Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-01-16
The Adventure of
the Abbey Grange
No. IL of the Series

No. IL of the Series
tc'"iss'' 1906 >, 4 &C., cs.ar Doyle and cel''s''
(cotyrixhf, 1905, BY Mcclure, Philliss . CO..
Eyes, Mr.. Holmes. The Randall gang
were arrested in New York this morn
ing"
Dear me, Hopkins, that is certainly
rather against your theory that they
committed murder In Kent last
night"
ut is fatal, Mr.. Holmes-absolutely
fatal. Still there are other gangs of
three besides the Randalls, or it NAV
be some new gang Of which the police
have never heard"
"Quite SO. 1t is perfectly possible.
What, are you OFF,
Eyes, Mr.. Holmes. There is no rest
for me until have got to the bottom
OF the business. I suppose you have
no hint to give me2'
Il have given you one"
9Which?"
swell, suggested blind"
"But why, Mr.. Holmes-why?
"Ah, that's the question, of course.
But I commend the idea to your
mind. You might possibly find that
there was something in it. You won't
stop for dinner? Well, goodby, and
let us know how you get on"
Dinner was over and the table clear
ed before Holmes alluded to the matter
again. He had lit his pipe and held his
slippered feet to the cheerful blaze of
the fire. Suddenly he looked at his
| watch.
II expect developments, Watson"
"When?
"Now-within a few minutes. dare
say you thought acted rather badly
to Stanley Hopkins just now"
II trust your judgment"
"a very sensible reply, Watson. You
must look at 1t this way: What know
is unofficial; what he knows is official.
l have the right to private judgment,
but he has none. He must disclose all
or he is traitor to his service. In a
doubtful case would not put him in
so painful position, and SO reserve
my information until my own mind is
clear upon the matter"
"But when will that bef'
1.-THE time has come. You will now
be present at the last scene Of re-
markable little drama"
There was sound upon the stairs,
and our door was opened to admit as
fine specimen Of manhood as ever
passed through it. He was very tall
young man, golden mustached, blue
eyed, with skin which had been burn.
ed by tropical suns, and springy step
which showed that the huge frame was
as active as 1t was strong. He closed
the door behind him, and then he stood
with clinched hands and heaving
breast, choking down some overmaster.
ing emotion.
"Sit down, Captain Croker. You
got my telegram
| Our visitor sank into an armchair
and looked from one to the other of us
with questioning eyes.
81 got your telegram, and came al
the hour you said. heard that YOU
had been down to the Office. There
was no getting away from you. Let's
hear the worst. What are you going to
do with me? Arrest me? Speak out
man! You can't sit there and play
with me like cat with mousse
"Give him cigar" said Holmes
"Bite on that, Captain Croker, and
don't let your nerves run away with
you. I should not sit here smoking
with you If thought that you were q
common criminal, you may be sure OF
that. Be frank with me, and we may
do some good. Play tricks with me
and I'll crush you"
"What do you wish me to doY'
ITO give me true account Of all
that happened at the Abbey Grange
last night-a true account, mind you
with nothing added and nothing taken
off. know SO much already that II
you go one inch off the straight I'll
blow this police whistle from my win
dow, and the affair goes out of my
hands forever"
The sailor thought for little. Their
he struck his leg with his great sun
burned hand.
''I'll chance It," he cried. II believe
you are man Of your word and q
white man, and I'll tell you the whole
story But one thing I will say first
i So far as am concerned I regret
nothing and fear nothing and ]
would do 1t all again and be proud OF
the job. Damn the beast, If he had as
many lives as a cat he would owe them
all to me! But it's the lady, Mary
Mary Fraser-for never will call hel
by that accused name. When I think
Of getting her into trouble, I who would
give my life just to bring one smile tc
her dear face, it's that that turns my
soul into water And yet-and yet
what less could dor I'll tell you my
story, gentlemen, and then I'll ask you
as man to man, what less could do.
II must go back bit. You seem tc
know everything, SO expect that you
know that met her when she was 9
passenger and I was first officer of the
Rock of Gibraltar. From the first day
I met her she was the only woman tc
me. Every day Of that voyage loved
her more, and many a time since have
kneeled down in the darkness Of the