The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-05-26

derful. It's al a5 Gear rs crystal as
you PET it. z That is the o5ject Of
th.s deep deception, Nr. Holmes:"
1t was amusii% 70 me 10 see how the
detectives owe caring manner hal
G.: le.l sudGe.. TO that OF a child
as1i:.; qucstio. |, its teache
We: dou't think that is very hard
to a. IN. A yery doep, malicious,
viE,.ir,ive person is the gentleman who
is now waiting us downstairs. You
kno"r tat lie was once refused by Me
Farlane's mother? You don't. told
you iaat YEA should So % Blackheath
first ana Norwood afterward. Well,
this in II, as he would consider ii,
has raI...c in bis wicked. schemlng
brain. and e Il his life he has longed for
vengeance. but never seen his chance.
During the last year or two things have
gone against him-secret S SPECULATION, l
think-and he finds himself IN bad
way. He determines to swindle his
creditors, and for this purpose he pays
large checks to a certain Mr.. Corne Jus,
who is, | imagine. himself under an
other name. | have not traced these
checks yet. but | have no doubt that
they were banked under that name at
some provincial town, where Oldacre
from time to time led double exist
ence. lie Intended to change his name
altogether. draw his moneJ and van
ish, starting life again elsewhere"
We'll. that's likely enough
ut would strike him that in disap-
pearing he might throw all pursuit of
his track and at the same time have an
ample and crushing revenge upon his
old sweetheart if he could give the i'm
preston that he had been murdered by
her only child. it was masterpiece of
villainy, and he carried it out like a
master. The idea of the will, which
would give an obvious motive for the
crime. the secret visit unknown TO his
own parents. the retention of the stick.
the blood ana the animal remains aud
buttons in the wood pile-all were adj
mirable Ii was net from which it
seemed to NE, a few hours ago. thar
there was no possible escape But he
had not thar supreme gift of the art;st
the knowledge of VIII II to stop. He
wished to Improve that which was al
ready perfect to draw the rope tighter
yet round lie neck OF his unfortunate
victim-and so he ruined all Let us
descend, Lestrade. There are just one
or two q;INstionS that | would ask
him."
The malignant creature was seated
in his own parlor with policeman
upon each side of him.
ut was joke, my good sir-a prac-
teal joke, nothing more" he whined
necessarily. II assure you, sir, that l
simply concealed myself in order to
see the effect of my disappearance, and
l am sure that you would not be 80
unjust as to imagine that would have
allowed any harm to befall poor young
Mr.. McFarlane."
"That's for jury to decide said
Lestrade. Anyhow, we shall have
you on charge of conspiracy, if not
for attempted MURDER
"And you'll probably find that your
creditors will impound the banking ac-
count of Mr.. Cornelius" said Holmes.
The little man started and turned his
malignant eyes upon my friend.
II have to thank you for good
deal" said he Perhaps I'll pay my
debt some day"
IToIn,oc g,,;Io1 ;nJ,,InoptIv
81 fancy that for some few years
you will find your time very fully oc-
cupiel" said he. by the way, what
was it you put into the wood pile be-
sides your old trousers? A dead dog,
or rabbits, or what? You won't tell?
Dear me, how very unkind Of you!
Well. well, dare say that a couple of
rabbits would account both for the
blood and for the charred ashes. If
ever you write an account, Watson,
you can make rabbits serve your
turn"