The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-03-02
by A. CONAN DOYLE.
Il.-THE ADVENTURE OF THE
NORWOOD RUILDER-contin

n.-IHE ADVENTURE OF THE
i, NORWOOD sUiLDER-continued.
This is where young McFar-
lane must have come out to
get his hat after the crime
was DONE" said he. Now look at this
match, and by its light exposed stain
OF blood upon the whitewashed wall.
As he held the match nearer. 1 saw
that 1t was more than stain. 1t was
the Well marked print of a thumb.
Look at that with your magnifying
glass, Mr.. Holiness"
Yes, l am doing So
You are aware that no two thumb
marks are alike?"
II have heard something of the kind"
We'll, then, will you please compare
that print with this wax impression OF
young McF'arlane's right thumb. taken
by my orders this morning.
AS he held the waxen print close
to the blood stain, 1t did not take II
magnifying glass to see that the two
were undoubtedly from the same
, thumb. 1t was evident to me that our
unfortunate client was lost.
That is final" said I-estrade.
| Yes. that is final" I involuntarily
echoed.
1T is final" said Holmes.
Something in his tone caught my
ear, and turned to look at him. An
extraordinary change had come over his
face. 1t was writhlng with inward mer-
riment. His two eyes We're shining
like stars. 1t seemed to me that he
to restrain convulsive attack of
! laughter.
Dear me! Dear mel" he said at
iast. We'll. now. who would have
thought of 1t? And how deceptive APP
pearances may be, to be sure Such
a nice young man to look at! 1t Is a
lesson to US not to trust our own judg-
ment, is it not. Lestrade?"
Yes. some of us are little too much
inclined to be cocksure. Mr.. Holiness
said Lestrade. The mans insolence
was maddening, but we could not re-
sent 1t.
What a providential thing that this
young man should press his right
thumb against the wall in taking his
hat from the peg! Such very nat
ural action. too, il you come to think
Of it," Holmes was outwardly calm,
but his whole body gave wiggle Of
suppressed excitement as ne spoke. by
the way, Lestrade., who made this re-
markable discovery"
1T was the housekeeper, Mrs. Lex
ington. who drew the night constable's
attention to It,"
Where was the night constable?"
| He remained on guard in the bed
room where the crime was committed.
so as to see that nothing was touched
But why didn't the police see this
mark yesterday"
Well we had no particular reason
to make careful examination Of the
hall. Besides. it's not in Il very PROM
inent place, as you see"
mo, no-of course not. I suppose
there is no doubt that the mark was
there yesterday"
thought he was going out of his mind.
confess that I was myself surprised
| both at his hilarious manner and at
his rather wild observation.
Il don't know whether you think that
MclSarlane came out Of q gaolin the den 4
of night in order to strengthen the evil
dence against himself said Lestrade.
Il leave it to any expert in the world
1 whether that Is not the mark of his
thumb"
SIT is unquestionably the mark of his
| thumb
There, that's enough" said Les
trade. Il am practical man, Mr..
Holmes, and when have got my evil
dence l come to my conclusions. If
you have anything to say, you will
find me writing my report in the Sit
ting ROOM
Holmes had recovered his equanim-
ity, though still seemed to detect
CLEANS of amusement in his express
sion.
Dear me. this is very sad develop
ment. Watson. is 1t not?" said he. And
yet there are singular points about it
which hold out some hopes for our
client"
Il an, delighted to hear it," said I,
/ heartily. II was afraid 1t was all IN
with him."
Il would hardly so SO far as to say
that, my dear Watson. The fact is
that there is one really serious flaw in
this evidence to which our friend at
taches so much Importance
Indeed. Holmes! What is it,,
only this: that I know that that
mark was not there when examined
the hall yesterday And now, Watson,
! let us have little stroll around In the
1 sunshine"
With q confused brain. but with a
heart into which some warmth of hope
was returning. accompanied my
friend In walk around the garden.
turn, and examined 1t with great inter-
est. He then led the way inside, and
went over the whole building from base
ment to attic. Most Of the rooms We're
1 unfurnished. but none the less Holmes
4 inspected them all infinitely. Finally, on
the top corridor, which ran outside
three untenanted bed rooms, he again
was seized with spasm Of merriment.
There are really some very unique
1 features about this case. Watson .
said he. II think 1t is time now. that
A we took our friend Lestrade into our
confidence. He has had his little smile
ut our expense. and perhaps we may
do as much by him, IL my reading OF
this problem proves to be correct Yes
yes. I think see how we should APP
proach IT."
The Scotland Yard inspector was still
writing in the parlor when Holmes in
lterrupted him.
II understood that you were writing
q report Of this caae." said he.
$50 am .ss.
Don't you think it may asllttle pre-.
mature? ] can't help, thinking thai
Iyour evidence 10 not complete.
Lestrade knew my friend too vel
IN H{aroppa 1a 1cS.a