Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-27

but tbese are tho chronicles of fact, and must follow to their dark crisis the strange chain of events which for some days made Riding Thorpe Manor | household word through the length and breadth of England"
 We had hardly alighted at North Walsham and mentioned the name of our destination when the station mas ter hurried toward us. T suppose that you are the detectives from London" said he.
 A look of annoyance passed over Holmes face.
 What makes you think such . thing!"
 Because Inspector Martin from Norwich has just passed through. But maybe you are the surgeons. She's not dead, or wasn't by last accounts. You may be in time to save her yet, though 1t be for the gallows."
 Holmes brow was dark with anxiety.
 "yEe are going to Riding Thorpe Man. or.' said he, but we have heard noth- ing of what has passed there"
 It's terrible business said the station master. They are shot, both Mir. Hilton Cubitt and his wife. She shot him and then herself, so the serv- ants say. He's dead and her life is de- spaired of. Dear, dear, one of the old est families in the county of Norfolk and one of the most honoredw
 Without word Holmes hurried to a carriage, and during the long seven mile drive he never opened his mouth. Seldom have I seen him so utterly de. sponden.. He had been uneasy during all our journey from town, and had observed that he had turned over the morning papers with anxiors attention, but now this sudden real 'on of his worst fears left him in a melan- choly. He leaned back in his seat, lost in gloomy speculation Yet there was much around to interest us, for we were passing through as singular countryside as any in England. where a few scattered cottages represented the population of today, while on ev- cry hand enormous square lowered churches bristled mp from the flat, green landscape and told of the glory and prosperity of old East Anglia At last the violet rim of the German ocean appeared over the green edge of the Norfolk coast, and the driver point cd with his whip to two old brick and timber gables which projected from a grove of trees. That's Riding Thorpe Manor" said he.
 As we drove up to the porticoed front door observed in front of it. beside the tennis lawn, the black tool house and the pedestaled sundial with which we had such strange associations. A dap per little man, with a quick. alert manner and waxed mustache. had just descended from a high dogcart. He introduced himself as Inspector Martin of the Norfolk constabulary. and he was considerably astonished when he heard the name of my com panion.
 "Why. Mir. Holmes. the crime was only committed at this morning. How could you hear of it in London and get to the spot as soon as IT.
 q anticipated 1t. I came in the hope of preventing it."
 'Then you must have important evi- dence of which we are ignorant, for they were said to be a most united couple"
 "1 have only the evidence of the danc- Ing men," said Holmes. T will ex- plain the matter to you later. Mean while. since it is too late to prevent this tragedy. am very anxious that I should use the knowledge which pos sess in order to insure that justice be done. Will you associate me in your investigation or will you prefer that should act independently
 T should be proud to feel that we were acting together. Mfr. Holmes." said the inspector earnestly.
 Tn that case I should be glad to hear the evidence and to examine the prem Ises without an instant of unnecessary delay"
 Inspector Martin had the good sense to allow my friend to do things in his own fashion and contented himself with carefully noting the results. The local surgeon, an old, white naireo man, had just come down from NrA Hilton CubItt's room. and he reported that her injuries were serious. but not necessarily fatal. The bullet had passed through the front of her brain, and it would probably be some time be- fore she could regain consciousness. On the question of whether she had been shot or had shot herself he would not venture 10 express any decided opinion. Certainly the bullet had been at very close quarters. There was only the one pistol found in the room, two barrels of which had been emptied. Mir. Hilton Cubitt had been shot through the heart. It was equally conceivable that he had shot her and then himself or that she had been the criminal. for the revolver lay upon the floor midway between them.
 Has he been moved r asked Holmes.
 "we have moved nothing except the lady. We eouId not leave her lyirg wounded upon the floor"
 How long have you been iscTe. doc- torf'
 Since ( o'clock
 Any one etsey-
 "Yes. the constable here-