Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-18

sightseers were stu gathered round Deep
Dene House. which was just such subur-
ban villa as / had pictured. Within the
gates Lestrade met US, his face flushed with
victory. his manner grossly triumphant.
We'll. Mr.. Holmes. have you proved us to
be wrong yet? Have you found your
tramp" he cried.
II have formed no conclusion whatever"
my companion answered.
But we formed ours yesterday. and now
It proves to be correct, so you must ac-
knowledge that we have been little in
front of you this time. Mr.. Holmes"
You certainly have the air of something
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 1t his own way,
please. gentlemen. and 1 think l can con-
vince you once for all that # was John
McFarlane who did this crime"
He led through the passage and out
into a dark hall beyond.
This is where young McFarlane must
have come out to get his hat after
the crime was done" said he. Now
he struck match, and by its light exposed
stain of blood upon the whitewashed wall.
AS he held the match nearer l saw that It
was more than a stain. II was the we'll
marked print of thumb
Look at that with your magnifying
glass, Mr.. Holmes
Yes, l am doing so"
You are aware that no two thumb
marks are alike?"
II have heard something of the kind"
We'll, then. will you please compare that
print with this wax impression of young
McFarlane's right thumb. taken by my
orders this morning.
AS he held the waxen print close to the
blood stain. 1t did not take a magnifying
glass to see that the two were undoubted-
ly from the same thumb. It was evident to
| me that our unfortunate client was lost
That is final" said Lestrade.
Yes. that Is final.' l involuntarily
echoed.
1T is final" said Holmes.
something In his tone caught my ear.
| and l turned to look at him. An extraordi-
nary change had come over his face. 1t
| was wrthing with inward merrment. His
| two eyes We're shining like stars 1t SEEM
| ed to me that lie was making desperate
| efforts to restain a convulsive attack OF
| laughter.
Dear me. Dear me- he said at last
| well now, who would have thought Il?
| And how deceptive appearances may be.
| to be sure! Such nice young man to look
at! 1t is a lesson to US not to trust our
own judgment, Is ii not, Lestrade?'
Yes some of us are a little too much
| inclined to be cocksure, Mr.. Holmes" said
Lestrade. The mans insolence was mad
denng, but we could not resent 1t.
what a providential thing that this
young man should press his right thumb
| against the wall in taking his hat from the
peg! Such very natural action, too IL
you come to think of it Holmes was
outwardly calm. but his whole body gave
wriggle OF suppressed excitement as he
spoke. by the way, Lestrade, who made
this remarkable discovery"
1T the housekeeper, Mrs. Lexington.
who drew the night constables attention
to it,
Where was the night coustable?'
He remained on guard in the bedroom
where the crime was committed so as to
see that nothing was touched"
But why didn't the police see this mark
| yesterday"
| We'll, we had no particular reason to
| make q careful examination of the hall
| Besides, it's not In a very prominent place,
| as you see"
| no. no-of course not. suppose there IL
no doubt that the mark was there yester-
| day."
Lestrade looked at Holmes as II he
! thought he was going out Of his mind. L
| confess that I was myself surprised both at
! his hilarious manner and at his rather wild
! observation.
II don't know whether you think that
! McFarlane came out of gaol In the dead
| of the night in order to strengthen the evil
| dence against himself said Lestrade i
! leave It to any expert in the world whether
! that is not the mark Of his thumb
| ut is unquestionably the mark Of his
| thumb"
| "There, that's enough" said Lestrade. Il
| am a practical man, Mr. Holmes, ana when
II have got my evidence | come to my con-
| illusions. If you have anything to say, you
will find me writing my report in the sitting
| room.
| Holmes had recovered his equaninity,
though / still seemed to detect CLEANS or
| amusement in his expression.
| Dear me, this is a very sad develop
! ment Watson. is it not?' said he And
| vet there are singular points about 1t which
| hold out some hopes for our client"
| Il am delighted to hear it, said near