Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-27

9Ssg t < l. 4s study window. eGQ VI n an excIamaf16n n6 VI apDcg ] The fiowers were t1ampIod 6oWn 1 the soft coll was imprinted III eYoR with foctmarks. Large. mascul5no 1oce they were, with peculiarly Ioog snA1p toes. Holmes hunted about amoug tAe grass and leaves like retriever afe1r wounded bird. Then. with cFy ekI satisfaction, he bent forward and pecs ed up little brazen cylinder. T thought 90" said he. ~Iho ro.S volver had an ejector, and bere II the third cartridge. I really think, In spector Martin, that our case is almost complete"
 The country inspectors facs had shown hIs intense amazement at tho rapid and nasterful progress of Holmef investigation. At first he had sh0wp some disposition to assert his own poai- tion, but now be was overcome with admiration and ready to follow with out question wherever Holmes led. Whom do you suspect? 2" he asked. "I'll go into that later. There &fe several points In this problem which I have not been able to explain to yo0 yet. Now tat have got 70 far had b4st proceed on my own lines and then clear the whole matter up onco and for all"
 Just as you wish, Mr. Holmes. so long as we get our man" T have no desire to make mysteries, but 1t is impossible at the moment of action to enter into long and complex explanations. I have the threads of this affair all :n my hand. Even if this lady should never recover con- sciousness we can still reconstruct the events of lost night and insure that justice be done. First of all, wish to know whether there is any inn in this neighborhood known as Elrige'sy
 The servants were cross questioned, but none of them had heard of such . place. The stable boy threw light up- on the matter by remembering that . farmer of that name lived some miles of in the direction of East Ruston.
 'Ts It lonely farm"
 "very lonely. sir"
 Perhaps they have not heard yet of all that happened here during tho nghtT'
 Maybe not, sir"
 Holmes thought for a little, and then curious smile played over his face.
 Saddle horse. my lad" said hs. T shall wish you to take q note to El- rige's farm"
 He took from hIs pocket the various slips of the dancing men. With these in front of him he worked for some time at the study table Finally he handed a note to the boy. with directions to put 1t into the hands of the person to whom it was addressed, and especially to answer no questions of any sort which might be put to him. saw the outside of the note. addressed in sras- gling. irregular characters, very unlike Holmes usual precise hand. It waA consigned to MT. Abe Slaney. Elrige's . farm, East Ruston, Norfolk.
 "I think, inspector" Holmes remark ed, that you would do well to tele- graph for an escort. as, if my calcula- tions prove to be correct, you may havo a particularly dangerous prisoner 10 convey to the county Jail. The boy who takes this note could no doubt foF. ward your telegram. If there is an aft . ernoon train to town, Watson, think we should do well to take ft, as I have . chemical analysis of some interest to finish, and this investigation draws rap ly to close"
 When the youth had been dispatched with the note. Sherlock Holmes gnye his instructions to the servants. If any 2 visitor were to call, askfng for Ns. i. Hilton Cubitf. no Information shouId i. be given as to her condition. but he was to be shown at once Into the drawing room. He impressed these points upoa them with the utmost earnestneaA Finally he led the way into the draw. ing room, with the remark fhat tho business was now out of our hands and that we must while away the t1me ae < best we might until we could eee Waa3 was in store for us. The doctor had c. i parted to his patients, and only ths h. spector and myself remained.
 ''I think that I can help you to DaGo an hour in an interesting and pgu0t- able manner" said Holmss. drawsng his chair up to the table and sprsading out in front of him the various papsgy upon which were recorded the antj0 of the dancing men. "As to you. friend