Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-10-17

81 have no desire TO make mysteries,
but 1t is impossible at the moment or
action to enter into long and complex
explanations. have the threads OF
this affair all In my hand. Even II
this lady should never recover con-
scIousness we can still reconstruct the
events of last night and insure that
Justice be done. First Of all, l wish TO
know whether there is any inn In this
neighborhood known as Elrlge's"
The servants were cross questioned,
but none Of them had heard Of such
place. The stable boy threw light up
on the matter by remembering that
farmer of that name lived some miles
of In the direction of East Ruston.
as 1t a lonely farm"
every lonely, sir"
"Perhaps they have not heard yet OF
all that happened here during the
night"
Maybe not, sir"
Holmes thought for little, and then
curious smile played over his face.
Saddle a horse, my lad" said he. Il
shall wish you to take note to FL
RIGGS farm"
He took from his pocket the various
slips Of the dancing men. With these IN
front of him he worked for some time
at the study table Finally he handed
note to the boy, with directions to
put 1t into the hands Of the person to
whom 1t was addressed, and especially
to answer no questions Of any sort
which might be put to him. I saw the
outside Of the note, addressed In strag-
Cling, irregular characters, very unlike
Holmes usual precise hand. 1t was
consigned to Mr.. Abe Slaney, Elrige's
farm, East Ruston, Norfolk.
~ think, Inspector" Holmes remark
ed. "that yon would do well to tele-
| graph for an escort, as, II my calcula-
| tions prove TO be correct. you may have
| particularly dangerous prisoner to
convey 10 the county jail. The boy
| who takes this note could no doubt for
ward your telegram. If there is an aft
ernoon train to town, Watson, l think
we should do well to take 1t, as have
Il chemical analysis Of some interest TO
finish, and this investigation draws rap
ly to a close"
When the youth had been dispatched
with the note, Sherlock Holmes gave
his instructions to the servants. III any
visitor were to call, asking for Mrs.
| Hilton Cubitt, no information should
be given as to her condition, but he was
to be shown at once into the drawing
room. He impressed these points upon
them with the utmost earnestness.
Finally he led the way into the draw
ing room, with the remark that the
business was now out of our hands and
| that we must while away tie time as
best we might until we could see what
was in store for us. The doctor had de-
parted to his patients. and only the in
spector and myself remained.
81 think that can help you to pass
an hour in an interesting ana profit
able manner" said Holmes, drawing
/ Ills clluII W tut tiii 'p'No'''o
out in front Of him the various papers
upon which were recorded the antics
Of the dancing men. "As to you, friend
Watson, l owe you every atonement
for having allowed your natural curl
osity to remain so long unsatisfed.
To you, inspector, the whole incident
may appeal as u remarkable profess
sional study must tell you, first or
all, the interesting circumstances con-
nected with the previous consultations
which Mr.. Hilton Cubitt has had with
me in Baker street" He then shortly
recapitulated the facts which have al
ready been recorded. II have here In
front of me these singular productions
at which one might smile had they not
proved themselves to be the forer'lh-
rc:s of 50 terrible II tragedy. am