The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-02-22

his shoulder I caught n glimpse OF one
''Mr. John Hector McFarlane? said
Lestrade.
our unfortunate client rose with n
CHASTITY face.
Il arrest you for the wilful murder
Of Mr.. Jonas oldacre. OF Lower Nor
wood
McFariane turned to us with a ges-
ture OF despair. and sank into his chair
once more like one who In crushed.
"One moment. Lestrade." said
Holmes. Half nm hour more or less
can make no difference TO you. and the
gentleman was about 20 give M. A ac-
count OF this very interesting n 6airs
which might aid US In ciearipl. II up"
II think there will be no dffncalty In
clearing 10 up" sald LeatrAde. .grimly.
None the less. with youf permission.
] should be much interested 10 hear
his account"
We'll. Mr.. Holmes. Il In dificuit for
me to refuse you anything. for you
have been OF use 10 the force once or
twice In the past. and we owe you q
good turn at Scotland Yard" said Les
nsis ~sss 'ns . ;sps S snS S'i am
bound 20 warn him that anything he
may say viii appear In evidence
against him."
II wish nothing better" said our
client. IAN I ask In that you should
hear and recognize the absolute truth
Lestrade looked ne his watch. TIL
give you half an hour" said he.
Il must explain first" said McFar-
Oldncrr. Hts name was familiar TO
me. for many years ago my parents
were acquainted with him. but they
drifted apart. I was very much sur
prised. therefore. when yesterday,
about three o'clock In the afternoon.
he walked into my once In the city.
But I was still more astonished when
he told me the object OF his visit He
had In his hand several sheets of O
note book. covered with scrubbed writ
ing-here they are-and he laid them
on my table.
Here In my will said he. 7 want
you. Mr.. McFarlane. TO cast 10 into
proper legal shape. I viii sit here
while you do So
can imagine my establishment when I
found that. with some reservations, he
had left all his property TO me. He
was n strange little ferret like man.
with white eyelashes. and when
looked up at him I found his keen.
grey eyes fixed upon me with an
amused expression. I could hardly be-
i've MY oNu btflHes ~ u FeNu TIE terfns
or the VIII. but he explained that he
was "A bachelor with hardly my living
relation. that he had known my par
ents in his youth. and that he had al
ways heard OF me as very deserving
young man. and was assured that his
money would be In worthy hands. OF
course. could only stammer out my
thanks. The will was duly finished.
signed and witnessed by my clerk.
This In IL OF the blue paper. and these
slips. rs ! have explained. are the rough
draft. Mr.. Jonas Oidacre then In
formed me that there were a number
OF documents-buiiding leases. title
deeds. mortgages. scrip and so forth
which II was necessary that I should
see and understand. He said that his
mind would not be easy until the whole
thing was settled. and he begged me
to come out 10 his house at Norwood
that night, bringing the will with me.
and 20 arrange matters. Remember.
my boy. not one word to your parents
about the AFFAIR until everything Is
Tettled. We will keep IL as n little
surprise for them He was very In
sistent upon this point. and made me
promise IL faithfully.
You can imagine. Mr.. Holmes. that
was not In "A humor TO refuse him
anything that he might ask. He was
my benefactor. and all my desire was
TO carry out his wishes In every par
ticular. l sent "A telegram home. there
fore. TO say that had important bust
ness on hand, and that IL was impos-
sible for me TO say how late I might
be. Mr.. Oldacre had told me that he
would like me 20 have supper with
him at nine. as he might not be home
before that hour. ! had some dim
Guilty In finding his house. however. and
IL was nearly half-past before
reached IL. found him
One moment" said Holmea "Whs
opened the door 90
a middle aged woman. who was.
suppose. his housekeeper."
And I, was she. ! presume. who
mentioned your Eamer'
Exactly" said McFarlane.
Pray proceed"
McFarian. wiped his damp brow. and
then continued his narrative.
Il was shown by this woman into a
sitting room. where n frugal supper
was laid out. Afterwards. Mr.. Jonas
Oldacre led me into his bed room. In
which there stood a heavy safe. This
he opened and took out a mass OF docu-
ments. which we went over together
II vas between eleven and twelve
when We finished. He remarked that
we must not disturb the housekeeper
He showed me out through his own
freuCu NlnuO", WHICH nhi oStu Optn
all the time"
was the blind down. asked
| Holmes.
II will not be sure. but believe tina,
Il vas only half down. Yes. I rcmem-
Der how he pulled ~ up In order "a
swing open the window. I could no,
ind my stick. and he said. Never
mind. my boy. I shall see a good deal
/ OF you now. I hope. and I will KEEP
your stick until you come back again
TO claim IT, left him there. the safe
| open. and the papers made up IN
| packets upon the table. IL Was 90
late that I could not get back TO Black
heath. so / spent the night At the An
eriey Arms. and I knew nothing mors
until I read of this horrible AFFAIR In
the morning"
Anything more that you would like
to ask. Mr.. Holiness" said Lestrade
whose eyebrows had gone up once oil
twice during this remarkable explana-
| ton.
Not until have been to Black.
heath"
You mean to Norwood" said Les.
| trade.
"Oh. ycs. no doubt that In what
| must have meant" said Holmes with
his enlgmaticai smile. Lestrade had
learned by more experiences than n,
| would care Co acknowledge that thai
razor-like brain could cut through thai
which was impenetrable TO him. saw
him look curiously at my compan.
ION.
Il think should like to have a wort