The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-03-08


I thought he had not the nerve TO lie
quiet before an alarm OF IRE. We could.
OF course. have gone In and taken him.
hut ~ amused me to make him reveal
himself. besides, i owed you little
mystification. Lestrade. for your chan
"weii. sir. you certainly got equal
with me on that. hut how In the world
did you know that he was In the house
NJ ALL"
said 10 was final: and 80 IL was. In a
very different sense. ! knew IL had
not been there the day before. ! pay .
good deal OF attention to matters OF de-
tall. rs you may have observed. and I
had examined the hall. and was sure
that the wall was clear. Therefore. 10
had been put OF during the night"
"But howg'
Very simply. when those packets
were sealed up. Jonas oldacre got
McFariane TO secure one OF the seals
by putting his thumb upon the soft
wax. IL would be done 80 quickly and
so naturally that dare say the young
man himself has no recollection OF x.
Very likely IL just so happened. and
Oldacre had himself no notion OF the
use he would put u 10. Brooding over
the case In that den Of his. Il suddenly
struck him what absolutely damnlng
evidence he could make against
McFariane by using that thumb mark.
81 was the simplest thing In the world
for him 10 take wax Impression from
tho seal. TO moisten II In AZ much blood
AZ he could get from a pin prick. and
20 put the mark upon the wall during
the night. either with his own hand
cor with that OF his housekeeper. II you
examine among those documents which
he took with him into his retreat. 1
will lay you n wager that you ind the
zeal with the thumb mark upon e."
Wonderful" said Lestrade. Won
derfuli It's all rs clear AZ crystal. as
you put IL. But what Is the object OK
this deep deception. Mr. Holmcsg'
II was amusing TO me to see how the
detectives overbcaring manner had
changed suddenly 10 that OF child
asking questions OF It's teacher.
We'll. don't think that Is very hard
to explain. A very deep. malicious,
who Is now waiting US downstairs.
You know that he was once refused by
McFarlane's mother? You don't? I
told you that you should go TO Black
heath first and Norwood afterwards.
Well. this injury. rs he would consider
Il. has ranked In his wicked. scheming
brain. and all his life he has longed for
vengeance. but never seen his chance.
During the last year or two things
have gone against him-secret specula-
ton, thlnk-and he finds himself In
"A bad way. He determines TO swindle
his :. erf fet.s ard }GE tbs RySESe b
Cornelius. who Is. I imagine. himself
under another name. have not traced
these checks yet. but have no doubt
that they were banked under that nams
at some provincial town where Old
acre from time TO time led a double
existence. lie intended 20 change his
name altogether. draw his money. and
.'anish. starting life again elsewhere"
Vel. !h9rs Asely ,snough.| a.
penring he might throw Pill pursuit of
his track. and at the same time have
an ample and crushing revenge Upon
his old sweetheart. II he could give the
impression that he had been murdered
by her only child. IL was a MASTER
piece of yillainy. and he carried II out
like master. The idea OF the will.
which would give an obvious motive
for the crime, the secret visit unknown
to his own parents, the retention OF
the stick, the blood. gnd The ANIMAL re-
mains and buttons In the wood pile.
NIL were admirable. II was net from
which II seemed to me. n few hours
agu, that there was no possible escape.
Hut he had not that supreme gift OF
the artist. the knowledge OF when TO
stop. He wished 90 improve that
which was already perfect-to draw the
rope tighter yet around the neck OF his
unfortunate vlctim--and so he ruined
all. Let ~ descend. Lestrnde. There
are just one or two questions that
would ask him
The mallgnan; creature was seated
I'm his own parlor with n policeman
upon each side OF him.
III wQs a joke. my good sir--a prac-
teal Joke. nothing more" he whined
necessarily. Il assure you. sir. that
simply concealed myself in order to see
the effect OF my disappearance. and
am sure that you would not be so
unjust ns TO imagine that would have
allowed any harm To befail poor young
McFarlnne."
That's for jury 10 decide" said
Lestrade. Anyhow, We shall have you
on "A charge OF conspiracy, IL not for at
tempted murder
And you'll probably nnc that your
creditors Will impound the banking ac-
count OF Mr.. Cornelius" said Holmes.
The little man started. and turned
his malignant eyes upon my friend.
Il have To- thank you for good
deal" said he. Perhaps I'll pay my
debt some day"
Holmes smiled !rdulgcn'ly.
II fancy that. for SONS. few years. You
will find your time very fully occu-
pied" said he. "lgy the way. what was
IL you put into the wood pile besides
your old trousers? A dead dog. or rab-
bits. or what You won't tell Dear |
me. how very unkind OF you! Well. |
well. dare say that couple OF rabbits /!
would account both for the blood and |
for the charrcd ashes. II you ever |
writ. m account Watson, you can |
make rabbits serve your turn"
(cortinusd Next Week.