The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-03-16
Where are they now?"
In the kitchen, l believe.

LII the Kltcnen, OelleVe.
Then l think we had better hear
their story at once"
The old hall, oak paneled, and high
windowed. had been turned into court
of investigation. Holmes sat in great,
old fashioned chair. his memorable eyes
cleaning out of his haggard face. 1
could read in them a set purpose to de-
vote his life to this quest until the
client Whom he had failed to save
should at last be avenged. The trim
Inspector Martin, the old, grey headed
country doctor, myself, and a stolid
village policeman made up the rest OF
, that strange company.
The two women told their story
clearly enough. They had been aroused
from their Sleep ~ the sound 81 an
explosion. which had been followed q
minute later by a second one They
slept in adjoining rooms and Mrs. King
had rushed in to Saunders. Together
they had descended the stairs. The
door of the study was open. and
candle was burning on the table Their
master lay upon his face in the center
of the room. He was quite dead. Near
the window his wife was crouching, her
head leaning against the wall. She was
horribly wounded, and the side of her
| face was red with blood. She breathed
heavily, but was incapable of saying
anything. The passage. as we'll as the
room, was full of smoke and the smell
of powder. The window was certainly
shut and fastened upon the inside.
Both women We're positive upon the
point. They had at once sent for the
doctor and for the constable. Then,
with the aid of the groom and the
stable bow they had conveyed their
injured mistress to her room, Both she
and her husband had occupied the bed.
She was clad in her dress-he in his
| dressing grown. over his night clothes.
Nothing had been moved in the study.
So far as they knew there had never
been any quarrel between husband
and wife. They had always looked
upon them as very united couple.
These We're the main points of the
servants evidence. In answer to In
spector Martin, they We're clear that
every door was fastened upon the in
side. and that no one could have es-
capped from the house. In answer to
Holmes, they both remembered that
they were conscious, of the smell OF
powder from the moment that they
ran out of the rooms upon the top
floor. Il commend that fact very care
| fully to your attention.. said Holmes
to his professional colleague. And
now think we are in a position to
undertake thorough examination of
the ROOM"
The study proved to be small
chamber. lined on three sides with
books, and with writing table facing
an ordinary window, which looked out
upon the garden. Our first at
tention was given to the
body of the unfortunate squire.
| whose huge frame lay stretched across
the room. His disordered dress showed
/ that he had been hastily aroused from
sleep. The bullet had been fired at him
from the front, and had remained In his
body after penetrating the heart. His
death had certainly been instantaneous
and painless. There was no powder
marking either upon his dressing gown
or on his hands. According to the
country surgeon, the lady had stains
upon her face. but none upon her
hand.