Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-08-25
The Adventure OF
the Dancing Men
No. 3 of the serie.

Il have nothing more to say, Mr..
Holmes, except that ! was angry with
my wife that night for having held me
back when might have caught the
skulking rascal. She said that she
feared that might come to harm. For
an instant it had crossed my mind that
perhaps what she really feared was
that he might come to harm, for could
pot doubt that she knew who this man
vas and what he meant by these
strange signals. But there Is tone IN
my wife's voice, Mr.. Holmes, and a
look in her eyes which forbid doubt,
and I am sure that it was indeed my
own safety that was in her mind.
There's the whole case, and now I
want your advice as to what / ought
to do. My own inclination is to put
half dozen Of my. farm lads IN the
shrubbery and when this fellow comes
again to give him such q hiding that
be will leave Us in peace for the fu-
lure"
II fear it is too deep case for such
simple remedies" said Holmes. "How
ASAS SoA w Skay Al A<OAoOhs
II must go back today. would not
leave my wife alone at night for any
thing She is very nervous and begged
me to come back"
IT dare say you are right But IL you
could have STOPPED I might possibly
have been able to return with you in a
day or two. Meanwhile you will leave
me these papers, and think that 1t Is
very likely that ! shall be able to pay
YOU Q visit shortly and to throw some
Hight upon your case"
Sherlock Holmes preserved his calm
professional manner until our visitor
had left US, although 1t was easy for
z me, who knew him SO well, to see that
be was profoundly excited. The mo.
ment that Hilton 'Cubitt's broad back
had lisapneared through the door my
Somrade rushed to the table. laid out
Pill the slips Of paper containing dane
Ing men in front of him and threw him-
Pelf into an iptrieate and elaborate cal
culation; For two hours watched him
as he covered sheet after sheet of paper
with figures and letters, so completely
absorbed in his task that he had EVIL
IDENTITY forgotten my presence. Some
times he was making progress and
whistled and sang at his work. Some
times he was puzzled and would sit for
long spells with furrowed brow and
a vacant eye. Finally be sppang from
bis chair With a. cry Of satisfaction and
Malked up and down the room rubbing
bis hands together. Then he wrote a
dong telegram Npop a cable form. "If
nF answer to this Is as hope, you will
have very pretty case to add to your
collection, Watson" said he, " expect
that we shall be able to go down to
Norfolk tomorrow and to take our
Friend some very definite news az to
khe secret Of his annoyance"
I confess that was filed with curl
psity, tsut was aware that Holmes
liked 70 make his disclosures at his OWL
time and In his own way, so I waited
Until itshould suit him to take me into
his confidence.
i. But there was a delay in that an.
everinS telegram, and two days OF
Anpatience followed, during which
Holmes pricked up his ears at every
ring Of the bell. On the evening Of the
second there came letter from Hilton
Subttt. All was quiet with him, save
that q long inscription had appeared
that morning upon the pedestal of the
tmd1al He inclosed q copy Of II, which
y hs,S reproduced: