The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-19

- he clenched his thin hands in
a paroxysm of conyiction-"1 know
it's all wrong. / feel it in my bones.
There is something that has not come
out, and that housekeeper knows II.
There was q sort of sulky defiance III
her eyes. which only goes with guilty
knowledge. However, there's no good
talking any more about il. Watson;
but unless some lucky chance comes
our way l fear that the Norwood Dis
appearance Case will not figure In that
chronicle of our successes when /
foresee that a patient public VIII
sooner or later have to endure.
Surely" said /, 1.-THE mans appear
ance would go far with any jury?'
THAT is dangerous argument, my
dear Watson. You remember that
terrible murderer Bert Stevens, who
wanted us to get him off in 'S7? Was
there ever a more mild-mannered,
Sunday-school young man.
1T is true.
Unless we succeed in establishing
an alternative theory. this man is lost
You can hardly find a flaw III the
case which can now be presented
against him, and all further 1nvestiga~
ton has served to strengthen it. by
the way, there is one curious little
point about those papers which may
serve us as the starting-point Tor
All inquiry. On looking over the bank
book l found that the low state or
the balance was principally due TO
large cheques which have been made
out during the last year to Mr.. Cor
.nelius. l confess that / should be
interested to know who this Mr.. Cor
nelius may be with whom a retired
builder has such very large transac-
tons. 1t is possible that he has mad
hand in the affair? Cornelius might
be a broker but we have found no
scrip to correspond with these large
payments. Failing any other indica-
ton. my researches must now take
the direction Of an inquiry at the
bank for the gentleman who has
cashed these cheques. But l fear my
dear fellow, that our case will end
ingloriously by Lestrade hanging our
client, which will certainly be tri-
umph for Scotland Yard
] do not know how far Sherlock
Homes took any sleep that night, but
when / came down to breakfast
found him pale and harassed, his
bright eyes the brighter for the dark
shadows round them. Tho carpet
round his chair was Uttered with CT
garette ends and with the early edi-
tons of the morning papers. An open
what do you think OF this, Wat
son % he asked, tossing it across.
II was from Norwood, and ran as
follows
Important fresh evidence to hand.
Mctarlanc's guilt definitely establish
cd. Advise you to abandon case
Lcstradc."
This sounds serious said I.
ut is Lestrade's little cock-a-dood1e
Of victory" Holmes answered with
bitter smile. "And yet it may be pre-
mature to abandon the case. After
all, important fresh evidence is a two
edged thing, and may possibly cut in
a very different direction to that
which I4estrade imagines. Take yonr
breakfast. Watson, and we will go out
together and see what We can do.
feel as if l shall need your company
and your moral support today"
NY friend had no breakfast himself,
for it was one of his peculiarities that
in his more intene7- moments he would
permit himself no food. and have
known him presume upon his iron
strength until he has tainted from
pure hamilton. AT present 1 cannot
spare energy and nerve force for di-
gestion." he would say in answer to
my medical circumstances. ] was not
surprised. therefore, when this morn
ing he left his untouched meal be-
hind him, and started with me for
Norwood. A crowd of morbid sight
seers were still gathered round Deep
Dene House, which was just such a
suburban villa AS | had pictured.
Within the gates LeStrade met US, his
face flushed with victory. his manner
grossly triumphant.
well, Mr.. Holmes, have you proved
us to be wrong yet? Have you found
your tramp" he cried.
II have formed no conclusion what
ever" my companion answered.
But we formed ours yesterday,
and now it proves TO be correct, SO
you must acknowledge that we have
been n little i'm front of you this time,
Mr.. Holmes"
You certainly have the air of
something unusual having occurred,
said Holmes.
Lestrade laughed loudly.
You don't like being beaten any
more than the rest of us do said he.
"A man can't expect always to have
his own way. can he, DIR. watson?
Step this way. f YOU please. gentle
men. and I think ] can convince you
once for all that it was John McFar-
lane who did this crime"
He led us through the passage and
out into dark hall beyond.
This Is where young Mct'arlane
must have come out to get his hat
after the crime was done. said he.
Now look at this With dramatic
suddenness he struck a match, and
by its light exposed stain OF blood
upon the whiteWashed wall. AS he
held the match nearer. | saw that IL
was more than o stain. 1t was the
wcll-marked print of a thumb.
Look at that with your magnifying
glass, Mr.. Holmes"
yes, / am doing So
"You are aware that no two thumb
marks are alike"
IL have heard something of the
kind
"Well, then, will you pleas conn
pare that print with this Wd& impress
sion of young McFarlanc's isn't
thumb, taken by my orders this morn
ing"
AS he held the waSen print c.ose
to the blood-stain, il did not take a
mag nifying glass to sac :Eat he Two
were undoubtedly from the same
thumb. 1t was evident TO me that
our unfortunate c';ant WAS lost.
THAT is tinal,'' said I estra;le.
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