Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-06-07

We'll. Watson. what do you think OF
~" asked Holmes. as We Travelled back
next morning.
II can see that you are not satisfied"
"Oh. yes. my dear Watson. I am per-
fcctly satisfied. At the same time, Stan
ley Hopkins methods do no, commend
themselves to me. / am disappointed in
Stanley Hopkins. I had hoped for berter
things from him. One should always look
for a possible alternative. and provide
against It. II is the first rule Of criminal
Investigations"
What. then. IS the alternative"
Tho line OF Investigation which I havs
my-elf been pursuing. II may give US
nothing. ! cannot tel. But at least I
shall follow 1t to tho nd"
Several letters were waiting for Holmes
nj Baker street. He snatched ono OF them
up. opened II. and hurst ont into "a tr.-
uinphant chuckle of laughter.
"EXcellont. watson The alternative do
velops. Have you telegraph forms? JUS.
write a couple Of messages for me: Sum
ner, Shipping Agent. iiatcliff Highway.
send three men on, to arrive ten tomor-
row morning. Rasil.' That's my name In
those parts. Tho other Is. "lnspector
Stanley hopkins. IS. Lord street. Bsixton.
Come breakfast tomorrow at $50. I'M
pnrtanf. Wire II unab." to c~orne.-Sicr-
lock Holmes There. Watson. this in
formal case has haunted me for ten days.
/ hereby Danish 1T completely from my
presence. Tomorrow. | trust, that We
shall hear tho last OF It forever"
Sharp at the hour named Inspector
StanicY Hopkins appeared. and We SAT
down together to the excellent breakfast
which Mrs Hudson had prepared. The
young detective was In high SPIRITS at his
success.
You really think that your solution
must he correct -" asked Holmes.
II could not Imagine IA more complete
case"
"It did not seem to mo conclusive"
you astor.sh me, Mr.. Holmes. What
moro could one ask for"
DOCS you explanation cover every
point"
"Undoubtedlv ! find that young Nell
gan arrived at the Erambletye hotel OIL the
very day of the crime. He came on tho
prctense OF playing golf. His room was
on the ground floor. and he could get out
whom he liked. That very night he went
down to Woodman's Lee. saw Peter Carey
at the hut. quarrcIcd with him. and killed
him withsthe harpoon. Then. Mortified by
what he had done, he fed ont 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 nave observed that some
of them were marked with ticks. and tho
othcrs-tlie great majority-werc not.
Those which are licked have been traced
on the London market. but the others. pro-
suma5ly, were stiIl in the possession OF
Carey. and young Neligan. according to
his own account. was anxious to recover
them in order to do the right thing by his
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 so In order to- obtain the Information
which he kreded. Surely that Is all simple
and obvious?'
Holmes smiled and shook his head.
ut seems to me 10 have only one dra W.
back. Hopkins. and that is that 1t is in
trinsically impossible. Have you tried to
drive n harpoon through n body? No?
Tut. tut. my dear sir. you must really pay
attention to these details. Ny friend
Watson could tel you that L spent a.
whole morning In that exercise. 1t is no
easy matter. ard requires 81 strong and.
practiced arm. SUIT this blow was deliv-
cred with such violence that the head of!
the weapon sank deep into TIE wall. D9.
you imagine that this anaemic youth wa =;
capable of 80 frixhtful an assault? Is hos
the'man who ho.nobbed In ram and water
with Black Peter in tho dead of the night?
Was II his profile that was seen on tho
blind two nights before? NO. no. Hopkins,
1t Is another and more formidable person
for whom we must seek"
The detective face han grown longer
and longer during Holmes. speech. His
y tHthA NHo were III III
bling about him. But h@ would not ADAM
don his position without u struggle.
"Yau can't deny that Neligan was pres
ent that might. MIR. Holmes. The book
will prove that. l fancy that I ha,se evil
dehae enough to satisfy a jury. even IL
yoA are able to pick "a hole in It. Besides.
Mr.. Holmes. I have laid my hard upon
my man. As to this terrible person Of
yours. where Is hep
ct rather fancy that ne Is on the STAIR.
said Holmes. screncly. II thiak, Watt
son. that you would do we'll to- put that
revolver where you can reach It," He
rose and laid a written paper Upon a side
table. Nov we are ready said he.
There had, been some talking in gruR
voices outside. and now Mrs. Hudson
opened the door to say that there were
three men. inQulring for Captain Basil.
Show them in one by one.' said
Holmes.
The first who entered was a little rib
%ston-pippin of a man. with ruddy checks
and funny white side-whiskers. Holmes
had drawn a letter from his pocket.
What name?' he sked.
James Lancaster"
II am sorry. Lancaster. but the berth
Is full. Here Is half q sovereign for your
troublc. Just step into this room. and
wait there for q few minutes"
The second man was n long. dried-up
creature. with lank hair and sallow
checks. His name was Hugh Pattins. He
also received his dismissal. his half-sov-
REIGN, and the order to wait.
The third applicant was a man of re-
markable appearance. A fierce bull dog
face was framed In a tangle OF hair and
beard. and two bold. dark eyes cleaned
behind the cover Of thick, tufted, ~overhunR
eyebrows. He saluted and stood sailor
fashion, turning his cap round In his
hands.
Your name?" asked Holmes.
Patrick Cairns"
"Harpooner?"
Yes siI Twenty-six voyages"
RI "Dundce. ] suppose" .-fs- -
Yes, sir" ~sr,r-~ ,"
"And ready to start with an exploring
sh.p?"
Eyes. STR"
What wagcs?"
Eight pounds a MONTH"
Gould you start at once?"
"As soon as l get my kit"
"Have you your papers,"
Yes. SIR" He took a sheaf OF worn
and greasy forms from his pocket. Holmes
glanced over them and returned them.
Continued Next Week.