Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-06-08
II wrote it to bring you here"

II wrote II TO bring you here"
you wrote Il? There was no one
on earth outside the Joint who knew
the secret of the dancing men. How
came you TO write IT."
What one man cnn invent another
can discover" said Holmes. There IL
cab coming to convey you to Nor
wich. Mr.. Slaney. But meanwhile you
have time to make some small repara-
ton for the injury you have wrought.
Are you aware that Mrs. Hilton Cubitt
has herself lain under grave suspicion
Of the murder Of her husband and that
II was only my presence here and tho
knowledge which I happened to DOS.
sess which has saved her from the &C.
cusation? The least that you owe her
Is to make 1t clear to the whole world
that she was in no way, directly or
Indirectly, responsible for his tragic
end"
Il ask nothing BETTER" said the Amer.
lean. II guess the very best case I
can make for myself is the absolute
naked truth"
ut is my duty TO warn you that II
will be used against you" cried the
inspector. with the magnificent fair
play Of the British criminal law.
Slancy shrugged his shoulders.
"Ill chance that" said he. "First Of
oil, want you gentlemen to under
stand that have known this lady
since she was child. There were sew
on Of us in a gang in Chicago. and FL
sizes father was the boss Of the Joint.
He was clever man. was old Patrick.
1t was he who invented that writing,
which would pass as a child's scrawl
unless you just happened to have the
key to 1t. Well. Elsie learned some Of
our ways, but she couldn't stand the
business. and she had bit Of honest
money Of her own, 80 she gave us all
the slip and got away to London. She
had been engaged to me. and she would
have married me. l believe. II had
taken over another profession. but she
would have nothing to do with my
thing on the cross. 1t was only after
her marriage to this Englshman that
was able to find out where she was.
wrote to her. but got no answer. After
that came over, and. as letters were
no use l put my messages where she
could read them.
"Well, have been here a month
now. I lived on that farm, where had
n room down below. and could get In
and out every night and no one the
wiser. tried all could to coax Elsie
away. Il knew that she read the mes
sageS, for once she wrote an answer
under one Of them. Then my temper
got the better Of me. and l began to
threaten her She sent me a letter then,
imploring me to go away. and saying
that it would break her heart if any
scandal should come upon her husband.
She said that she would come down
when her husband was asleep Mt 3 in
the morning and speak with me
through the end window. II I would go
away afterward and leave her in peace.
She came down and brought money
with her. trying to bride me to 60.
This made me mad, and I caught her
arm and tried to pull her through the
window. At that moment in rushed
the husband with his revolver in his
hand. Elsie had sunk down upon the
floor, and we were face to face. I was
heeled Also and held up my gun to
scare him off and let me get away. He
fired and missed me. pulled of al
most Mt the same instant. and down he
dropped. I made away across the gar
den, and as went heard the window
shut behind me. That's Gods truth,
gentlemen. every word Of It; and I
heard no more about it until that lad
came riding up with note which made
me walk in here like a Jay and give
myself into your hands"
A cab had driven up while the Amer
lean had been talking. Two uniformed
policemen sat inside. Inspector Mar
tin rose and touched his prisoner on the
shoulder.
1T is time for us to CO."
Can l see her first?"
mo, she Is not conscious. Sherlock
Holmes. I only hope that If ever again
/ have an important case l shall have
the good fortune to have you by my
side"
We stood at the window and watched
the cab drive away. AS turned back
my eye caught the pellet Of paper
which the prisoner had tossed upon the
table. 1t was the note with which
Holmes had decoyed him.
"See If you can read 1t, Watson" said
he. with a smile
1t contained no word, but this little
line Of dancing men:
xT3XrXFXxYT$xx
"1f you use the code which I have ex.