Morris tribune., 1905-08-05

was due to return from the arctic seas
at the very time when my father was
crossing to Norway. The autumn of
that year was stormy one, and there
was long succession of southerly
gales. My fathers yacht may well
have been blown to the north and there
met by Captain Peter Carey's ship. If
+, that were so, what had become of my
| father? In any case, if l could prove
from Peter Carey's evidence how these
securities came on the market it would
be proof that my father had not sold
| them and that he had no view to per
sonal profit when he took them.
II came down to Sussex with the in
tention of seeing the captain, but it
was at this moment that his terrible
! death occurred. 1 read at the inquest
a description of his cabin, in which it
stated that the old logbooks of his YES
sci were preserved in it. 1t struck me
that if 1 could see what occurred in the
month of August 1888, on board the
Sea Unicorn | might settle the mystery
of my fathers fate. [ tried last night
to get at these logbooks, but was una
BILE to open the door. Tonight 1 tried
again and succeeded, but find that the
pages which deal with that month have
been torn from the book 1t was at that
moment I found myself a prisoner in
your hands"
SIS that all?" asked Hopkins.
Eyes, that is ALL His eyes shifted as
he said it.
"You have nothing else to tell us?"
He hesitated.
"NO, there is nothing"
'You have not been here before last
night?''
''No."
''Then how do you account for that?'
cried Hopkins, as he held up the damn
ing notebook. with the initials Of QUIZ
prisoner on the first leaf and the blood
stain on the cover.
The wretched man collapsed. He
sank his face in his hands and trem-
bled all over.
where did you get it?" he groaned.
Il did not know. thought 1 had lost
it at the hotel"
'"That is enough" said Hopkins stern
ly. ''Whatever else you have to say,
you must say in court. You will walk
down with me now to the police sta
ton. Well, Mr.. Holmes, am very
much obliged to you and to your friend !
for coming down to help me. AS it |!
turns out, your presence was unnec- |
sary, and l would have brought the i
case to this successful issue without !
you; but, none the less, l am grateful. |
Rooms have been reserved for you at |
the Brambletye hotel, SO we can all |
walk down to the village together"
swell, Watson, what do you think Of |
it?" asked Holmes as we travelled back
next morning.
II can see that you are not salts
fed"
ooh, yes, my dear Watson; am per-
fectly satisfied. At the same time,
Stanley Hopkins methods do not COM
mend themselves to me. I am disap-
pointed in Stanley Hopkins. I had
hoped for better things from him. One
should always look for possible al
tentative and provide against it. 1t is
the first rule of criminal investiga-
ton
"What, then, is the alternative?
''The line Of investigation which
have myself been pursuing. 1t may
give us nothing. l cannot tell. But at
least shall follow it to the end
Several letters were waiting for
Holmes at Baker street He snatched
one of them up, opened it and burst
out into triumphant chuckle of laugh
ter.
Excellent, Watson! The alternative
develops. Have you telegraph forms?
lust write a couple Of messages for
ne: Sumner, shipping agent, Ratclif
highway Send three men on to arrive
10 tomorrow morning. Basil That's
ny name in those parts. The other is:
Inspector Stanley Hopkins, As Lord
street, Brixton. Come breakfast to-
morrow at $50. Important. Wire if
Unable to come. Sherlock Holiness
There, Watson, this internal case has
haunted me for ten. days. 1 hereby
Danish it completely from my presence.
tomorrow l trust that we shall hear
he last Of it forever"
Sharp at the hour named Inspector
stanley Hopkins appeared, and we sat
Town together to the excellent break
asst which Mrs. Hudson had prepared
The young detective was in high spir-
is at his success.
'You really think that your solution
must be correct?' asked Holmes.
81 could not imagine more complete
ase."
1T did not seem to me conclusive"
you astonish me, Mr.. Holmes. 9
What more could one ask for?" !
Does your explanation cover every e
oint?'
Undoubtedly l find that young Nell Z
an arrived at the Brambletye hotel on t
he very day of the crime. He came on
be pretense Of playing golf. His room
7as on the ground floor, and he could q
ct out when he liked. That very night