The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-19

the window.
Some one has tried to force this
also. Whoever it was has failed to
make his way in. He must have been
very poor burglar"
This is a most extraordinary thing. :
said the inspector, Il could swear
that these marks were not here yes
terday evening"
Some curious person from the VIII
lage, perhaps" | suggested.
Very unlikely. Few Of them
would dare to set foot in the grounds.
far less try to force their way into the
cabin. What do you think of 1t, MI.
Holmes ?"
Il think that fortune is very kind
to u.s."
you mean that the person will
come AGAIN."
ut is very probable. He came ex-
pecting to find the door open. He
tried to get in with the blade of a
very small penknife. He could not
manage it. What would he do?"
Come again next night with more
useful tool"
so I should say. 1t will be our
fault if we are not there to receive
him Meanwhile, let me see the inside
of the cabin
The traces Of the tragedy had been
removed, but the furniture within the
little room still stood as it had been
on the night of the crime. For two
hours, with most intense concentra-
ton, Holmes examined every object in
turn, but his face showed that his
quest was not a successful one. Once
only he paused in his patient investi-
cation.
Have you taken anything off this
shelf, Hopkins?"
mo. I have moved nothing"
Something has been taken. There
is less dust in this corner of the shelf
than elsewhere. 1t may have been
book lying on its side. 1t may
have been a box. Well. we'll. I can do
nothing more Let us walk in these
beautiful woods, watson. and give a
few hours to the birds and the flow
ers We shall meet you here later,
Hopkins, and see if we can come to
closer quarters with the gentleman
who has paid this visit in the night ,
1t was past eleven o'clock when we
formed our little ambuscade. Hop
kins was for leaving the door of the
hut open, but Holmes was of the
opinion that tkie would rouse the sus-
picions of the stranger The lock was
d perfectly simDle one, and only a
strong blade was needed to push it
back. Holmes also suggested that We
should wait, not inside the hut, but
outside it among the bushes which
grew round the farther window In
this way we should be able to watch
our man if he struck a light. and see
what his object was in this stealthv
nocturnal visit.
1t was a long and melancholy vigil.
and yet brought with it something of
the thrill which the hunter feels
when he lies beside the water pool,
and waits for the coming of the thirsty
beast of prey. What savage creature
was it which might steal upon us out
of the darkness2 Was it a fierce tiger
Of crime, which could only be taken
fighting hard with flashing fang and
claw. or would it, prove to be some
skulking jackal. DANGEROUS only to the
weak and unguarded?
In absolute silence we crouched
amongst the bushes. waiting for what
ever might come. At first the steps
of a few belated villagers. or the sound
of voices from the village Ightened
our vigil. but one by one these in
terruptions died away, and an abso-
lutte stiffness fell upon us save for the
chimes Of the distant church. which
told US of the progress of the night.
and for the rustic and whisper of 81
fine rain falling amid the foliage which
rooted us in.
Half-past two had chimed, and it
was the darkest hour which precedes
the dawn, when we all started as q
low but sharp click came from the
direction of the gate Some one had
entered the drive. Again there was a