Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-26

t & xeClJe0ts old Hojmog. My ask if thy aIe III larSS, ablebod1pd men Nith powerful vcicsuiv 1 II haYe v dou1t thW are, thouth I fall to - what their voices have to dc with t."
 I Perhaps can help you to re that and one or two other things as we'll, 7 said Holmes. kindly summon your men. and will try.'' I Five minutes later three policemen had assembled In the hall.
 Tn the outhouss you will ind con siderable quantity of straw" said Holmes T win ask you to carry in two bundles of 1t l think 1t will be of the greatest assistance in producing the witness whom l require. Thank l you very much. I believe you have some matches in your pocket, Watson. Now, Mir. I1estrade, will ask you all to accompany me to the top landing" As have said, there was 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 amusement. expectation and derl- sion chasing each other across his fea- lures. Holmes stood before us with the air of conjurer who is perform ing trick.
 Would you kindly send one of your constables for two buckets of water? ? Put the straw on the floor here, free from the wall on either side. Now think that we are all ready.r Lestrade's face had begun to grow red and angry.
 Il don't know whether you are play ing game with us, MT. Sherlock Holmes" said he. If you know any thing you can surely say 1t without all this tomfoolery.'' 1 T assure you, my. good LesHade, that I have an excellent reason for everything that I do. You may possi- bly, remember that you chaffed me a little some hours ago when the sun seemed on your side of the hedge, so you must not grudge me little pomp and ceremony now. Might ask you, Watson, to open that window and then to put . match to the edge of the straw?
 T did 50, and, driven by the draft, coil os gray smoke swirled down the corridor. while the dry straw cracked ] and famed.
 Now we must see if we can find this witness for you, Lestrade. Might I ask you all to join in the cry of 'FireY Now, then-one, two, three!" "Fire!' we all yelled
 Thank you. will trouble you once again"
 "Firev'
 Just once more. gentlemen, and all together"
 "Firer' The shout must have rung over Norwood.
 It had hardly died away when an amazing thing happened. A door sud denly flew open out of what appeared to be solid wall at the end of the cor ridor and a little wizened man darted out of 1t like a rabbit out of its bur row.
 "Capitalw said Holmes calmly. Watson. . bucket of water over the straw. That will do! Lestrade, allow me to present you with your principal missing witness. MT. Jonas Oldacre."
 The detective stared at the newcom- @fwdth, blank amazement. The latter was blinking in the bright light of the corridor and peering at us and at the smoldering fire It was An odious face-crafty. vicious. malignant, with shifty, light gray eyes and white lashes.
 What's this. then? ?' said Lestrade at last. What have you been doing all this time, eh?'
 Oldacre gave an uneasy laugh, shrink ing back from the furious rcd face of the angry detective.
 'T have done no harm"
 ''No harm? You have done your best to get an innocent man hanged. If 1t wasn't for this gentleman here I am not sure that you would not have sue ceeded"
 The wretched creature began to whimper.
 T am sure. sir, 1t was only my prac- ,tical joke"
 "Oh, a joke. was itf You won't ind the laugh on your side. promise you Take him down and keep him in the sitting room until I come. Mir Holmes." he continued when they had gone. ''I couid not speak before the constables. but I don't mind saying in the presence of Dr. Watson that this is the brightest thing that you have done yet though 1t is mystery to me how you did 1t. You have saved an innocent mans life, and you have prevented a very grave scan- dal. which would have ruined my repu- tation in the force"
 Holmes smiled and clapped Lestrade upon the shoulder.
 ''Instead of being ruined, my good sir. you will ind that your reputation has been enormously enhanced. Just make q few alterations in that report which you were writing and they will understand how hard it h to throw dust in the eyes Of Inspector Lestrade."
 And you don't want your name to appesry
 Not at all The work is its own re- ward. Perhaps I shall get the credit also at some distant day. when per init my zealous historian to lay out hIs