The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-09-07
xil-THE ADVENTURE OF THE
ABBEY GRAMGE.-Continued.

AIi-IHE ADVENTURE OF THE
ABBEY GRAMGE.-Continued.
The keen interest had passed out o
Holmes expressive face, II 1 knew
mat With the mystery all the charm o.
The case had departed. There still re-
manned an arrest to be effected, but
what were these commonplace rogues
h a he should soil his hands with
them? An abstruse and learned spe-
clalist. who n d that he has beer
called in for a case of measles would
experience something of the annoyance
which l read in my friends eye. Yet
the scene in the dining room of the
Abbey Grange was sufficiently strange
10 arrest his attention and to recall
his waning interest.
1t was a very large M high cham
Der, with carved oak ceiling, oaken
panelling, n a fine array of deer's
heads and ancient weapons around the
walls. At the further end from the
door was the high, French window of
which we had heard. Three smaller
windows on the right-hand side filled
the apartment with cold winter SUM-
shine. On the left was a large, deep
fireplace, with a massive, overhanging
oak mantelpiece. Beside the fireplace
was a heavy oaken chair with arms
and c~rossbars at the bottom. In and
out through h open woodwork was
woven a crimson cord. which was Sc
cured at each side to the crosspiece
below. In releasing the lady, the cord
a been slipped off her, but the knots
with which it had been secured still
remained. These details only struck
U attention afterwards, for our
thoughts were entirely absorbed by the
terrible object which lay upon the tiger
skin hearth rug in front of the fire.
1t was the body of a tall, we'll made
man. about 40 years of age. He lay
upon his back. his face upturned. with
MS white teeth grinning through his
short. black beard. His two clenched
hands we're raised above his head, and
a heavy. blackthorn stick lay across
them. His dark, handsome. aquiline
features were convulsed into a spasm
OF vfndictfve hatred, which had set his
dead face in a terribly fiendfsh express
sion. He had evidently been In his
bed when the alarm had broken out.
81 he wore a fopptsh. embroidered
night shirt, and his bare feet projected
from his trousers. His head was nor
ribly injured, and the whole room bore
witness to the savage ferocity of the
blow which had struck him down. Be
Side him lay the heavy poker. bent in
to a curve by the concussion. Holmes
examined both 1t and the indescribable
wreck which it had wrought.
must be a powerful man, this
elder Randall" he remarked.
Yes" said Hopkins. "I have some
record OF the fellow. and he is a rough
customer"
sYou should have no difficulty in get
ting him."
NO the slightest. We have beer on
some idea that he had got away to
Now that we know that the
gang are here, 1 don't see how they
CAN escape. We have the news at ev-
cry seaport already, and a reward will
be offered before evening. What beats
a thing, knowing that the lady
o describe them. and that we could
not fail to recognize the description"
Exactly. One would have expected
that they would nave silenced Lady
as we'll"
They nay not have realized" 1 sug-
gested, that she had recovered from
her faint"
That is likely enough. If she seemed
to be senseiess, they would not take
her life What about tins poor fellow,
Hopkins? I seen to have heard some
queer stories about him."
He was a good-hearted rcan when
ne was sober, but a perfect flend when
he was drunk, or rather when he was
half drunk. for he seldom really vent
the whole way. The devil seemed to
in him at such times, and he was
aapabie of anything. From what I|
-'ear. in spite OF all his wealth and his
etfis.f hasevery nearly came our way
OF twice. There was a scandal
aenm and setting 1t on fre-her lady
ships dog, to make the matter worse
and that was only hushed up with
difficulty. Then ne threw a decanter
at that maid, Theresa Wright, there
trouble about that. On the whole.
and between ourselves, it will be a
brighter house without him. What are
you looking at now?"
Holmes was down on his knees, ex-
aTnintng with great attention the knots
upon the red cord with which the lady
had been secured. Then he carefully
serutinized the broken and frayed end
where 1t had snapped off when the
burglar had dragged it down.
when this was pulled down, the bell
In n kitchen must nave rung loudly"
remarked.
mo one could hear it. The kitchen
stands rigilt at the back Of the house."
How did the burglar know no one
could hear 1t How dared he pull at
= bell rope IN that reckless fashion?"
Exactly, Mr.. Holmes, exactly. You
put the very question which l have
asked myself again and again. There
a be no doubt that this fellow must
have known the house and its habits.
SN& AIANA'1 IL dlluGISlOOu
that the servants would all be in bed
tt that comparatively early hour. and
that no one could possibly hear a bell
ring in the kitchen. Therefore, he
must have been in close league with
one CT the servants. Surely that is evil
dent But there are eight servants.
aud all of good character"
"Otker things being equal" said
Holmes, zone would suspect the one
whose head the master threw a
idecnnter. And yet that would involve
treachery towards the mistress to
this woman seems devoted. Well.
well, the point is a minor one, and
you have Randall you will prob
ably find no difficulty in securing his
The lady's story certain
ly seems to be corroborated, il it need
I'd confederation, by every detail which
see before u.s." He walked to the
French window and threw it open.
There are no signs here, but the
ground Is iron hard, and one would
not expect them. / see that these can
dies in h mantelpiece have been
lighted"
Yes. it was by their light, and that
Of the lady's bed room candle, that the
burglars cav their way about"
"And what did they take?"