Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-20

the lawn. neither Miss S,oner nor myself
liking To break in upon his thoughts before
he reused himself from his reverie
1T is very essential Miss Stoner.' said
he. that you should absolutely follow my
advice III every respect
Il shall most certainly DO So
THE matter Is too serious for any hesita-
ton. Your life may depend upon your COM
piance''
II assure you that am in your hands
'In the first place. both my friend and
must spend the night in your room"
Both Miss Stoner and 1 gazed at him in
establishment.
Yes. 1t must be so. Let me explain. 1
believe that that is the village inn owe,
there?''
Yes. that Is the Crown"
Very good Your windows would be Wis.
ible from there?'
Certainly"
You must confine yourself to your room
on pretense of a headache when your step
father comes back. Then when you hear
him retire for the night you must open the
shutters of your window, undo the hasp,
put your lamp there a signal to u.s. and
| then withdraw quietly with everything
which you are likely to want into the room
which you used to occupy. / have no doubt
that. in spite OF the repairs. you could
manage there for one night"
''Oh, yes. easily
The rest you viii leave in our hands?"
But what will you do?''
we shall spend the night In your room
and We shall investigate the cause of this
| noise which has disturbed you
| Il believe. Mr.. Holmes that you have al
ready made up your mind" said Miss
Stoner. laying her hand upon my COM
panons sleeve.
Perhaps l have"
Then for PHYS sake tell me what was
the cause of my sisters DEATH
Il should prefer to have clearer proofs
before l speak"
You can at least tell me whether my
own thought is correct, and If she died
from some sudden fright.
No, L do not think | think there was
probably more tangible cause. And now.
Miss Stoner. we must leave you for If DIR.
Roylott returned and saw journey
would be in vain. Goodbye, and be brave,
for il you will do what l have told you you
may rest assured that shall soon drive
away the dangers that threaten you"
Sherlock Holmes and | had no difficulty In
engaging bedroom and sitting room ut the
Grown lnn. Tney were on the upper noor
and from our window we could command 4
view of the avenue gate and of the inhab-
tied wing of Stoke Moran Manor House.
AT dusk we saw DR.. Grimesby Roylott drive
past his huge form looming up beside the
little figure of the lad who drove him. The
boy had some slight difficulty in undoing
the heavy iron gates and we heard the
hoarse of the doctors voice and saw
the fury with which he shook his clinched
fist at him. The trap drove on. and few
minutes later We saw a sudden light spring
up among the trees as the lamp was lit in
one OF the sitting-rooms,
DO you know. Watson" said Holmes. as
We sat together in the gathering darkness,
L have. really some scruples as to taking
you tonight There is distinct element of
danger"
Can 1 be of assistance?"
y our presence might be invaluable"
Then | shall certainly come"
1T is very kind of you
You speak of danger. You have evident
~ seen more in those rooms than was visi-
BILE to me-.
mo. but I fancy that may have de-
duced a little more. l imagine that you saw
all that / did T."
Il saw nothing remarkable save the bell
rope and what purpose that could answer
1 confess is more than l can imagine
You saw the ventfIatOr, toO?
Yes. but L do not think that 1t is such
very unusual thing to have small open
ing between two rooms. 1t was so small
| that rat could hardly pass through
Il knew that we should find a ventilator
before ever we came to Stoke Moran"
My dear Holiness"
"Oh. yes, I did. You remember In her
statement size said that her sister could
smell DR.. RoyIott's cigar. Now. Of course
that suggested at once that there must be
communication between the two rooms. 1t
could only be small one, or it would have
been remarked upon at the coroner's In
quiry. | deduced a ventiiator.
But what harm can there be In that?
'FWell. there is at least a curious coin
cidence of dates. ventlator Is made, a
cord Is hung and lady who sleeps in the
bed dies Does not that strike you?
Il cannot as yet see any connection
Did you observe anything very peculiar
about that bed?
NO"
1T was clamped to the floor Did you
ever see bed fastened like that before?'
~ cannot say that have.
'.The lady could not move her bed 1t
must always be in the same relative posi-
ton to the ventiIator and to the rope-for
col since II clearly never
meant for a belI-pull.''
Holmes" | cried. Il seem to see dimly
what you are limiting at. We are only
Just in time to prevent some Suptle anu
horrible crime
subtle enough ard horrible enough.
When a doctor does go wrong he Is the
first of criminals. He has nerve and he has
knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard Wee
among tie heads OF their profession. This
man strikes even deeper. but think Wat
son. that we shall be able to strike deeper
still But we shall have horrors enough be-
fore the night is over; for goodness sake
let us have a quiet pipe and turn minds
for n few hours to something more cheer
full"
About o o'clock the light among the trees
was extingu:shed and all was dark in the
direction of the Manor House. Two hours
passed slowly away. and then. suddenly,
just at the stroke of II. single bright
light shone out right in front of us.
That is our signal, said Holmes, spring
window.
AS we passed out he exchanged a fsw
words with the landlord explaining that
we were going on a late visit to an ac-
uuaintance. and that it was possible that
we might spend TIE n gLt there mo-
ment later were out on the dark road.
a chill wind blowing in our faces. and one
yellow light twinKling in front or us
through the gloom to guide us on our SOM
Der GRAND
There was little difficulty in entering the
grounds for unrepaired breaches gaped II
the old park wall. Making our way among
the trees we reached the lawn. crossed it,
and were about to enter through the Win
dow when out from a c.ump of laurel
bushes there darted what seemed to be a
hideous and distorted child. who threw IT.
self upon the grass with writhing limbs,
and then ran swiftly across the lawn into
the darkness
My God!'' 1 whispered; did you see it?"
Holmes was for the moment startled
as 1. His hand closed like wise upon my
wrist In his agitation. Then he broke into
a low laugh and put his lips to my
1T is nice household" he murmured
THAT is the baboon.'
/ had forgotten the strange pets which
the doctor affected. There was a cheetah,
too; perhaps we might find it upon our
CHI hot