Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-06-08

be to make a direct appeal to your
wife and to ask her to share her secret
with your
Hilton Cubitt shook his massive heud.
"A promise Is promise, Mr.. Holmes.
II Elsie wished to tell me she would.
If not, 1t Is not for the to force her con-
fidence But am justified in taking
my own llne--and l will"
"Then l will help you with all my
heart. In the first place. have you
heard Of any strangers being seen in
your neighborhood?
mo"
II presume that 1t Is a very quiet
place. Any fresh face would cause
COMMENT"
"ln the immediate neighborhood, yes.
But we have several small watering
places not very far away. And the
farmers take in dodgers"
"These hieroglyphics have evidently
a meaning. If it is n purely arbitrary
one it may be impossible for us to
solve It. If. on the other hand, it is
systematic, have no doubt that we
shall get to the bottom of 1t. But this
particular sample is SO short that l
can do nothing. and the facts which
you have brought me are so indefinite
that we have no basis for an investi
gation. would suggest that you re-
turn to Norfolk. that you keep keen
lookout and that you take an exact
copy Of any fresh dancing men which
| may appear. 1t is thousand pities
hot ho NJ
those which were done In chalk upon
the window sill. Make a discreet in
Quiry also as TO any strangers In the
neighborhood. When you have collect
ed some fresh evidence come to me
again. That is the best advice which /
can give you, Mr.. Hilton Cubitt. II
there are any pressing fresh develop
ments I shall be always ready to run
down and see you in your Norfolk
home"
The interview left Sherlock Holmes
very thoughtful. and several times in
the next few days I saw him take his
slip Of paper from his notebook and
look long and earnestly at the curious
figures inscribed upon it. He made no
allusion to the affair, however. until
one afternoon a fortnight or so later
I was going out when he called me
back.
you had better stay here. Watson"
| "Why?"
| because I had q wire from Hilton
Cubitt this morning. You remember
Hilton Cubitt Of the dancing men? He
was to reach Liverpool street at LOO
He may be here at any moment.
gather from his wire that there have
been some new incidents Of impor-
tance."
We had not long to wait. for our Nor
folk squire came straight from the sta
ton as fast MS a hanson could bring
him. He was looking worried and de-
pressed. with tired eyes and a lined
forehead
"It's getting on my nerves. this bust
ness, Mr.. Holmes" said he as he sank,
like q wearied man. into an armchair.
"1te bad enough to feel that you are
surrounded by unseen, unknown folk,
who have some kind Of design upon
you. but when, in addition to that. you
know that It is just killing your wife
by inches, then 1t becomes rs much as
flesh and blood can endure. She's
wearing away under it-just wearing
away before my eyes"
HAS she said anything yet?"
mo, Mr.. Holmes. she has not. And
yet there have been times when the
poor girl has wanted to speak and YET
could not quite bring herself to take
the plunge. have tried to help her, but
dare say I did It clumsily and scared
her from 1t. She has spoken about my
old family and our reputation in the
county and our pride in our unsmllied
honor, and always felt it was lead
Ing to the point, bu. somehow 1t turned
off before we got there"
but you have found out something
for yoursclf?"
"A good deal. Mr.. Holmes. have
several fresh dancing men pictures FOL
: You to examine. and. what is more i'm
portant, have seen the fellow"
"What-the man who draws them:"
eyes: saw him Mt work. But vii
tell you everything in order. When
got back after my visit to you the very
first thing I saw next morning was {
. fresh crop Of dancing men. They hat
been drawn in chalk upon the blacl
} wooden door Of the tool house. which
l stands beside the lawn in full view o.
, the front windows. took an exac
, copy. and here It is." lie unfolded :
paper and laid it upon the table. Her
Is q copy Of the hieroglyphlcs:
xXXxTTYX$
"Excellentw said Holmes. excel