Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1906-08-30
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

but propose to devote my declining
years to the composition of a text book.
which shall focus the whole art of de-
lection into one volume. Our present
research appears TO be Il case of muir
der"
You think this Sir Eustace is dead
then"
Il should say so. Hopkins writing
shows considerable agitation. and he
is not an emotional man. Yes
gather there has been violence, and
that the body is left for our inspection.
n mere suicide would not have caused
him to send for me. AS to the release
of the lady. it would appear that she
has been locked in her room during the
tragedy. We are moving in high life,
Watson. cracking paper. r. b mono-
gram. coat -of-arms, picturesque adj
dress. think that friend Hopkins will
shall have AN interesting morning.
The crime was committed before
twelve last night
How can You possibly tell?''
by an inspection of the trains, and
by reckoning the time The local po-
lice had Ia be called in. they had to
communicate With Scotland Yard. Hop
kins had Ia go out, and he in turn .iad
10 send for me. MI that makes a lair
nights work. Well hero we are at
tChiselhurst station. and we shall soon
set our doubts NJ rest.
\ drive ol IA couple. OF miles through
narrow country lanes brought US to u
; pick gate. which was opened for US by
am old lodge keeper, whose haggard
face bore he reelection of some great
: disaster. Tho avenuS ran through q
noble park between lines of ancient
clns and ended in a low. widespread
house pillared in front after the fash
ion of paladio. The central part WAS
evidently OF great age, and shrouded i'll
ivy. but the large windows showed that
modern changes had been carried ont,
and one Wing of the house Appeared to
he entirely new The youthful figure
and alert eager face of Inspector SEin-
ley Hopkins CONFRONTED us in the open
doorway.
I'm very glad You have come, Mr..
) Holmes. And you toe. DIR. Watson.
; lsut, indeed, if had had my time over
again, should not have troubled YOU.
for since the lady has come to herself,
she has given so clear an account of
the affair that there is not much left
for us To do. You remember that Lew
sllam gang of burglars1'
What. the three Randalls ."
, Exactly, the father and two sons.
Its their work. have not a doubt of
it. They did a job ut Sydenham II fort
night ago. and We're seen and described.
Rather cool to do another so soon and
so near. but ii is they, beyond all
doubt. IT'S hanging matter this
Time"
Sin l.ustace is dead, them"
{ Yes, his head was Knocked in With
9 his own poker
+ Sir I.ustace Bracsenstall, the driver
= tells me-
$ -'I..xactlv--one of the richest men in
: Kent Lady l.rackenstall is in the
: morning room Poor lady. she has had
i q most dreadful experience She
! seemed half dead when saw her first.
: | think YOU had best see her, and hear
her account of the facts Then we Will
h examine the dining room together
9 Lady Erackenstall Was no ordinary
$ person. Seldom haze seen so grace
!. full Il figure, so wolnany Il presence
r and so beautiful q face. She was q
G blonde golden haired. blue eyed and
Il would no doubt have had the perfect
{ compile xon which goes With such color
g ing had moi her recent experience left
% her drawn and haggard. Her suffer-
1t ings WEE physical as We'll as mental
i for over one eye rose a hideous, plum
o coorcd swelling, which her maid, IL tall
u austcre woman. WAS bathing assidu-
L ously with vinegar and water. The
I lady lay back exhausted upon couch
e but her quick, olpSerNant g4Zp, as We
o entered the room. and the alert express
h sion OF her beautiful features, showed
o lnal llellnei nel Wills nor nti courage
III had been shaken by her terrible ex-
a oerience. She WAS enveloped in a loose
% dressing gown of blue and silver, but
" black sequin covered dinner dress WA.
II hung upon he couch beside her.
tc II have told YOU all that happened
ID MIR. Hopkins She said. YEARLY, "coult
If you not repeat it for me? Well, if 20,
N think j; necessary l will ten thes'
r. gentlemen what occurred. Have the,
~ been in The dining room yet
ir II thought they had better hear you
ladyship's story first"
II snail be glad when you can ar
ID range matters. Ii is horrible TO me I,
20 THINK of him still lying there" Sh
shuddercd and buried her face i'm he
hands As she did so the 10 Sc cow
IL fell back from her lorearms IIolme
uttered an exclanation
You have other injuries madam
u What is this" Two vivid ed spot
ld stood out on one of the wlic roun
II limbs. she hastily covered a.
rs III is nothing. II has no connection
ne with tins hlaeous business t0sight.
20 YOU and ,i"ur friend will 81 down.
rs VIII tell YOU all | can.
q Il ana the Wife of Sir l.ustac RraclS
ay enstQli have been narrea about
t year | suppose that it is no use IN
IS. attempting to conceal that our mar
in riage has not been a happy on e. fea
ne that all our nei9hbors woud tell yo
II, that, even If / We're to ATTEMPT to den
&c, it. Perhaps the fault may ne partl
at mine. ! was brought up in he free
ut less conventional atmosphere of Sout
as Australia. and this English life wit
its proprieties and its primness is no
H. "ongenial To me. But the main rea
he son hes in the one fact, VIII h is nc
he torious 10 every one and th;tt is tn;
- Sir Eustace was a confirmed drunkar'
~, To be with such a man for IN hour
unpleasant. Cam you imagine what
-, means for n sensitive and high spirite