The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-26
The Return of Sherlock Holmes.


 been present. But who could that nave been, and how could he have That is the problem which we are now about to solve" said Sherlock Holmes. You remember. Inspector Martin, when the servants said that on leaving their room they were at once conscious of a smell of powder l remarked that the point was an extremely important one?e
 fes sir; but l confess did not quite follow you"
 It suggested that at the time of the firing, the window as well as the door oI the room had been open. Otherwise the -umes of powder could not have been blown so rapidly through the house. A draught in the room was necessary for that Both door and window were only open for very short time. however,
 How do you prove thatT"
 Because the candle was not gut tered"
 itall"
 Feeling sure that the window had been open at the time of the tragedy, conceived that there mig..t have been third person in the affair, who stood outside this opening and fired through it. Any shot directed at this person might hit the sash. I looked. and there, sure enough, was the bullet markr'
 But how came the window to be shut and fastened?'
 The woman's first instinct would be to shut and fasten the window. But, halloal what is this?a
 It was a lady's hand bag which stood upon the study table-a trim little handbag of crocodile skin and silver. There were twenty ffty-pound notes of the Bank of England, held together by an india-rubper band nothing else.
 This must be preserved, for 1t will figure in the trial" said Holmes, as he handed the bag wit. it. contents to the Inspector. "It Is now necessary that he should try to throw some light upon this third bullet, which has clearly, from the splintering of the wood, been fired fro; inside the room. should like to see Mrs. King, the cook, again. You said, Mrs. King, that you were awakened by a loud explo- sion When you said that, did you mean that it seemed to you to be louder than the second one s'
 Well, sir, it wakened me from my sleep, and so it is hard to .dge. But it old seem very loud"
 You don't think that t might have been two shots fired almost at the same instant?''
 T am sure 1 couldn't say, sir
 "I believe that it was undoubtedly so. l rather think Inspector Martin, that we have now exhausted all that this room can teach us. If you will kindly step round with me, we shall see what fresh evidence the garden has to offer"
 A flower bed extended up to the study window, and we all broke into an exclamation as we approached it. The flowers were trampled down, and the soft soil was imprinted all over with footmarks. Large. masculine feet they were with peculiarly long, sharp toes. Holmes hunted about among the grass and leaves like a re- triever after wounded bird. Then. with a cry of satisfaction, he bent forward and picked up a little brazen cylinder.
 T thought so," said he; "the re- volver had an ejectop. and here is the third cartridge really think Inspector Martin that our case is al- most complete.'
 The country inspectors face had shown his intense amazement at the rapid and masterful progress of Holmes investigation. At first he had shown some disposition to assert his