The citizen., 1905-08-04
THE RETURN OF
SHERLOCK HOIr1ES.
Continued from page 2.)
By A. CONAN DOYLE

one is that after the second glass was
filed the bottle was violently agitated,
and so the third glass received the
beesving. That does not appear prob
able. No, no, l am sure that l am
right
What then, do you suppose?"
"That only two glasses were used and
that the dregs of both were poured into
third glass, so as to give the false i'm
preston that three people had been
here. In that way all the beeswing
would be in the last glass, would 1t
NOT. Yes. | am convinced that this is
so But if have hit upon the true eX-
nlanation of this one small phenom-
enon then in an instant the case rises
from the commonplace to the exceed
nglv remarkable, for it can only mean
that Lady Brackenstall and her maid
have deliberately lied to us, that not
one word of their story is to be be-
lievpd. that they have some very strong
reason for covering the real criminal
and that we must construct our case
them. That is the mission which now
lies before us, and here, Watson. is the
Sydenham train"
The household at the Abbey Grange
were much surprised at our return. but
sherlock Holmes. finding that Stanley
Hopkins had gone off to report to head
A quarters. took possession of the dining
4 room. locked the door upon the inside
& ana devoted himself for two hours to
one of those minute and laborious in
veStigationS which form the solid basis
on which his brilliant edifices of de-
duction were reared. Seated in a cor
ner like an interested student who OBJ
serves the demonstration of his pro-
fesSor | followed every step of that re-
markable research. The window. the
curtains the carpet. the chair the rope
each in turn was minutely examined
and duly pondered. The body Of the
unfortunate baronet had been removed.
and all else remained as we had seen
it in the morning. Finally. to my as
tOnishment Holmes climbed up on to
the massive mantelpiece. Far above
his head hung the few inches of red
cord which were still attached to the
wire. For a long time he gazed up
Nward at It, and then in an attempt to
get nearer to it he rested his knee upon
& wooden bracket on the wall. This
Brought his hand within few inches
pf the broken end of the rope. but it
EaS not this so much aS the bracket
FSelf which seemed to engage his at
fention. Finally he sprang down with
~ ejaculation of satisfaction.
IT'S all right, Watson" said he. 1--WE
aye got our case-one of the most re-
harkable In our collection. But, dear
Pc, how Slow witted l have been and
A ow nearly | have committed the blum
A er Of my lifetime! Now, think that,
th few missing links, my chain is
AmoSt complete
You have got your men?"
Man, Watson, man. Only one, but
very formidable person. Strong as
lion witness the blow that bent that
ppker. Six foot three in height, active
81 a squirrel, dexterous with his fin
1ers; finally, remarkably quick witted,
for this whole ingenious story is of his
concoction. Yes, Watson, we have
conc upon the handiwork of a very re-
markable individual. And yet in that
bel rope he has given us a clew which
could not have left us a@oubt."
Where was the clew?"
We'll. if you were to pull down
I'll rope Watson, where would you
kpect it to break? Surely at the spot
here it is attached to the wire. Why
sn ould it break three inches from the
w as this one has done?"
Because it is frayed there?"
Exactly. This end. which we can
anime, is frayed. He was cunning
tNpugh to do that with his knife. But
uf other end is not frayed You could
nQt observe that from here. but if you
Nfre on the mantelpiece you would
sef that it is cut clean off without any
mp PIX Of fraying whatever. You can
fefonStruct what occurred. The man
nefded the rope. He would not tear
fown for fear of giving the alarm
bt ringing the bell. What did he do?
ne sprang upon the mantelpiece, could
hoS quite reach it, put his knee on the
afR Rcket-you will see the impression in
At dust-and so got his knife to bear
appn the cord. could not reach the
t'Hce by at least three inches, from
en- infer that he is at least three
4'tpe es bigger man than l am. Look at
''7t mark upon the seat of the oaken
PR What is it?"
Blood"
Undoubtedly it is blood. This alone
RNa the lady's story out of court. II
n7 We're seated on the chair when
.A7 CRIME was done. how comes that
No, no; she was placed in the
after the death of her husband.
wager that the black dress shows
corresponding mark to this. We
'r'f not yet met our Waterloo, Wat
out this is our Marengo, for it
- III defeat and ends in victory.
puid IKE now to have few words
the nurse, Theresa. We must be
for awhile if we are to get the
lhatlon which we want"
D was an interesting person, this
Australian nurse-taciturn, sus-
U.S. ungracious. 1t took some time
e Holmes pleasant manner and
Z acceptance of all she said thaw-
INTO corresponding amiability.
Z lId not attempt TO conceal her ha-