Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-30

the room, surrounded by a broad ex-
pansc Of beautiful. old fashioned wood
flooring in square blocks highly polish
ell. over the fireplace was magnid-
cent trophy OF weapons. one OF which
had been used on that tragic night. In
the window was sumptuous writing
desk, and every detail of the apart
ment the pictures. the rugs and the
hangings. all pointed to a taste which
was luxurious 20 the verge OF effemi-
macy.
"Seen the Paris news?" asked Le-
strade.
( Holmes nodded.
! 'Our French friends seem TO have
touched the spot this time. 40 doubt
it's just as they say. She knocked at
the door-surprise visit. guess. for he
kept his life in water tight compart-
ments-he let her in. couldn't keep her
in the street She told him how she
had traced him. reproached him; one
thing led TO another, and then with that
dagger so handy the end soon came.
1t wasn't all done I'm an instant. though.
for these chairs were all swept over
yonder. and he had one In his hand as
II he had tried TO hold her or with II.
We've got It all clear as IL we had seen
It."
Holmes raised his eyebrows.
And yet you have sent for me?''
"Ah, yes, that's another matter; n
mere trihe. but the sort Of thing you
| take an interest in-Queer. YOU know.
and what you might call freakish. 1t
| has nothing 10 do with the man fact
can't have. on the face OF IT,"
what is IL, theng'
well, you know. after n crime OF
this sort we are very careful 70 keep
things in their position. Nothing has
been moved. Officer I'm charge here day
and night This morning. as the man
was buried and the investigation over
so far as this room is conccrned-we
thought we could tidy up a bit This
carpet-you see, ii is not fastened
| down. only just laid there. We had
occasion TO raise il. We found
''Nesf You found
Holmes face grew tense with anx-
iety.
"Well. I'm sure you would never
guess in n hundred years what we did
find. You see that stain on the car
pet: Well. a great deal must have
Undoubtedly IL must"
"WeH. you will be surprised 20 hear
that there Is no stain ON the white
woodwork 10 correspond"
NO stain! But there must
yes, so you would say. But the fact
remains that there isn't"
He took the corner OF the carpet IN
his hand. and. turning il over. he show
ell that it was indeed as he said.
But the undcrslde is as stained as
the upper. IL must have left mark"
Lestrade chuckled with delight at
having puzzled the famous expert.
Now, III show you the explanation.
There is second stain, but IL does not
correspond with the other. See for
yourself" AS he spoke he turned over
another portion OF the carpet. and
there. sure enough. was n great Grim
son spill upon the square white facing
OF the old fashioned floor. What do
you make OF that. Mr.. Holmesg"
"Why. IL Is simple enough. The two
stains did correspond. but the carpet
has been turned round As IL was
square and unfastened il was easily
done"
"Thc official police don't need you.
Mr.. Holmes. 20 tell them that the car
pet must have been turned round.
That's clear enough. for the stains lie
above each other-if you lay Il over
this way. But what I want 10 know Is,
who shifted the carpet. and whyg"
/ could see from Holmes rigid face
that he was vibrating with inward ex-
element
Look here, Lestrade." said he has
that constable I'm the passage been in
charge Of the place all the timer"
YES. he has"
"WeIl, take my advice. Examine him
carefully. Don't do IL before us. Wen
wait here. You take him into the back
room. You'll be more likely 20 get a
confession out OF him alone. Ask him
how he dared to admit people and leave
them alone in this room. Don't ask
him II he has done It. Take lit for
granted. Tell him you know some one
has been here. Press him. Tell him
that full confession is his only chance
OF forgiveness. DO exactly what l tell
you
by George, II he knows I'll have IL
out OF him." cried Lestrade He darted
into the hall. and few moments later
his bullying voice sounded from the
back room.
Now, Watson. now" cried Holmes
with frenzied eagerness. All the de-
moniacal force OF the man masked be-
hind that listless manner burst out I'm
a paroxysm OF energy. He tore the
drugget from the floor and IN an in
slant was down on his hands and
knees clawing at each OF the squares
Of wood beneath IL. one turned side
ways as he dug his nails into the edge
OF it, 1t hinged back like the Id OF
box. a small black cavity opened be-
meath it. Holmes plunged his eager
hand into il and drew it out with a
bitter smart Of anger and disappOint-
ment. 1t was empty.
Quick, Watson, quick! Get It back
again" The wooden lid was replaced,
and the drugget had only just been