Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-20
Exploits of Sherlock HomesThe Adventure of the SpeCked Ban

ening into a grove at the highest point.
From amid the branches there jutted out
the gray gables and high rooftree of very
old mansion.
stoke Moran" said he.
Yes. sir. that be the house of DR..
Grimesby Roylott," remarked the driver.
There is some building going on there"
said Holmes - that is where we are going"
There's the village" said the driver.
pointing to a cluster OF roofs some distance
20 the left; but II you want to get to the
house, you'll find 1t shorter to get over this
stile, and so by the footpath over the fields.
There It is, where the lady is walking
And the lady fancy, is Miss stoner,"
observed Holmes, shading his eyes. Yes,
think we had better do as you suggested"
We got on paid our fare, and the trap
ratified back on its way to Leatherhead.
Il thought 1t as WELL" said Holmes, as
we climbed the stile. that this fellow
should think we had come here as archi-
tects, or on some definite business 1t may
stop his gossip. Good afternoon, Miss
stoner. You see that we have been as good
as our word"
Our client OF the morning had hurried
forward to meet us with a face which spoke
her JOY. Il have been waiting so eagerly
for you" she cried shaking hands with us
warmly. "All has turned out splendidly.
DR.. Roylott has gone to town, and 1t is un-
likely that he will be back before evening"
I'VE have had the pleasure of making the
doctors acquaintance" said Holmes, and
In few words he sketched out what had
occurred. Miss Stoner turned white TO the
lips as she listened
Good heavensl' she cried. "he has fol-
lowed me, them"
so II appears"
HE is so cunning that never know
when I am safe from him. What will he
say when he returns?"
"He must guard himself. for he may find
that there is someone more cunning than
himself upon his track. You must lock
yourself up from him tonight II he is vio-
lent, we shall take you away to your aunt $
at Harrow. Now. we must make the best
use OF our time, so kindly take us at once
to the rooms which we are to examine"
the building was OF gray. liehen. blotched
stone, with high central portion and two
curvinR wings like the claws Of a crab,
thrown out on each side In one OF these
wings the windows were broken and
blocked with wooden boards while the roof
was partly caYed in, a picture OF ruin. The
central portion was in little better repair,
but the rlght-hand block was comparatively
modern, and the blinds in the windows,
With the blue smoke curling up from the
ehimneys, showed that this was where the
family resided. Some scaffolding had been
erected against the end wall and the stone
work had been broken into. but there were
no signs OF any workmen at the moment of
our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and
down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined
with deep attention the outsides OF the
windows.
This, I take Il. belongs TO the room in
which you used &c sleep the center one to
your sisters and the one next TO the main
building 10 Or. Roylott's chamber
Exactly 80. But l am now sleeping in
the middle one"
Pending the alterations, as understand
by the way. there does not seem TO be any
very pressing need for repairs at that end
Wellf'
There were none. / believe It was an