Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-10-17
The Adventure of
the Dancing Men
No. 3 of the Series


(cs,y,isbf. 1908, By Il. Conan Doyle and Collisrs
Wsskiy)
(Coyrish,, 1875. BY Mcclure, Phillip y Co..
We had hardly alighted at North
Walsham and mentioned the name OF
our destination when the station mas
ter hurried toward us. II suppose that
YOU are the detectives from London?"
said he.
A look of annoyance passed over
Holmes face.
What makes you think such q
thing?"
Because Inspector Martin from
Norwich has just passed through. But
maybe you are the surgeons. She's not
dead, or wasn't by last accounts. You
may be In time to save her yet, though
it be for the gallows.'
Holmes brow was dark wit anxiety.
I'VE are going to Riding Thorpe Man.
or" said he, but we have heard moth
ing Of what has passed there"
Its terrible business" said the
station master. "They are shot, both
Mr.. Hilton Cubitt and his wife. She
shot him and then herself, so the serv-
ants say. He's dead and her life is de-
SPARED Of. Dear. dear. one Of the old
est families In the county Of Norfolk
and one Of the most honored"
Without word Holmes hurried to
carriage, and during the long seven
mile drive he never opened his mouth.
Seldom have I seen him so utterly de-
spondent. He had been uneasy during
all our journey from town, and l had
observed that he had turned over the
morning papers with anxious attention,
but now this sudden realization Of his
worst fears left him In blank melan-
choly. He leaned back in his seat. lost
in gloomy speculation. Yet there was
much around to interest us, for we
were passing through as singular a
countryside as any in England, where
q few scattered cottages represented
the population Of today, while on ev-
cry hand enormous square lowered
churches bristled up from the fiat,
green landscape and told Of the glcry
, and prosperity Of old East Anglia. At
last the violet rim Of the German
ocean appeared over the green edge Of
the Norfolk coast, and the driver point.
ed with his whip to two old brick and
/ timber gables which projected from
grove Of trees. "That's Riding Thorpe
Manor" said he.
AS we drove up to the porticoed front
door observed In front Of 1t, beside the
tennis lawn, the black tool house and
the pedestaled sundial with which we
had such strange associations. A dap
per little man, with quick, alert
manner and waXed mustache. had
Just descended from high dogcart.
He introduced himself as Inspector
Martin Of the Norfolk constabulary.
and he was considerably astonished
when he heard the name Of my CON-
panion.
"Why, Mr.. Holmes. the crime was
only committed ut 3 this morning. How
could you hear Of It in London and get
| to the spot as soon as II
Il anticipated 1t. came in the hope
Of preventing It,"
"Then you must have important evil
dence Of which we are ignorant, for
they were said to be most united
couple"
Il have only the evidence Of the dane
ing men, said Holmes. II will eN-
plain the matter to you later. Mean
while, since it Is too late to prevent this
tragedy. am very anxious that !
should use the knowledge which pos
sess in order to insure that justice be
done. Will you associate me In your
investigation or will you prefer that
| should act independently
81 should DC proud to feel that we
were acting together. Mr.. Holmes"
said the inspector earnestly.
.'In that case should be glad to hear
the evidence and to examine the prem
ises without an instant o: unnecessary
delay"
Inspector Martin had the good sense
to allow my friend to do things In his
own fashion and contented himself
with carefully noting the results. The
local surgeon, an old, white haired
man, had just come down from Mrs
Hilton Cubitts room. and he reported
that her injuries Were serious, but not
necessarily fatal. The bullet had
PASSED through the front Of her brain.
and it would probably be some time be-
fore she could regain consciousness.
On the question OF whether she had
been shot or had shot herself he would
not venture to express any decided
opinion. Certainly the bullet had Deen
discharged ut very close quarters.
There was only the one pistol found III
the room, two barrels Of which had
been emptied. Mr.. Hilton Cubitt had
been shot through the heart. 1t was
equally conceivable that he had shot
her and then himself or that she had
been the criminal, for the revolver lay
upon the floor midway between them.
HAS he been movedT asked Holmes.
I'VE have moved nothing except the
lady. We could not leave her lying
wounded upon the floor"
"How long have you been here, doc
tor?"
"Since O'clock"
"Any one elseY'
ayes, the constable here"
"And you have touched nothing"
Nothing"
"You have acted with great discre.
ton. Who sent for your
1.-THE housemaid, Saunders"
"Was 1t she who gave the alarm%
"She and Mrs. King, the cook"
"Where are they nOwf"
"In the kitchen, believe"
"Then l think we had better hear
their story at once"
The old hall, oak paneled and high
windowed, had been turned into court
Of investigation. Holmes sat IN
, great, old fashioned chair, his inexora
BILE eyes cleaning out of his haggard
: face. could read in them set pur
pose to devote his life to this quest
until the client whom he had failed tt
save should at last be avenged. The
trim Inspector Martin, the old, gray
; headed country doctor, myself and
stolid village policeman made up thu
4 rest Of that strange company.
i u,l j. 49, ,,,o~,o,, <old <bo{r otor.v c1oQr