The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-05-14

rect. however" he added, CHANGING over
the document
Il wrote 1t rather hurrfedIy."
You see you begin. Whereas at
about a quarter to one on Tuesday
morning an attempt was made, and so
on. It was at quarter TO twelve. as
a matter Of fact"
was panied at the mistake. for I
knew how keenly Holmes would feel
any slip OF the kind. II waz his spe-
ciaily to be accurate as 70 fact. but his
recent illness had sbakan him. and
this one little incident was enough to
siiew me that he was still far frorss
being himself. He was obviously ern~
barrassed for an instant; while the
inspector raised his eyebrows. and Alec
Cunningham burst into a laugh. The
cid gentleman corrected the mistake.
however, and handed the paper back
to Holmes.
Get 1t printed as soon as possible
he said; Il think your idea Is an excel
lent one
Holmes put the slip Of paper care
fully into his poeketbook.
And now said he. sit really voufa
be good thing that we should ali go
over the house together and make GER
tain that this rather cratic burglar
did not. after all. carry anything away
with him.
Before entering, Holmes made an ez-
animation of the door which had been
forced It was evident that & chiseI or
| strong knife had been thrust In. and tbs
lock forced back with It. We could ses
the marks in the wood where It had
| been pushed in.
! You don't use bars, then7's he asked
I'VE have never found It necessary
| You don't keep g dog?n
Yes, but he Is chained On the othss
side Of the house ~
| When do the servants go 60 beds
about TO-
Il understand that william was usu-
ally In bed also at that hour2's
/ Yes
"It is singular that On this particular
night he should have been up. Now. I
| should be very glad II you would have
| the kindness 10 show US over the house,
Mr.. Cunningham =.
/ A stone-aagged passage, with tins
kitchens branching away from IL, led
by a wooden staircase directly to the
first floor OF the house. It came out
| upon the landing opposite to a second
more ornamental stair which came up
| from the front hall. Out Of this landing
opened the drawtng-room and several
| bedrooms. including those of Mr. Cum
ningFam and his son. Holmes waikiki
] slowly. taking keen note OF the arcfitec-
ture OF the house. could tell from his
expression that he was on a hot SCENT
and yet I could not In the least imagine
in what direction his differences were
leading him
MY good SIR said Mr. Cunningham,
with some inpatience. this is surely
IL
the end OF the stairs. and my sons ts
/ the one bevond it. I leave it 20 your
judgment whether it was possible for
the thief to have come up here without
disturbing US"
"You mrst try round and get on
fresh scent. I fancy" said the son with
i a rather malicious smile.
still. I must ask you TO humor me
little further. 1 should like, for ex-
ample TO see how far the windows OF
the bedrooms command the front. This.
I understand Is your sons room he
. pushed open the aoor-'and that. ] pre-
sgyne, is the dressing room in which he
. sat smoking when the alarm was given.
d Where does the window Of that look
out tor. He stepped across the bed
. room. pushed open the door, and
glanced round the other chamber.
, II hope that you are satisfied neWg
said Mr.. Clnnin CHAM. tartly.
THANK you, I think I have seen III
that I wished.
"Then Il it Is really necessary We can
go into my room"
"If IL is not too much trouble.
The ]. P. shrugged his shoulders. AID
led the way into his own chamber,
which was a plainly furnished and COM
{ monpIace room. AS We moved across
| il in the direction OF the Windows
: Holmes fell back. until he and were
, | the last of the group. Near the hoos
: of the bed stood a dish Of oranges and
: a carafe of water. AS we passed IL
Holmes. 10 my unutterabIe assonisn
: rnent. leaned over in front of me ana
!. | deliberately knocked the wneie thing
, over The glass smashed into q thou-
i sand rieces and the fruit rolled about
{ into every corner of the room.
you've done 1t now. Watson said
), he. eoolly. "a pretty mess you've made
of the carpet"
: s4oane5 In some confusion and he-
aan to nick up the fruit, understanding
T far some reason my companion desired
me 10 take the blame upon myself. The
othars did the same, and set the saolS
$ on It's legs again
t "HuIlo!' cried the inspector. where's
ne got tor
j Holmes had disappeared.
d wait here an instant" said youns
n Alec Cunningham. 1.-The fellow Is on
e his head, In my opinion. Come with me-
father. ana see where he has got toi'
They rushed GU. OF the room. Tearing
t the inspector. the colonel. and me star
n ing at each other.
/, ..Pon my word. am inclined to assss
r with Master Alec" said the official 20
e may be the effect OF this illness, but Ii
I seems to me that
t His words were cut short by a sudden
/. scream of Help. Help! Murder!" With
d a thrill ! recognized the voice as thas
of nv friend. ! rushed mad1y frofu
the room onto the landing. The cries
;. which had sunk down into hoarse. In
ort;cuiate shouting. came from the ROOFS
= which we had first visited. I dashed In.
= and on into the dressing-room beyond.
, The two Cunninghams were bending
f over the PROSTATE figure of Sherlock
finfphineS his thrOES