Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-10

has been here. Press him. Tell hin
that full confession 10 bis only chanc,
Of forgiveness. DO exactly what tel
you!"
"By George. II he knows I'll have 4
out Of him" cried Lestrade. lie dartet
into the hall, and q few moments late
his bullying voice sounded from th,
back room.
Nov, Watson. noww cried Holme.
with frenxied eagerness. All the dc
moniacal force Of the man masked be
hind that lstless manner burst out ir
a paroxysm Of energy. He tore thu
drugget from the door and in an In
stant was down on his hands and
knees clawing at each Of the squares
Of wood beneath 1t. One turned side
ways az he Dug bic naNs into the edge
Of 1t. 1t hinged back like the lid Of q
box. A small black cavity opsnes -ss.
meath ~ Holmes plunged his eager
hand into II aad drew It out with q
bitter snarl Of anger and disappoint-
ment 1t was empty.
QUICK. Watson. quick! Get II back
again." The wooden lid was replaced,
and the druggst had only just been
drawn straight when I.estrade's voice
was heard In the passage. He found
Holmes leaning lanRuidly against the
mantelpiece, resigned and patient, en-.
deavorfng to conceal his irrepressible
yawns.
Sorry 70 keep you waiting, Mr..
Holmes. can see that you are bored
to death with the whole affair. Well,
be has confessed. all right. Come in
here, MAcPherson. Let these gentle.
men hear Of your most inexcusable
conduct"
The big constable. very hot and pen.
,tent, sidled into the room.
II meant no harm, sir. I'm sure. The
young woman came to the door last
evening; mistook the house, she did.
And then we got talking. It's lone
some when you're on duty here all
day"
well. what happened then?"
''She wanted to see where the crime
was done--had read about II in the pa.
pers. she sid. She was q very re-
spectacle. we'll spoken young woman,
sir, and saw no harm In lstting her
have peep. When she saw that mark
on the carpet down she dropped on the
floor and lay as IL she were dead. l
ran to the back and got some water.
but could not bring her to. Then
went round the corner to the Ivy Plant
for some brandy. and by the time / had
brought It back the young woman had
recovered and was o6-ashamed of
hersek, I dare say. and dared not face
me-"
How about moving that drugget?"
We'll, sir. It was a bit r,nmpled. GER
tainly. when l came back You see,
she fell on It and 1t lies on a polished
door with nothing to keep it in place.
Strengthened 1t out afterward"
ITS lesson to you that you can't
deceive me. Constable Macpherson"
said Lestrade. with dignity. mo doubt
you thought that your breach Of duty
could never be discovered, and yet a
mere glance at that drugget was
enough to convince ME that some one
had been admitted to the room. It's
lucky for you. my man, that nothing
IL missing. or you would find yourself
in Queer street. I'm sorry to have
called you down over such a petty
business. Mr.. Holmes. but I thought
the point OF the second stain not cor
responding with the first would inter.
est you"
Certainly. it was most interesting.
Has this woman only been here once,
constable?"
Yes sir; only once"
WHO was she"
Don't know the name, sir. Was an.
swering an advertisement about type
writing and came to the wrong num-
ber-vsry pleasant gentesl young wo-
man, sir"
Tall? Handsome"
YES, sir; she was q we'll grown
young woman. suppose you might
say she was handsome. Perhaps some
would say she was very handsome. oh.
officer. do let me have a peep" says
she. She had pretty, coaxing ways. az
you might say. and thought there was
no harm in letting her just put her
head through the door,"
How was she dressed!"
"Quiet. SRA long mantle down to
her feet"
"What time was IT."
1T was Just growing dusk at the
time. They were lighting the lamps as
I came back with the brandy"
Very good" said Holmes. Come,
Watson. I think that We have more i'm.
portant work elsewhere"
As We left the house IIestrade re.
manned In the front room. while the 70.
pentant constable opened the door to
let ~ out. Holmes turned on the step
and held up something In bis hand. The
constable stared intently.
GOOD Lord. sir" he cried. with
amazement on his face. Holmes put
his finger on his lips. replaced his hand
in his breast pocket and burst out
laughing as we turned down the street. |
Excellent" said he. "Come, Friend
Watson. the curtain rings UP for the
last act. You will be relieved to hear
that there will be no war, that the
Right Hon. Trelawney Hope will suf.
fer no setback in his brilliant career,
that the indiscreet sovereign will re.
celve no punishment for his indiscre.
ton, that the prime minister will have
M Euronoan comnlica tion N Aont with