Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-06-01

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"Shc could tel, us something u she
,Could"
was Uttered with cigarette ends and
with the early editions of the morning
papers. An open telegram lay upon the
table.
what do you think Of this. Watson?"
he asked. tossing it across.
1t was from Norwood and ran as fol.
lows
Important fresh evidence to hand. Nc
Farlane's guilt definitely established. Ad-
vise you to abandon case. LESrRADE.
This sounds Serious" said /.
at is I.estrades little cock "A doodle
Of victory" Holmes answered. with
bitter smile. And yet it may be pre-.
mature to abandon the case. After all,
important fresh evidence is a two edg
ed thing and may possibly cut in a
very different direction from that which
Lestrade imagines. Take your break
fast. Watson. and we Will go out to-
gcther and see what We can do. feel
as il shall need your company and
your moral support today"
MY ITIeuu udu no tTtdhIdSt IllIlStl.
for ii was one of his peculiarities that
in his more intense moments he would
permit himself no food, and ! have
known him to presume upon his iron
strength until be has tainted from
pure inanition. at present I cannot
spare energy and nerve force for diges.
tiOn," he would say in answer to my
medical remonstrances. l was not sur.
prised, therefore. when this morning he
left his untouched meal behind him and
started with me for Norwood. A crowd
of morbid sightseers were still gathered
round Deep nene House. which was
Just such suburban villa as had pic.
tured. Within the gates Lestrade met
us. his face flushed with victory, his
manner grossly triumphant.
"Well. Mr. Holmes, have you proved
US to be wrong yet? Have you found
your tramp?' he cried.
II have formed no conclusion what.
ever" my companion answered.
But we formed ours yesterday, and
now it proves to he correct 80 you
must acknowledge that we have been
little in front Of you this time, Mr.
Holmes"
"You certainly have the air Of some
thing unusual having occurred" said
Holmes.
Lestrade laughed loudly.
You don't like being beaten any
more than the rest Of us do" said he.
"A man can't expect always to have
it his own way, can he. DR.. Watson?
Step this way. il you please, gentle.
men, and l think l can convince you
once for all that it was John McFar.
lane who did this crime"
He led US through the passage and
out into dark hall beyond.
This ia where young McFarlane
must have come out to get his hat
after the crime was DONE" said he.
"Now, look at this" With dramatic
suddenness he struck Q match and BY
its light exposed a stain Of blood upon
the whitewashed wall. As he held the
match nearer l saw that 1t was more
than a stain. 1t was the we'll marked
print Of n thumb.
Look at that with your maguifyins
glass. Mr.. Holmes"
"Yes, ! am doing so."
"You are aware that no two thumb
marks are alike?'
Il have heard something Of the kind"
well. then. will you please com.
pare that print with this wax impress.
sion OF young McFarlane's right thumb
taken by my orders this morning?"
AZ he held the waxen print close to
the blood stain II did not take mag.
nifying glass to see that the two were
undoubtedly from the same thumb. It
was evident to me that our unfortunate
client was lost.
THAT 10 anal," said Lestrade.
Eyes. that 10 final." Involuntary
echoed.
ut is hnal." said Holmes.
Something In his tone caught my ear.
and l turned to look at him. An ex.
traordinary change. had come over biz