Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-06-17
attention to it."

room where the crime was committed
SO as to see that nothing was touched
"But why didn't the police see this
mark yesterday"
'sWell, we had no particular reason
to make a careful examination Of the
hall. Besides, it's not in very promi-
nent place, as you see."
ssNo. no-of course not. suppose
there is no doubt that the mark was
there yesterday"
I.estrade looked at Holmes as If he
thought he was going out Of his mind.
/ confess that was myself surprised
both at his hilarious manner and at
his rather wild observation.
81 don't know whether you think that
McFarlane came out Of jail in the
dead Of night in order to strengthen
the evidence against himself" said
Lestrade. 81 leave it to any expert
in the world whether that is not the
mark of his thumb"
"It is unquestionably the mark Of
his thumb.
s'There, that's enough" said Lestrade.
II am a practical man, Mr.. Holmes,
and when l have got my evidence l
come to my conclusions. If you have
ANYTHING to say you will find me writ
ing my report in the sitting ROOM
Holmes had recovered his equanimi-
ty, though 1 still seemed to detect
CLEANS Of amusement in his express
sion k..x,.s4s%, sss4ssaEEP'~
"Dear me, this is very sad devel-
opment, Watson, is it not" said he
"And yet there are singular points
| about 1t which hold out some hopes for
our client"
II am delighted to hear it," said
heartily. II was afraid it was all up
with him"
II would hardly go so far as to say
that, my dear Watson. The fact is that
J there is one really serious flaw in this
evidence to which our friend attaches
| SO much importance"
Indeed, Holmes! What is it?''
"Only this, that 1 know that that
mark was not there when I examined
the hall yesterday. And now, Watson,
let us have a little stroll round in the
sunshine"
With a confused brain, but with a
heart into which some warmth of hope
was returning, I accompanied my
| friend in a walk round the garden.
| Holmes took each face of the house in
| turn and examined it with great inter-
| est. He then led the way inside and
went over the whole building from
basement to attic. Most of the rooms
were unfinished, but none the less
Holmes inspected them all infinitely.
Finally, on the top corridor, which ran
outside three untenanted bedrooms, he
again was seized with a spasm of mer-
riment
''There are really some very unique
features about this case, Watson said
he. Il think it is time now that we
took our friend Lestrade into our conf
dence. He has had his little smile at
our expense, and perhaps we may do
as much by him if my reading of this
problem proves to be correct. Yes. yes,
I think | see how we should approach
it"
The Scotland Yard detective was still
writing in the parlor when Holmes in
terrupted him
Il understood that you were writing
report Of this case," said he.
$50 am"
Don't you think it may be little
premature? I can't help thinking that
your evidence is not complete"
know INV frion1 too xuoIJ 10
disregard his words He laid down his
pen and looked curiously at him.
'What do you mean, Mr. Holmes 2"
''Only that there is an important wit
ness whom you have not SEEN"
''Can you produce him?"
II think l cam
"Then do so'
Il will do my best. How many con-
stables have you?"
"There are three within CALI
''Excellent!' said Holmes. 'May l
ask if they are all large, ablebodied
men with powerful voices?"
Il have no doubt they are, though l
fail to see what their voices have to do
with it,
Perhaps can help you to see that
and one or two other things as WE'LL"
said Holmes. kindly summon your
men, and 1 will try
Five minutes later three policemen
had assembled in the hail.
I'm the clubhouse you will find con-
siderable quantity of straw" said
Holmes. 81 will ask you to carry in
two bundles of it. l think it will be
of the greatest assistance in producing
the witness whom l require. Thank
you very much. / believe you have
some matches in your pocket, Watson.
Now, Mr.. Lestrade will ask you all
to accompany me to the top landing"
AS l have said, there was a broad
corridor there, which ran outside three
empty bedrooms. At one end of the
corridor we were all marshaled by
Sherlock Holmes, the constables grin
ming and Lestrade staring at my friend |
with amazement, expectation and deri-
sion chasing each other across his fea-
lures. Holmes stood before us with |