Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-10

WeII, III you were 10 pull uOWu
bell rope, Watson, where would YOU
expect II to break? Surely mt the spot
where II Is attached 20 the wire. Why
should IL break three inches from the
top, ms this one has doneY"
because It Ia frayed there"
EXACTLY. This end. which we can
examine. Is fraycd. lie was cunning
enough to do that with his knife. But
the other end Is not frayed. You could
not observe that from here. but II you
were on the mantelpiece you would
sec that IL is cut clean of without any
mark OF fraying whatever. You can
reconstruct what occurred. The man
needed the rope. He would not tear
It down for fear of giving the alarm
by ringing the bell. What did he do?
lie sprang upon the mantelpiece, could
not quite reach It, put his knee on the
brackct-you will see the impression In
the husband 40 got his knife to bear
upon the cord. could not reach the
place by ut least three inches. from
which I infer that he is at least three
inches bigger man than am. Look at
that mark upon the seat Of the oaken
chair! What Is III"
"Blood"
"Undoubtedly II is blood This alone
puts the lady's story out Of court. II
she were seated on the chair when
the crime was done, how comes that
mark? No, no; she was placed in the
chair after the death Of her husband.
I'll wager that the black dress shows
corresponding mark to this. We
have not yet met our Waterloo, Wat
son. but this Is our Marengo, for 1t
begins In defeat and ends in victory.
! should like now to have few words
wary for awhile il we are to get the
information which we want"
She was an interesting person, this
stern Australian nurse aciturn, sus-
picious, ungracious. II took some time
before Holmes pleasant manner and
frank acceptance of all she said thaw-
ed her into corresponding amiability.
She did not attempt to conceal her ha-
tired for her late employer.
Eyes, sir, II Is true that he threw the
decnnter at me. heard him call my
mistress a name. and I told him that
brother had been there Then 1t was
that he threw it at me. lie might have
thrown a dozen If he had but left my
bOnny bird alone. He was forever III
treating her, and she too proud to com.
plain. She will not even tell me all
that he has done to her. She never told
me of those marks on her arm that you
saw this morning. but I know very
we'll that they come from stab with
hatpin. The sly devil-God forgive
me that should speak Of him so now
that he is dead. But a devil he was II
| ever one walked the earth. He was al
honey when first we met him. onl!
eighteen months ago. and we both fee
| as If it were eighteen years. She hat
only Just arrived in London. Yes. i
WAS her FIRST voyage. She had neve
been from home before He won he
with his title and his money and hi
false London ways. II she made ,
mistake she has paid for 1t If ever
woman did. What month did we NEE
him? Well. I tell yon 1t was just aft
| or We arrived. We arrived in June
and it was July. They were married
In January Of last year. Yes. she Il
down in the morning room again. ant
| I have no doubt she will see you, bu
you muSt not ask too much OF her, FOL
she has gone through all that flesh ant
blood will stand"
| Lady Brnckcnstall was reclining OF
the same couch, but looked brighte
than before The maid had entered
with lis and begun once more to fomen
the bruise upon her mistress brow.
| Il hope" said the lady. that yo
have not come to cross examine IN
AGAIN.
| NO." Holmes answered in his ger
tlest voice: II will not cause you an
unnecessary trouble. Lady Bracker
stall. and my whole desire Is to max
things easy for you. for am convin,
cd that you are much tried woman
II YOU will treat me as friend an
trust me you may find that will jus
tify your trust"
"What do you want me to do?"
ITO tell me- the truth"
"Mr. Holiness"
mo. no, Lady Brackenstnll; II Is n
use. You may have heard Of any lttl
reputation which I possess. wi
stake it all on the fact that your stor
is an absolute fabrication"
Mistress and maid were both starin
at Holmes with pale faces and fright
ened eyes.
You are an impudent fellow" erie
Theresa. do you mean to say tha
my mistress has told lie?"
Holmes rose from his chair. ,,
Have you nothing to tell me?
II have told you everything"
"Think once more, Lady Bracker
stall. Would 1t not be better to b
frank?"
For an instant there was hesitatio
in her beautiful face. Then some new
strong thought caused 1t to set like
mask.
II have told you all know"
Holmes took his hat aud shrugge
his shoulders. II am sorry" he salt
And without another word we left tn
: room and the house. There was
pond in the park, and to this my frien
led the way. 1t was frozen over but
single hole was left for the CONVEX
fence Of a solitary swan. Holmes gaze