. Hilton Cubtt was seriously in
jured and is at deaths door"
The man gave hoarse cry of grief,
which rang through the house.
You're crazy" he cried fiercely. at
was he that was hurt, not she. Who
would have hurt little Elsie? | may
have threatened her-God forgive me!
but l would not have touched a hair
of her pretty head. Take it back-you!
Say that she is not hurt"
"She was found badly wounded by
the side of her dead husband"
He sank with deep groan ON to the
settee and buried his face in his man
acled hands. For five minutes he was
silent Then he raised his face once
more and spoke with the cold com
posure of despair.
Il have nothing to hide from you,
gentlemen" said he IF | shot the
man he had his shot at me. and there's
no murder in that. But if you think |
could have hurt that woman, then you
don't know either me or her | tell
you, there was never man in this
world loved a woman more than loved
her. had a right to her. She was
pledged to me years ago. Who was
this Englishman that he should come
between US? tell you that l had the
first right to her and that l was only
claiming my own"
"She broke away from your influence
when she found the man that you are"
said Holmes sternly. "She fled from
America to avoid you, and she married
an honorable gentleman in England.
You logged her and followed her and
made her life misery to her in order
to induce her to abandon the husband
whom she loved and respected in order
to fly with you. whom she feared and
hated. You have ended by bringing
about the death Of noble man and
driving his wife to suicide. That is
your record in this business, Mr.. Abe
Slaney. and you will answer for it to
the law"
IF Elsie dies l care nothing what
becomes of me-" said the American.
He opened one Of his hands and look
ed at note crumpled up in his palm