The San Francisco call., 1905-03-19

Norwich has just passed through. But
maybe you are the surgeons. She's
not dead-or wasn't by last accounts
You may be in time to- save her yet
though it be for the gallows.
Holmes brow was dark with anxiety.
I'VE are going to Riding Thorpe
nothing of what has passed there"
It's a terrible business" said the
station-master. They are shot, both
Mr. Hilton Cubitt and his wife. She
shot him and then herself-so the SER
wants say. He's dead and her life is
despaired of. Dear. dear, one of the
oldest families in the County of Nor
folk, and one of the most honored."
Without word Holmes hurried to a
carriage and during the long seven
miles drive he never opened his mouth.
Seldom have 1 seen him so utterly de-
spondent. He had been uneasy during
all our journey from town and L had
observed that he had turned over the
morning papers with anxious attep-
ton, but now this sudden realization
of his worst fears left him in blank
speculation. Yet there was much
around TO interest Us, ror we were
passing through as singular country-
side as any in England, where few
scattered cottages represented the pop
ulation of to-day, while on every hand
enormous square-towered churches
bristled up from the fiat, green land
Scape and told of the glory and pros
perity Of old East Anglia At last the
violet rim ,of the German Ocean ap-
,peared over the green. edge Of the Nor
folk coast, and the driver. pointed with
his whip to two old brick and timber
gables which projected from a grove
fof trees. That's Riding Thorpe Man
or" said he.
4 AS we idroSe'up to the porticoed front
door, 1 observed in front of it, beside
the tennis slawn, the black .tool-house
and the pedestaled sundial with which
we had such strange associations. A
dapper little man, with a quick, alert
manner and waxed mustache had
just descended from a high dog cart.
He introduced himself as Inspector
Martin of the Norfolk ConstabuIary,
and he was considerably astonished
when he heard the name Of my COM
panlUn.
Why, Mr.. Holmes, the crime was
How could you hear of it in Lcndon
and get to the spot as soon as I?''
4 anticipated il. 1 came in the hope
Of preventing it."
Then you must have important evil
dence. Of which we are ignorant, for
they were said to be most united
couple"
II have only the evidence of the
dancing men," said Holmes. II will
explain the matter to you later. Mean
while, since il is too late TO prevent
this tragedy, 1 am very anxious that
should use the. knowledge which I pos
sesS in order to insure that justice be
done Will you associate me in your
investigation or will you prefer that
! should act Independently?
u should be proud to feel that we
were acting together, Mr.. Holmes"
said the inspector earnestly.
In that case should be glad to
hear the evidence and to examine the
premises without an instant OF unnec-
essary delay"
Inspector Martin had the good sense
to allow my friend to do things in his
own fashion, and contented himself
with carefully noting the results. The
local surgeon, an old, white-haired
man, had just come down from Mrs.
Hilton Cubitt's room. and he reported
that her injuries were serious but not
necessarily fatal The bullet had
passed through the front of her brain,
and it would probably be some time
before she could regain consciousness.
On the question Of whether she had
been shot or had shot herself he would
not venture to express any decided
opinion. Certainly the bullet had been
discharged at very close quarters.
There was only the one pistol found
in the room. two barrels Of which had
been emptied. Mr.. Hilton Cubitt had
been shot through the heart. 1t was
equally conceivable that he had shot
her and then himself. or that she had
been the criminal. for the revolver lay
upon the floor midway between them
he V1,NryoH pa
Holmes.
I'VE have moved nothing except the
lady. We could not leave her lying
wounded upon the floor
How long have you been here, doc
tor?"
Since 4 o'clock
ANY one else?"
Yes, the Constable here"
And you touched nothing?"
Nothing"
You have acted with great discre-
ton. Who sent for you?''
The houSemaid, Saunders
Was it she who gave the alarm?"
She and Mrs. King. the cook"
Where are they now?"
In the kitchen, I believe"
Then think we had better hear
their story at once"
The old hall, oak paneled and high
windowed, had been turned into a
court of investigation. Holmes sat in
a great, old fashioned chair, his in
exorable eyes cleaning out of his
haggard face. l could read in them
a set purpose to devote his life to this
quest until the client whom he had
failed to save should at least be
avenged. The trim Inspector Martin,
the DID, gray-headed country doctor.
myself and stolid village policeman
made up the rest of that strange COM
pany.
The two women told their story
clearly enough. They had been
aroused from their sleep by the sound
of an explosion. which had been fol-
lowed a minute later by second one.
They slept in adjoining rooms and
Mrs. King had rushed in to Saunders.
Together they had descended the