Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-06-17
IcoNT1NUED.l


gard and anxious face that the high
hopes with which he had started had
not been fulfilled: For an hour he
fironed away upon his violin, endeavor-
ing to soothe his own ruffied spirits. At
last he flung down the instrument and
plunged into a detailed account of his
misadventures.
Its all going wrong, WatSon-all as
wrong as it can go. 1 kept bold face
before Lestrade, but, upon my soul, I
believe that for once the fellow is on
the right track and we are on the
wrong. All my instincts are one way,
and all the facts are the other, and I
much fear that British JAries have not
yet attained that pitch Of intelligence
when they will give the preference to
my theories over Lestrade's facts"
Ibid you go to Blackheath?'
Yes, Watson, l went there, and
found very quickly that the late la
mented Oldacre was a pretty consid-
cradle blackguard The father was
away in search of his son. The mother
was at home-a little, fluffy, blue eyed
nation. Of course she would not admit
even the possibility Of his guilt But
she would not express either surprise
or regret over the fate of Oldacre. On
the contrary. she spoke of him with
such bitterness that she was uncon-
sciously considerably strengthening the
case of the police, for of course, if her
son had heard her speak Of the man in
this fashion it would predispose him
toward hatred and violence. He was
more like malignant and cunning ape
than human being said she, and he
always was, ever since he was young
man
"'You knew him at that timer said l.
"HYes, / knew him well; in fact, he
was an old sutton of mine Thank heay-
en- that mad the sense to turn away
from him and to marry a better, if
poorer, man. I was engaged to him,
Mr.. Holmes, when / heard shocking
story of how he had turned cat loose
in an aviary, and was so Mortified at
his brutal cruelty that 1 would have
nothing more to do with him. She rum
mayed in bureau, and presently she
produced a photograph Of a woman
Bhamefully defaced and mutilated with
a knife. That is my own photograph
she said. He sent it to me in that
state, with his curse upon my wedding
morning
Well said l, at least he has for
given you now, since he has left all his
property to your son.
Neither my son nor 1 want any
thing from Jonas Oidacre, dead or
alive" she cried, with a proper spirit.
There is a God in heaven, Mr.. Holmes,
and that same God who has punished
that wicked man will show in his own
good time that my sons hands are
guiltless Of his blood
'Well, tried one or two leads, but
could get at nothing which would help
or hypothesis and several points
which would make against it. I gave
1t up at last, and off I went to Nor
wood.
'This place, Deep Dene House. is a
big modern villa Of staring brick stand
ing back in it's own grounds, with a
laurel dumped lawn in front Of it. To
the right and some distance back from
the road was the timber yard which
had been the scene Of the fire. Here's
a rough plan on leaf Of my notebook
This window "on the left is the one
which opens into Oldacre's room You
can look into it from the road, you see
That is about the only bit of consola-
ton l have had today. Lestrade was
not there, but his head constable did
the honors. They had just found
great treasure trove. They had spent |
the morning raking among the ashes
of the burned wood pile, and besides
the charred organic remains they had |
secured several discolored metal disks. |
i examined them with care, and there
was no doubt that they were trouser
buttons. even distinguished that one
OF them was marked with the name Of
Hyams, who was Oldacre's tailor. I
then worked the lawn very carefully |
for signs and traces, but this drought |
has made everything as hard as iron.
Nothing was to be seen save that some |
body or bundle had been dragged |
through low privet hedge which is in
a line with the wood pile. All that, Of
course, fits In with the official theory.
I crawled about the lawn with an
August sun ton my back, but I got up
nc the end Of an hour no wiser than
before.
well, after this fascO went into
the bedroom and examined that also.
The blood stains were very slight, mere
smears and discolorations, but un-
doubtedly fresh. The stick had been
removed, but there also the marks
were slight. There is no doubt about
khe stick belonging to our client. He
admits It Footmarks of both men