Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-05-25

COnpan1On'S irOniCal comments.
II was n fool not TO call you in at
the time, Mr.. Holmes However. that's
past praying for now. Yes, there were
several objects in the o which called
for special attention. One was the har-
boon with which the deed was COM
mitted. 1t had been snatched down
from a rack on the wall. Two others
remained there, and there was q va
cant place for the third. on the stock
was engraved SIS. Sea Unicorn, Dun
dee This seemed to establish that the
crime had been done in a moment of
fury, and that the murderer had
seized the first weapon which came in
his way. The fact that the crime was
committed at 2 O'Clock In the morning,
and yet Peter Carey was fully dressed,
suggested that he had an appointment
with the murderer, which is borne out
by the fact that a bottle of run and
two dirty glasses stood upon the ia
! bic"
Yes said Holmes: "I think that
both differences are permissible. Was
there any other spirit but rum in the
room?"
Yes, there was a tantalus contain
ing brandy and whisky on the sea
chest. 1t is Of no Importance to us,
however. since the d]ecanters were full,
II it had therefore not been used"
For all that. it's presence has some
DC AL SilAlNo
let us hear some more about the OBJ
jects which 10 seem to you to bear
upon the case"
There was this tobacco pouch upon
the table"
"What part of the table,"
1T lay in the middle. 1t was Of coarse
sealskin-the STRAIGHTFORWARD skin, with
a leather thong to bind it. Inside was
p. c. on the flap. There was half an
ounce of strong ships tobacco in it,"
Excellent! What more?"
Stanley Hopkins drew from his
pocket a drab-Covered notebook. The
outside was rough and worn, the leaves
discolored.
On the first page were written the mi
tials j. II. NJ" and the date 1883"
Holmes laid it on the table and ex-
amined 1t in his minute way, while
Hopkins and I gazed over each Shout
der. On the second page were the
printed letters &C. =. r." and then
came several sheets of numbers. An
other heading was Argentine" another
Costa Rica," and another San Paulo,"
each with pages of signs and figures
after it.
What do you make of these?"
asked Holmes.
They appear to be lists of stock ex-
change securities. l thought that j.
Fl. N were the initials of a broker,
and that C. p. r. may have been his
client"
Try Canadian Pacific Railway"
said Holmes.
Stanley Hopkins swore between his
teeth. and struck his thigh with his
cIenched hand.
What a fool 1 have beeu!" he cried.
"Of course, it is as o say. Then j.
II. NJ are the only initial we have to
solve. I have already examined the old
stock exchange lists, and l can find no
one in 1888, either in the house or
among the outside brokers, whose ini-
tials correspond with these. Yet / feel
that the clue is the most important one
hat | hold. You Will admit, Mr..
Holmes, that there is a possibility that
these initials are those of the second
person who was present-in other
words, of the murderer. / would also
urge that the Introduction into the case
OF a document relating TO large masses
OF valuable securities gives us for the
first time some indication of a motive
for the crime
Sherlock Holmes face showed that
he was thoroughly taken aback by this
new development.
II must admit both your points" said
he. Il confess that this note book.
which did not appear at the inquest.
modifies any views which / may have
formed. I had come to q theory of the
crime in which ! can find no place for
this. Have you e~ndeavored to trace
any of the securities here mentioned"
Inquiries are now being made at tire
offices. but l fear hat the complete
register Of the stockholders of these
South American concerns is in South
America, and that some weeks must
clapSe before we can trace the shares"
Holmes had been examining the COW
er of the note book with his magnifying
lens.
Surely there is some discolorstion
here" said he.
yes, sir. it is a blood stain. / told
you that picked the book off the
floor"
Was the blood stain above or be-
love-"
O the side next the boards.
which proves, of course. that the
book was dropped after the crime was
committed
Exactly, Mr.. Holmes. ] appreciated
that point, and / conjectured that IT
was dropped by the murderer in his
hurried fight. 1t lay near the door"
Il suppose that none OF these securi-
ties have been found among the prop
erty OF the dead man."
mo, sir"
Have you n reason to suspect
robbery
NO. sir. Nothing seemed to have
been touched"
Dear me, 1t is certainly a very in
teresting case. Then there was a
| knife, was there not?"
"A sheath knife. still in it's sheath.
1t lay at the feet Of the dead man. Mrs.
| Casey has identified as being her hus-
bands property"
Holmes was lost in thought for some
time.
Well" aid he. at last. Il uppos |
shall have to come out and have a look
at IT,"
Stanley Hopkins gave a cry OF Joy.
Thank ou, sir. That viii, indeed. be
a weight off my mind"
Holmes shook his finger at the in
spector.
1T would have been an easier task
a week ago." said he. But even now
my visit may not be entirely fruitless-
Watson, IL you car spare the time. I
should be very glad OF your company.
IL you will call a four VIII eeler, Mr..
Ia.l-iun xxo shall he randy To gfarf for