Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-20

her fate. 1t homely little room, with
a low ceiling and gaping fireplace, after
the fashion of old country houses. A brown
chest of drawers stood in one corner. mar
row white counterpaned bed in another and
a dressing table on the left-hand side of the
window. These articles, with two small
wicker-work chairs, made up all the furni-
ture IN the room, for square of
Wilton carpet in the center. The boards
round and the paneling of the walls were
of brown wormeaten oak, so old and dis
colored that it may have dated from the
original building of the house. Holmes drew
one of the chairs into corner and sat ST.
lent. while his eyes travelled round and
round and up and down, taking in every de-
tail of the apartment
Where does that bell communicate within
he asked at last. pointing to thick bellrope
which hung down beside the bed, the tassel
actually lying upon the pillow.
1t goes to the housekeeperS room"
1T looks newer than the other things?'
les; 1t was only put there a couple of
years ago.
Your sister asked for it. I suppose?"
No. l never heard of her using it. We
always used to get what We wanted for our
selves"
Indeed 1T seemed Unnecessary to put
so nice belpull there. You will excuse me
for few minutes while satisfy myself as
to this floor" He threw himself down upon
his face with his lens in his. hand and
crawled swiftly backward and forward. ex-
amning infinitely the cracks between the
boards. Then he did the same with the
woodwork with which the chamber was
pareled. Finally he walked over to the bed
and spent some time in staring at it and in
running his eye UP and down the wall. FL
naly he took the bellrope in his hand and
gave 1t brisk tug.
"Why, it. a dummy" said he
Wont it ring?"
NO: it is not even attached to a wire
This is very interesting. You can see now
that it is fastened to a hook just above
where the little opening for the ventiiator
is
How very absurd! 1 never noticed that
before"
Very stranger muttered Holmes. pulling
at the rope. There are one or two very
singular points about this room. For ex-
ample, what a fool a builder must be to
open ventiiator into another room, when,
with the same trouble. he might have COM
municated with the outside air!"
That is also quite modern" said the lady.
Done about the same time as the bell
rope?" remarked Holmes.
Yes. there were several little changes
carried out about that time"
They seem to have been of most inter-
esting character-dummy bellropes and VEN
tilators which do not ventilate With your
permission, Miss Stoner. We shall carry our
researches into the inner apartment
DR.. Grlmesby ROylottS chamber was
larger than that of his stepdaughter, but
was as plainly furnished. A camp bed,
small wooden shelf full of books, mostly of
technical character. an armchair beside
wall, a round table and large iron safe
were the principal things which met the eye.
Holmes walked slowly round and examined
each and all of them with the keenest in
terest.
whats in here%" he asked, tapping the
safe.
My stepfather's business papers,
''Oh! you have seen inside. then?"
only once, some years ago. / remember
that 1t was full of papers"
There isn't cat In it, for example?'
mo. What strange Ideal"
We'll. look at this!' He took up small
saucer of milk which stood on the top of it.
No; we don't keep cat. But there is
cheetah and baboon."
"Ah. yes, of course. Well, cheetah is
just big cat. and yet a saucer OF milk
does not go very far in satisfying Its wants,
dare say. There is one point which L
should wish to determine. He squatted
down In front of the wooden chair. and
examined the seat of it with the greatest
THANK you. That is quite settled" said
he. rising and putting his lens in his pocket.
Hello! here is something interesting!'
The object which had caught his eye was
a small dog lash hung ON one corner of
the bed. The lash, however was curled
upon itself. and tied so as to make loop
of whipcord
What do you make of that, Watson?'
TITS common enough lash. But don't
know why 1t should be tied
That Is not quite common. Is It? All,
me! It's q wicked world, and when clever
man turns his brains to crime 1t Is the worst
Of all. think that have seen enough
now. Miss Stoner. and with your permission
we shall walk out upon the lawn"