The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-08-30
filed. Would that 1 had some brighter


filled. Would that had some brighter
ending to communicate to my readers
but these are the chronicles OF fact,
and l 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. II suppose that
you are the detectives from London 2"
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
it be for the gallows."
Holmes brow was dark with anxiety
We are going to Riding Thorpe Man
Or" said he but we have heard moth
ing of what has passed there"
ITS a terrible business" said the
station master '1'hey are shot, both
Mr.. Hilton Cubitt and his wife. She
shot him and then herself so the serv-
ants say. He's dead and her life SIDE
SPARED of. Dear, dear, one Of the old
est families in the county OF Norfolk
and one of the most honoredn'
Without word Holmes hurried to
carriage, and during the long seven
mile drive he never opened his mouth.
Seldom have I seen him so utterly de
spondent He had been uneasy during
all our journey from town, and had
observed that he had turned over the
morning papers with anxious attention,
but now this sudden realization Of his
worst fears left him In a blank meIan-
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
few scattered cottages represented
the population Of today, while on ev-
cry hand enormous square lowered
churches bristled up from the fiat,
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
ed with his whip to two old brick and
timber gables which projected from
grove Of trees. That's Riding Thorpe
Manor" said he
AS we drove up to the portlcoed front
door observed in front of 1t, beside the
tennis lawn, the black tool house and
the pedestaled sundiai with which we
mad such strange associations. A dap.
per little man. with a quick, alert
manner and a waXed mustache, had
just descended from high dogcart.
He introduced himself as Inspector
Martin of the Norfolk constabulary,
and he was considerably astonished
when he heard the name Of nv com
panion
why, Mr.. Holmes. the crime was
only committed at 8 this morning. How
could you hear Of it in London and get
to the spot as soon as y"
Il anticipated it. came in the hope
Of preventing it"
Then you must have important evil
dence of which we are ignorant, for
they We're said to be a most united
counle."
II have only the evidence of the dane
ing men, said Holmes. 81 will OK
plain the matter to you later Mean
while. since it is too late to prevent this
t'asedy am very anxious that I
should use the knowledge which l pos
SeSs in order to insure that Justice be
done Will you associate me in your
investigation or will you prefer that I
Shou2' act Independently
II should be proud to feel that we
we're acting together. Mr.. Holiness"
SAID the Inspector earnestly
In that case should be glad to hear
The evidence and to examine the prem
.Ses 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 haired
man, had just come down from Mrs.
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