The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-06-01

As le turns out your presence was uunec-
essary. and 1 would have brought the case
to shts successful issue without you, but.
mona the less. I am grateful. Rooms have
been reserved for you at the Brambletys
hotel. SO We can all walk down to the vie
lage together"
We'll. Watson. what do you think Of
ft?" asked Holmes, as we Travelled back
next morning.
Il can see that you are not satisfied"
Oh, yes. my dear Watson, 1 am per-
fectly satisfied. AT the same time, Stan
ley Hopkins methods do not commend
themselves to me. / am disappointed in
Stanley Hopkins. I had hoped for better
things from him. One should always look
for a possible alternative. and provide
against it. 1t Is the first rule OF criminal
investigation"
What. then. is the alternat tive"
The line OF investigation which I have
myself been pursuing. 1t may give US
nothing. 1 cannot tell. But at least I
shall follow 1t to the end"
Several letters were waiting for Holmes
at Baker street. He snatched one of them
up. opened 1t. and burst out into a tri-
umphant chuckle of laughter.
Excellent. Watson. The alternative de-
velops. Have you telegraph forms? Just
write a couple of messages for me: Sum
ner. Shipping Agent, Ratcliff Highway.
Send three men on, to arrive ten tomor-
row morning.-Basil.' That's my name in
those parts. The other is: "lnspector
Stanley Hopkins. As. Lord street. Brixton.
Come breakfast tomorrow at $3.50. Inn
p%ortant. Wire if unable to c~ome.-Sher-
lock Holmes. There. Watson. this in
fernal case has haunted me for ten days.
I hereby Danish 1T completely from my
presence. Tomorrow, 1 trust, that we
shall hear the last of 1t forever
Sharp at the hour named Inspector
Stanley Hopkins appeared. and we sat
down together to the excellent breakfast
which Mrs. Hudson had prepared. Tho
young detective was in high spirits at his
success.
You really think that your solution
must be correct?' asked Holmes.
II could not imagine a more complete
case"
ut did not seem to me conclusive"
You aston.sh me, Mr.. Holmes. What
more could one ask for?"
Does you explanation cover every
point?"
Undoubtedly. j find that young Nell
gan arrived at the Brambletye hotel on the
very day of the crime. He came on the
pretense of playing golf. His room was
on the ground floor. and he could get out
when he liked. That very night he went
down to Woodlands Lee. saw Peter Carey
at the hut. quarreled with him. and killed
him with the harpoon. Then. Mortified by
what he had done, he fed out OF the hut.
dropping the notebook which he had
brought with him in order to question
Peter Carey about these different securi-
ties. You may have observed that some
Of them were marked with ticks. and tho
others-the great majority-were not.
Those which are ticked have been traced
on the London market but the others, pre-
sumably, were still in the possession of
Carey. and young Neligan, according to
his own account, was anxious to recover
than In .nrdnr RI do %1,A y{~Ik %l,Y,,- -. n
fathers creditors. After his flight he did
not dare to approach the hut again for
some time. but at last he forced himself
to do 80 in order to obtain the information
which he needed. Surely that is all simple
and obvious?"
Holmes smiled and shook his head.
"It seems to me to have only one draw
back. Hopkins, and that Is that it is in
trinsically impossible. Have you tried to
drive a harpoon through a body? No?
Tut. tut, my dear sir, you must really pay
attention to these details. My friend
Watson could tell you that 1 spent a
whole morning In that exercise. 1t is no
easy matter, and requires a strong and
practiced arm. But this blow was deliv-
cred with such violence that the head of
the weapon sank deep into the wall. Do
you imagine that this anaemic youth was
capable of 30 frightful an assault? Is HI
the IMAM who %hobnobbed in rum and water
with Black Peter in the dead of the night?
Was 1t his profile that was seen on the
blind two nights before? No, no, Hopkins,
1t Is another and more formidable person
for whom we must seek"
The detectives face had grown longer
and longer during Holmes speech. His
hopes and his ambitions were all crum-
bling about him. But he would not aban-
don his position without a struggle.
You can't deny that Neligan was pres
ent that night. Mr.. Holmes. The book
will prove that. l fancy that I nave evil
dence enough to satisfy a Jury, even IL
you are able to pick a hole in 1t. Besides.
Mr.. Holmes. I nave laid my hand upon
my man. a. to this terrible person of
yours. where Is hep
II rather fancy that he Is on the STAIR
said Holmes, screnely. ~ think, Wat
son. that you would do well to put that
revolver where you can reach it, He
rose and laid a written paper upon a side
table Now we are ready" said he.
There had been some talking In gruff
voices outside. and now Mrs. Hudson
opened the door to say that there were
three men inqu.ring for Captain Basil.
Show them in one by one," said
Holmes.
Tn nrst who entered was a little rib
%ston-pippin OF a man. with ruddy checks
and fluffy white s~ide-whiskers. Holmes
had drawnpa letter from his pocket.
What name?" he asked.
James Lancaster"
II am sorry. Lancaster, but the berth
Is full. Here is half a sovereign for your
rouble Just step into this room, and
there for a few minutes" v
The second man was along, dried-up
creature, with Ian hair and sallow
checks. His name was Hugh Pattins. He
also received his dismissal, his half-sov-
reeign, and the order to wait.
The third applicant was a mar OF re-
markable appearance. A fierce bull dog
face was framed in a tangle of hair and
beard. n two bold. lark eyes cleaned
behind the cover Of thick, tufted, overhunE
eyebrows. He saluted and stood sailor
fashion. turning his cap round in his
hands.
Your nance" asked Holmes.
Patrick Cairns"
"Harpooner?'
Yes sir. Twenty-six voyages" ~
Dundee, I suppose?"
'Yes, SIR" I'd
sh.p?"
Eyes, SIR" Tu
What wages?"
Eight pounds a month"