The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-17

quite IOlloW, he said.
How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I
see. No wind, and not cloud in the
| sky. | have a caseful Of cigarettes
here which need smoking, and the sofa
| is very much superior to the usual
country hotel abomnation. / do not
think that it is probable that / shall
use the carriage tonight"
Lestrade laughed indulgently. You
have. no doubt. already formed your
conclusions from the newspapers" he
said. 1.-THE case is as plain as a pike
staff, and the more one goes into it
the palmer it becomes. Still of
course, one can't refuse a lady, and
such very positive one, too. She had
heard of you, and would have your
opinion, though / repeatedly told her
that there was nothing which you
could do which l had not already
done. Why. bless my soul! here is her
carriage at the door"
He had hardly spoken before there
rushed into the room one of the most
lovely young women that l have ever
seen in my life. Her violet eyes were
shining, her lips parted. pink flush
upon her cheeks, all thought of her
natural reserve lost in her overpow-
erng excitement and concern.
"Oh, Mr.. Sherlock Holiness" she
cried. glancing from one to the other
quick intuition, fastening upon my
companion. 81 am so glad that you
have come. I have driven down to
tell you so. l know that James didn't
do it. / know it, and l want you to
start upon your work knowing it too.
Never let yourself doubt upon that
point. We have known each other
since we were little children, and /
know his faults as no one else does;
he is too tender-hearted to hurt fly.
Such a charge is absurd to any one
who really knows him.
/ hope we may clear him, Miss
Turner" said Sherlock Holmes. You
may rely upon my doing all that
cam"
But you have read the evidence.
You have formed some conclusion?
Do you not see some loophOle, some
flaw? Do you not yourself think that
he is innocent?
Il think that it is very probable"
There, now!" she cried, throwing
back her head, and looking defiantly
at Lestrade. You hear! He gives me
hopes"
Lestrade shrugged his shoulders.
81 am afraid that my colleague has
been little quick in forming his con-
clusions,'' he said
but he is right o. know that he
is right. James never did it. And
about the quarrel with his father, / am
sure that the reason why he would
not speak about it to the coroner was
because l was concerned in it,"
"In what way?" asked Holmes.
at is no time for me to hide any
thing. James and his father had
many disagreements about me. fnr
Mccarthy was very anxious that thee
should be marriage between US.
James and l have always loved each
other as brother and sister: but of
course he is young. and he has seen
very little of life yet, and-and--well,
he naturally did not wish to 90 any
thing like that yet. So there were
quarrels, and this. l am sure. was one
of them"
"And your father?" asked Holmes.
WAS he in favor of such union?"
mo, he was averse to it also. No
one but Mr.. Mccarthy was in favor
of it," A quick blush passed over
her fresh young face as Holmes shot
one of his keen. questioning chances
at her.
Thank you for this information"
said he. May 1 see your father if
call Tomorrow"
Il am afraid the doctor won't al
low it,"
1.-THE doctor?'
Yes, have you not heard? Poor
father has never been strong for years
back, but this has broken him down
completely. He has taken to his bed,
and DR.. Willows says that he is
wreck, and that his nervous system is
shattered. Mr. Mccarthy was the only
man alive who had known aad in the
olds days in Victoria"
"Ha! In Victoria! That is inn
portant.
Yes, at the mines"
quite so; at the gold miles, where,
as l understand. Mr.. Turner made his
money.
Yes, certainly"
THANK you, Miss Turner. You
have been of material assistance to
me-"
You will tell me if you have any
news tomorrow. No doubt you will
go to the prison to see James. oh, if
you do, Mr.. Holmes do tell him that
know him to be innocent
Il will. Miss Turner"
81 must go home now, for dad is
very i'll, and he misses me so if leave
him. Goodbye, and God help you in
your undertaking" She hurried from
the room as implsiVely as she had en-
tered. and We heard the wheels of her
carriage rattle off down the street.
II am ashamed of you, Holmes"
said Lestrade, with dignity. after a
few minutes silence. why should
you raise up hopes which you are
bound to disappoint? | am not over
tender of heart, but | call it cruel"
Il think that l see my way to clear
ing James McCarty,' said Holmes.
Have you an order to see him in
prison."
Yes, but only for you and me-
"Then / shall reconsider my resolu-
ton about going out. We have still
time to take u train to Hereford and
see him to-night2"
Ample
"Thsn let us do so. Watson, | fear
that you will find it very slow, but ]
shall only be away a couple of hours"
1 walked down to the station with
them, and then wandered through the
streets of the little town, finally return
ing to the hotel, where l lay upon the
sofa and tried to interest myself in
yellow-bac novel. The puny plot
of the story was SO thin. however,
when compared to the deep mystery
through which we were cropping, and
| found my attention wander so con-
tihually from the fiction to the fact.
that l at last flung it across the room.
and gave myself up entirely to con-
sideration of the events of the day.
Surprising that this unhappy young
a F1'c ,fS 1Cnl a then