Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-23

mistress and led her from the room.
'She has been with her all her life"
said Hopkins. "Nursed her as a baby
and came with her to England when
they first left Australia eighteen
months ago. Theresa Wright is her
name. and the kind of maid YOU don't
pick up nowadays This way, Mr..
Holmes. II you please
The keen interest had passed out OF
Holmes expressive face. and l knew
that with the mystery ali the charm OF
the case had departed. There stu re-
NAMED an arrest 70 be effected. but
what We're these commonplace rogues
that he should soil his hands with
them? An abstruse and learned spe-
eialist who finds that he has been call
ed in for case OF measles would ex-
perience something of the annoyance
which l read In my friends eyes. Yet
the scene in the dining room OF the Alb
hey Grange was sufficiently strange to
arrest his attention and TO recall his
waning interest.
1t was a very large and high cham
Der, with carved oak ceiling. oaken
paneling and a fine array Of deer's
heads and ancient weapons around the
walls. At the farther end from the
door was the high French window OF
which we had beard. Three smaller
windows on the right hand side filed
the apartment with cold winter sun
shine. On the left was a large, deep
fireplace. with a massive. overhanging
oak mantelpiece. Beside the fireplace
was heavy Oaken chair with arms
and crossbars at the bottom. In and
out through the open woodwork was
woven a crimson cord. which was Sc
cured at each side TO the crosspiece be
low. In releasing the lady the cord
had been slipped of her, but the knots
with which ii had been secured still re
NAMED. These details only struck our
attention afterward. FOR our thoughts
were entirely absorbed by the terrible
object which lay upon the tiger skin
hearth rug in front OF the ere.
1t was the body of a tail. we'll made
man about forty years Of age. He
lay upon his back, his face upturned.
with his white teeth grinning through
his short black beard. His two
clinched hands were raised above his
head. and heavy blsckthorn stick
lay across them. His dark. handsome
aQuiline features were convulsed into
q spasm Of vindictive hatred. which
had set his dead face ia "A terribly
hendish expression. He had evidently
been IN his bed when the alarm bad
broken out for he wore a foppish. en-
broidered nightshirt, and his bare feet
projected from his trousers His head
was horribly injured, and the whole
room bore witness TO the savage feroc-
ity OF the blow which had struck him
down. Beside him lay the heavy poker.
bent into a curve by the conclusion.
Holmes examined both 1t and the indie
scribaGie wreck which IL had wrought
He must be a powerful man, this
elder Randall" be remarked
Yes" said Hopkins. Il have some
record OF the fellow, and he is a rough
customer"
You should have no difficulty in get
ding him"
Not the slightest. We have been on
the lookout for him, and there was
some idea that he had got away 10
America. Now that We know that the
gang are here don't see how they
can escape. We have the news at
every seaport already. and a reward
will be offered before evening. What
beats me Is how they could have done
SO mad a thing knowing that the lady
could describe them and that we could
not fail 10 recognize the description"
Exactly. one would have expected
that they would have silenced Lady
Brackenstall rs Well"
They may not have realized sug-
gested, that she had recovered from
her faint"
THAT is likely enough II she seem
ed 10 be senseless they would not take
her life. What about this poor fell
low, Hopkins? / seem 10 have heard
some queer stories about him"
"He was a good hearted man when
he was sober. but perfect hend when
he was drunk. or rather when he was
half drunk, for he seldom really went
the whole way. The devil seemed 10 be
In him ut such times, and he was capa-
bic OF anything. From what l hear. in
spite Of all his wealth and lis title he
very nearly came our way once or
twice. There was a scandal about his
drenching a dog with petroleum and
setting II on fire-her ladyship's dog. to
make the matter worse-and that was
only hushed up with difficulty Then
he threw decanter at that maid, The
resa Wright; there was trouble about
that. On the whole, and between our
selves, 1t will be a brighter house with
out him. What are you looking at
now?'
Holmes was down on his knees ex-
aiming with great attention the knots
upon the red cord with which the lady
had been secured. Then he carefully
scrutinized the broken aud frayed end
where ii had snapped Of when the bur
glar had dragged il down.
when this was pulled down the bell
In the kitchen must have rung loudly"
he remarked.
''No one could hear K. The kitchen
stands right at the back Of the house"
How did the burglar know no one
would hear II? How dared he pull at
a bell rope in that reckless fashion,"
Exactly, Mr.. Holmes, exactly. You
put the very question which I have
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