Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-06-01

ley Hopkins methods do not commend
themselves to me. / am disappointed in
Stanley Hopkins. / had hoped for better
things from i'm. One should always look
for a possible alternative, and provide
against II. 1t is the first rule of criminal
investigation"
What, then, is the a~lternative?"
The line of Investigation which I have
myself been pursuing. 1t may give us
nothing. / cannot tell. But at least /
shall follow IL 10 the end"
Several letters were waiting for Holmes
at Baker street. He snatched one of them
up, opened II, and burst out into a trt-
umphant chuckle Of laughter.
Excellent, Watson! The alternative de-
velops. Have you telegraph forms? Just
write a couple of messages for me: sum
ner. Shipping Agent, Ratcliff Highway.
Send three men on, TO arrive ten tomor-
row morning.-Basil.' That's my name in
those parts. The other is: inspector
Stanley Hopkins, as. Lord street, BriXton.
Come breakfast tomorrow at $3.50. I'M
p~ortant. Wire If unable to ~come.-Sher-
lock Dime There, Watson, this in
fernal case has haunted me for ten days.
/ hereby Danish it completely from my
presence. Tomorrow, / trust, that we
shall hear the last of 1t forever"
Sharp at the hour named Inspector
Stanley Hopkins appeared, and we sat
down together to the excellent breakfast
which Mrs. Hudson had prepared. The
young detective was in high spirits at his
success.
"You really think that your solution
must be correct?" asked Holmes.
II could not imagine a more complete
case"
at did not seem to me conclusive"
"You a~ston.sh me, Mr.. Holmes. What
more could one ask for?"
Does you explanation cover every
point?'
Undoubtedly. ] find that young Neli-
gan arrived at the Brambletye hotel on the
very day OF the crime. He came on the
p~retense of playing golf, His room was
on the ground floor, and he could get out
when he liked. That very night he went
down to Woodlands Lee, saw Peter Carey
at the hut, quarreled with him, and killed
him with the harpoon. Then, Mortified by
what he had done, he fed out of the hut,
dropping the notebook which he had
brought with him in order TO question
Peter Carey about these different securi-
ties. You may ave observed that some
of them were marked with ticks, and tho
others-the great majority-were not.
Those which are licked have been traced
on the London market, but the others, pre-
sumab!y, were still in the possession of
Carey, and young Neligan, according TO
his own account, was anxious TO recover
| lltiH III OEucT 10 10 the right ll.IR Dy MS
fathers creditors. After his flight he did
not dare to approach the hut again for
some time, but at last he forced himself
to do so in order to obtain the information
| which he needed. Surely tina is all simple
and obvious?'
Holmes smiled and shook HIS head.
at seems to me to have only one draw
back, Hopkins, and that is that II is in
trinsically impossible. Have you tried to
drive a harpoon through a body? No?
Tut. tut, my dear sir, you must really pay
attention to these details. My friend
Watson could tell you that L spent a
whole morning in that exercise. 1t is no
easy matter, and requires a strong and
practiced arm. But this blow was deliv-
cred with such violence that the head OF
the weapon sank deep into the wall. Do
you imagine that this anaemic youth was
capable of so %frightful an assault? Is he
the mar who hobnobbcd in rum and water
with Black Peter in the dead of the night?
Was 1t his profile that was seen on the
blind two nights before? No. no. Hopkins.
It is another and more formidable person
for whom we must seek"
The detectives face had grown longer
and longer during Holmes speech. His
hopes and his ambitions were all crum-
bling about HIM. But he would not aban-
don his position without a struggle.
you can't deny that Neligan was pres
emit that night, Mr.. Holmes. The book
will prove that. l fancy that I nave evil
dence enough to satisfy a jury, even IL
you are able TO pick a hole in it. Besides,
Mr.. Holmes. ! nave laid my hand upon
my man. AS to this terrible person of
yours, where Is hep
'I rather fancy that he Is on the stair"
said Holmes s~crenely. II think. Wat
son, that you would do well TO put that
revolver where you can reach It," He
1 rose and laid q written na NOR InOn n Sh1p-
table. Now we are ready" said he,
There had been some talking in gruff
voices outside, and now Mrs. Hudson
opened the door to say that there were
three men inqu:ring for Captain Basil.
SHOW them in one by one said
Holmes.
The first who entered was a little rib
ston-pippin OF a man, with rudy checks
and fluffy white side-whiskers. Holmes
had drawn a letter from his pocket.
What manner" he asked.
James Lancaster"
II am sorry, Lancaster, but the berth
Is full. Here IS half a sovereign for your
trouble. Just step into this room, and
wait there for a few minutes"
The second man was a long, dried-up
creature, with lank hair and sallow
cheeks. His name was Hugh Pattins. He
also received his dismissal. his haff-sov-
REIGN, and the order to wait.
The third applicant was a man OF re-
markable appearances. A fierce bull dog
face was framed in a tangle OF hair and
beard, and two bold, dark eyes CLEANED
behind the cover of thick, tufted. overhung
eyebrows. He saluted and stood sailor
fashion, turning his cap round In his
hands.
Your namer' asked Holmes.
Patrick Cairns"
"Harpooner?"
yes sir. Twenty-six voyages
Dundee, / suppose?"
Yes. sir"
sh.p?"
Yes, STR"
What wages?"
Eight pounds a month
Gould you start at once?"
soon as l get my kit
Have you your papers?'
Yes. sir" He took a sheaf OF worn
and greasy forms from his pocket. Holmes
glanced over them and returned them.
Continued Next Weekl