Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-01
Exploits of Sherlock Holmes

too transparent, and It was a very bad
compliment when you said that It was
impossible for me to solve so simple
question. That's right sit down and let
us talk II over"
Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with
a CHASTITY face. and a glitter Of moisture
on his brow. Tits not actionable." he
stammered
II am very much afraid that II is not
But between ourselves. windibank, it was
as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in
petty way as ever came before me. Now
let me Just run over the course Of events,
and you will contradict me II I go wrong"
The man sat huddled up in his chair with
his head sunk upon his breast. like one who
is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet
up on the corner Of the mantel-piece and,
leaning back with his hands in his pockets,
began talking. rather to himself, as 1t
seemed. than to us.
THE man married a woman very much
older than himself for her money" said
he. land he enjoyed the use of the money
of the daughter as long as she lived with
them It was a considerable sum, for
people in their position, and the loss of 1t
would have made serious difference. 1t
was worth an effort to preserve it. The
daughter was of a good, amable disposition,
but sffectionate and warm-hearted in her
ways, so that IL was evident that with her
fair personal advantages, and her little in
come she would not be allowed to remain
single long. Now her marriage would
mean, OF course, the loss OF a hundred
year, so what does her stepfather DO to
prevent it2 He takes the obvious course
Of keeping her at home and forbidding her
to seek the company OF people of her own
age. But soon he found that that would not
answer forever. She became FESTIVE, in
sisted upon her rights, and finally an
nOunced her positive intention OF going to
a certain BALL What does her clever step
father do then? He conceives an idea more
credible to his head than to his heart. With
the connivance and assistance of his wife
he disguised himself, covering those keen
eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face
with a mustache and a pair Of bushy
whiskers, sunk that clear voice into an
insinuating whisper and doubly secure on
account of the girls short sight he appears
as Mr.. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off other
lovers by making love himself"
1T was only a joke at first" groaned
our visitor. 1--WE never thought that she
would have been so carried away"
Every likely not. However that may be-
the young woman was very decidedly car
red away, and having quite made UP her
mind that her stepfather was in France,
the suspicion Of treachery never for an in
slant entered her mind She was fiattered
by the gentleman 8 attentions, and the eff
feet was increased by the loudly expressed
admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel
began to call, for 1t was obvious that the
matter should be pushed as far as It would
go, If real effect were to be produced.
There were meetings and an engagement,
which would finally secure the girls af-
fections from turning toward any one else.
But the deception could not be kept up for
ever. These pretended journeys to France
were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was
clearly to bring the business to an end in
such dramatic manner that 1t would leave
a permanent impression upon the young
woman's mind and prevent her from looking
upon any other sUltor for some time to
come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted
upon Testament, and hence also the al
lusions to a possibility of something hap
pening on the very morning of the wedding.
James Windibank wished Miss Sutherland
to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so I'M
certain as to his fate that for ten years to
come, at any rate, she would not listen to
another man. AS far the church door he
brought her, and then. as he could go no
the old trick of stepping in at one door of
a four-wheeler and out at the other. I
think that that was the chain of events,
Mr.. Windibanl1!"
Our visitor had recovered something of
his assurance while Holmes had been talk
ing, and he rose from his chair now with a
cold sneer upon his pale face.
1T may be so or 1t may not, Mr.. Holmes, "
said he, but if you are so very sharp you
ought to be sharp enough to know that it
is you who are breaking the law now and
not me. 1 have done nothing actionable
from the first, but long as you keep that
door locked you lay yourself open to an &C
ton for assault and illegal constraint."
1.-THE law cannot, as you say, touch you, "
said Holmes, unlocking and throwing open
the door, yet there never was a man who
deserved punishment more. II the young
woman has brother or a friend he ought
to lay whip across your shoulders. BY
Jove!" he continued, flushing up at the
sight of the bitter sneer upon the mans
face, 1T is. not part of my duties to my
client, but here's a hunting crop handy and
think 1 shall Just treat myself to" He
took two swift steps to the whip, but be-
fore he could grasp it there was a wild
clatter OF steps upon the stairs, the heavy
halldoor banged and from the window we
could see Mr. James Windibank running at
the top OF his speed down the road.
There's cold-blooded scoundrel!" said
Holmes laughing, as he threw himself
down into his chair once more. THAT fell
low will rise from crime to crime until
he does somethingEvery bad, and ends on
a gallows. THE case has, in some re-
spects, been not entirely devoid Of inter-
est"
Il cannot now entirely see all the steps
Of your reasoning" remarked
We'll, Of course. II was obvious from the
hrst, that this Mr.. Hosmer Angel must
have some strong object for his curious
conduct. and it was equally clear that the
only man who really profted by the in
cident, as far as we could see, was the
stepfather. Then the fact that the two
men were never together, but that the one
always appeared when the other was away.
was suggestive. So were the tinted spec
tacles and the curious voice, which both
limited az disguise as did the bushy whis-
kers My suspicious were all confirmed by
his peculiar action in typewritlng his sig
nature, which, of course, inferred that his
I handwriting was so familiar TO her that
she would recognize even the smallest sam
pie OF II. You see all these isolated facts.
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