Morris tribune., 1905-10-28

The room into which we were shown
was that in which the crime had beer
committed, but no trace of it now re
NAMED save an ugly, irregular stail
upon the carpet. This carpet was /
small square drugget in the center O
1 the room, surrounded by broad eX
panse of beautiful, old fashioned Woo
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. II
the window was a sumptuous writing
/ desk, and every detail of the apart
ment, the pictures, the rugs and the
! hangings, all pointed to taste which
was luxurious to the verge of effemi
macy.
''Seen the Paris news?" asked LIE
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, l 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 80 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
if he had tried to hold her off with it.
We've got it all clear as if we had 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 it, them"
"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 a bit. This
carpet-you see, it is not fastened
down, only just laid there. We had
occasion to raise it, We found
Eyes? 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
pet? Well, a great deal must have
soaked through, must it not?"
Undoubtedly it must
''Well, you will be surprised to hear
that there is no stain on the white
woodwork to correspond"
mo stain! But there must
eyes, so you would say. But the fact
remains that there isn't"
He took the corner Of the carpet in
his hand and, turning it over, he show
ed that it was indeed as he said
"But the underside is as stained as
the upper. 1t must have left a mark"
Lestrade chuckled with delight at
having puzzled the famous expert.
''Now, I'll show you the explanation
There is second stain, but it does not
correspond with the other. See for
yourself" AS he spoke he turned over
another portion Of the carpet, and
there, sure enough, was great Grim
son spill upon the square white facing
Of the old fashioned floor. what do
you make Of that, Mr.. Holmes?
"Why, it is simple enough. The two
stains did correspond, but the carpet
has been turned round. AS it was
square and unfastened it was easily
DONE"
"The official police don't need you,
Mr.. Holmes, to tell them that the car
pet must have been turned round.
That's clear enough, for the stains lie
above each other-if you lay it over
this way But what want to know is.
who shifted the carpet, and why?
could see from Holmes rigid face
that he was vibrating with inward ex-
element
''Look here, Lestrade," said he, ''has
that constable in the passage been in
charge Of the place all the time?"
eyes, he has"
swell, take my advice. Examine him
carefully. Don't do it before us. Well
wait here. You take him into the back
room. You'll be more likely to get
confession out of him alone. Ask him
how he dared to admit people and leave
them alone in this room. Don't ask
him if he has done it. Take it for
granted. Tell him you know some one
has been here Press him. Tell him
that full confession is his only chance
Of forgiveness. Do exactly what I tell
your
"By George, if he knows I'll have it
out Of himv' cried Lestrade. He darted
into the hall, and few moments later
his bullying voice sounded from the
back room.
Nov, Watson, now cried Holmes
with frenzied eagerness. All the de-
moniacal force of the man masked be-
hind that listless manner burst out in
a paroxysm of energy. He tore the
Nd IN, IN,