The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-30

it and have drawn 1t up with a single
pull. When you catch this fellow you
will find that he has one of these
multiplex knives in his possession"
Excellent said hopkins.
But these glasses do puzzle me.
confess. Lady BracSenstall actually
saw the three men drinking, did she
not?"
Yes, she was clear about that"
'Then there is 40 end of it. What
more Is to be said? And yet. you
must admit, that the three glasses are
very remarkable, Hopkins. What?
You see nothing remarkable? Well,
well, let 1t pass. Perhaps when
man has special knowledge and spe-
cial powers like my own, it rather en-
courages him TO seek complex ex-
PLANTATION when a simpler one Is at
hand. OF course. it must be a mere
chance about the glasses. Well. good
morning, Hopkins. l don't see that
| can be of any use to you, and you
appear to have your case very clear.
You will let me know when Randall is
arrested, and any further develop
ments which may occur. l trust that
l shall soon have to congratulate you
upon a successful conclusion. Come,
Watson, | fancy that we may employ
ourselves more profitably at home"
During our return journey, l could
see by Holmes face that he was much
puzzled by something which he had
observed. Every now and then, by
an effort, he would throw off the inn
preston, and talk as IL the matter
were clear, but then his doubts would
settle down upon him again. and his
knitted brows. and distracted eyes
would show that his thoughts had
gone back once more to the great
dining-room of the Abbey Grange, In
which this midnight tragedy had been
enacted. At last, by sudden impulse,
Just as our train was crawling out OF
a suburban station, he sprang on to
the platform and pulled me out after
him.
Excuse me, my dear fellow" said
he, as we watched the rear carriages
of our train disappearing round
curve II am sorry to make you the
victim of what may seem a mere
within, but on my life, Watson, | sim
ply can't leave this case in this condi-
ton. Every instinct that ! possess
cries out against it. It's wrong-its
all Wrongful swear that il wrong.
And yet the ladys story was com
plete, the maids corroboration was
sufficient, the detail was fairly exact
What have to put up against that?
Three wineglasses, that is all. But II
had not taken things for granted,
If | had examined everything with
care which l should have shown had
we approached the case de novo and
had no cut-and-dried story to warp
my mind, should | not then have found
something more definite to go upon?
OF course l should. Sit down on this
bench, Watson, until a train for CHS
elhurst arrives. and allow me to lay
the evidence before you, imploring you
i'm the first instance to dismiss from
your mind the idea that anything
which the maid or her mistress may
have said must necessarily be true.
The lady's charming personality must
not be permitted to warp our judy
ment
Surely there are details in her story
which, If we look at in cold blood,
would excite our suspicion. These
burglars made a considerable haul at
Sydenham, fortnight ago. Some ac-
count of them and of their appear
ance was in the papers, and would
naturally occur to anyone who wished
to invent a story in which imaginary
robbers should play part. As mat
ter of fact burglars who have done
o good stroke of business are, as a
rule only too glad to enjoy the pro-