The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-20

HuIhlit IolNluu 10 haii opened
drawer In it lay some table linen and
a large corkscrew
ibid Lady Brackenstan say that
screw was usedT'
NO; you remember that she was
senscless at the moment when the bot
tie was opened"
"Quite so As a matter OF fact. the
screw was not used This bottle was
opened by a pocket screw. probably
contained in a knife and not more than
an inch and a half long. II you win
examine the top OF the cork. you will
observe that The screw was driven In
three times before the cork was ex-
tracted. IL has never been traushxed.
This long screw would have transnxed
Il and drawn Il up with single pull.
When you catch this fellow you will
find that he has one Of these multiplex
knives IN his possession"
"Exceiientr' said Hopkins.
"But these glasses do puzzle me. I
confess Lady Brackenstan actually
saw the three men drinking did she
uotY'
"Then there is AZ end Of It. what
more is TO be said7 And yet you must
admit that the three glasses are very
remarkable. Hopkins. what7 You see
nothing remarkable7 Wen. well. LET II
pass. Perhaps when a man has special
knowledge aud special powers like my
own IL rather encourages him TO seek
a complex explanation when a simpler
one Is az hand OF course II must be
mere chance about the glasses. Well.
good morning. Hopkins. l don't see
that ! can be Of any use 10 you, and
you appear to have your case very clear.
You will let me know when Randall Is
arrested and any further developments
which may occur trust that | shall
soon have 10 congratulate you upon q
successful conclusion. Come. Watson
fancy that we may employ ourselves
more proftably az home"
During our return Journey I could
see 10y Holmes face that he was much
puzzled by something which he had
observed Every now and then by an
effort he would throw OF the impress
sion and talk as II the matter were
clear, but then his doubts would settle
down upon him again. and his knitted
( hrows and abstracted eyes would show
that his thoughts had gone back once
more to the great dining room OF the
Abbey Grange in which this midnight
/ tragedy had been enacted At last by
a sudden impulse just as our train was
/ crawling out OF suburban station he
/ sprang on TO the platform and pulled
me out after him.
Excuse me. my dear fellow" said
/ he as we watched the rear carriages OF
cNr train disappearing round n curve.
"I am sorry 20 make you the victim Of
what may seem mere within; hut. on
my life. Watson. / simply can't leave
that case IN this condition Every in
stinct that possess cries out against
It. It's wronp-it's all wrong III
swear that it's wrong And yet the
ladys story was, complete, the maids
corroboration was sufficient, the detail
was fairly exact What have / TO put
up against thatp Three wineglasses--
that IL all But II had not taken
things for granted. n had examined
everything with the care which should
have shown had we approached the
case do novo and had no cut and dried
story 10 warp my mind, should l not
then have found something more def
mite 60 20 upon? or course l should.
Sit down on this bench, Watson, until
train for Chiselhurst arrives, and
allow me 90 lay the evidence before
you. imploring you IN the first instance
10 dismiss from your mind the idea
that anything which the maid or her
mistress may have said must neces-
sarIly be true The lady's charming
personality must not be permitted 10
warp our judgment.
surely there are details IN her sto-
~ which, II we looked at In cold blood,
would excite our suspicion, These bur
glars made a considerable haul at BY
denham a fortnight ago. Some account
of them and OF their appearance was
In the papers and would naturally oc-
cur TO any one who wished 10 invent a
story in which imaginary robbers
should play part Az n matter OF
fact, burglars who have done a good
stroke OF business are, as a rule, only
too glad 70 enjoy the proceeds in peace
and quiet without embarklng on anoth
er perilous undertaking. Again, II IA
unusual for burglars 20 operate az 80
early an hour; II is unusual for bur
glars 10 strike a lady TO prevent hei
screaming, since one would imagine
that Was the sure way 20 make heI
scream: II is unusual for them 10 com
nit murder when their numbers are
sufficient 20 overpOwer one man; II Is
unusual for them to be content with d
limited plunder when there was much
more within their reach, and, finally,
should say that il was very unusua
for such men 70 leave bottle bal
empty How do all these UNUSUAL
strike you, NatsonY
Their cumulative effect is certainly
considerable, and yet each OF them b
quite possible ia itself. The most unu
sual thing OF all. as It seems 10 me, q
that the lady should be tied 20 th
chair"
ITO BE continued tomorrow.