The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-03-01

two or which had been onened Dy inc
police. They were not. 30 far as i could
Judge. OF any great value, nor did the
bank book show that Mr.. oldacre was
in such very affiuent circumstances.
But ~ seemed To me that all the papers
were not there. There were illusions
to some deeds-possibiy more valuable
which I could not find. This. OF
course. II we could definitely prove II.
would turn Lestrade's argument
against himself. for who would steal
a thing AZ he knew that he would
shortly Inherit Il?
Finally. having drawn every ether
cover and picked up no scent. I tried
my luck with the housekeeper. Mrs.
Lexington II her name--a little. dark.
kflient person. with suspicious and side
long eyes. She could tell us something
(! she would am convinced OF IL.
But she was as close as wax. Yes.
she had let Mr.. McFarlane In ut half
past nine. She wished her hand had
wlthercd before she had done so. She
had gone 10 bed ut half-pnst ten. Her
room was at the other end OF the house.
and she could hear nothing OF what
passed. Mr.. McFariane had left his
hat. and TO the best OF her belief. his
stick In the hall. She had been awnk-
ened BY the alarm OF fire. Her poor.
dear master had certainly been muir
dcred. Had he any enemies? Well.
every man had enemies. but Mr.. Old
acre kept himself very much To him
self. and only met people in the way
OF business. She had seen the buttons.
and was sure that they belonged To
the clothes which he had worn last
night The wood pile was very dry.
for ~ had not rnined for a month. IL
burned like finder. and by the time
she reached the spot, nothing could be
seen but flames. She and all the IRE
men smelled the burned flesh from In
side IL. She knew nothing OF the
papers. nor OF MIR. Oldncre's private
Affairs.
so. my dear Watson. there's the
report OF "A failure. And yct-and yet"
--hc clenched his thin hands In par"
oxysm OF conviction Il know It's Nil
wrong. I feel II In my bones. There IL
something that has not come out. and
that housekeeper knows II. There was
a sort OF sulky defiance In her eyes.
which only goes with guilty knowledge.
However. there's no good talking any
more about IL. Watson: but unless
some lucky chance comes our way
fear that the Norwood disappearance
! case will not figure I'm that chronicle
OF our successes which I foresee that
n patient rublic Will sooner or later
have Co endure"
surely" said I the mans appear
ancc would 20 far with any jury
THAT IL n dangerous argument. my
dear Watson. You remember that
terrible murderer. Bert Stevens. who
wanted us TO get him on In 81? Was
there ever n more mild hammered. Sun
| day school young man.
1T Is true
Unless We succeed iE establishing
an alternative theory this man In lost.
You can hardly md flaw In the case
\ u.h rnn nnu he r1regented AGAINST
| him. and all further investigation has
| served TO strengthen II. BY the way,
there II one curious little point about
| those papers which may serve Us as the
| starting point for an inquiry. On look
| ing over the bank book i found that
the low state OF the balance was prin"
| cipaily due To- large checks which nave
/ been made out during the last year
| to Mr.. Cornelius. I confess that l
should be- interested to know who this
| Mr.. Cornelius may be with whom a
retired builder has such very large
| transactions. II IL possible that he has
| had "a hand In the affair? Cornelius
might be broker but We have found
| no scrip to correspond with these large
payments. Failing any other indica-
! ton my researches must now take the
| direction OF AN inquiry at the bank Tor
the gentleman who has cashed these
checks. But I fear. my dear fellow.
that our case will end ingloriously by
Lestrade hanging our client, which viii
| certainly be triumph for Scotland
| Yard"
do not know how far Sherlock
Holmes took any sleep that night, but
| when I came down TO breakfast 1 found
him pale and harassed, his bright eyes
the brighter for the dark shadows
round them. The carpet round his
| chair WAS Uttered with cigarette ends
and with the early editions OF the
morning papers. An open telegram
lay on the table.
what do you think OF this. Wat
SON." he ask ed. tossing n across.
II was from Norwood. and ran as
follows.
important fresh evidence 10 hand
McFarIane's guilt definitely estab-
lished. Advise you TO abandon case
| Lestrade."
This sounds serious" said l.
1T In Lestrade's little cock-a- doodls
OF victory" Holmes answered. with q
bitter smile. And yet II may be pre-
mature TO abandon the case. After all
important fresh evidence In tive
edged thing. and may possibly cut II
very different direction TO that which
LeStrade imagines. Take your break
fast. Watson. and we will 60 out togeth-
or and see what we can do. feel rs IL
shall need your company and mora
support today"
Ny friend had no breakfast himself
for IL was one OF his peculiarities thai
In his more intense moments he woulc
permit himself no food. and hav,
known him To presume upon his iroT
strength until he has tainted from pur'
hamilton. AT present l cannot spar
energy and nerve force for digestion.
he would say in answer To- my medlca
remorstrances. | was not surprised
therefore. when this morning he lef
his untouched meal behind him. anC
started with me for Norwood. n GROVE
OF morbid Hightsecrs were still gath
cred around Deep Denc house, which
was just such "A suburban villa ns
had pictured. within the gates Les
trade met us. his face flushed will
victory. his manner grossly triumph
, | ant.
: We'll. Mr.. Holmes. have you proves
us to be wrong yeti Have you foun,
your tramp" he cried.
Il have formed no conclusion what
ever" my companion answered.
But we formed ours yesterday. an
now IL proves To be correct. 40 yot
- a. a.