The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-03-08
cesyrisht. 1905.
By Nsciurs. Phillips a CO.

two bundles of ~. I thing IL will he
Of the greatest assistance In producing
the witness whom l require. Thank
you very much. ] believe you have
some matches In your pocket. Watson.
Now. Mr.. I.estrade. I will ask you all
90 accompany me 20 the top landing"
As have said. there was
broad corridor there. which ran
outside three empty bed rooms.
AZ one end OF the corridor we
were all mnrshalled by Sherlock
Holmes. the constables grinning and
Lestrade staring nj my friend with
Amusement. expectation. and derlsion
chasing each other across his feat
ures. Holmes stood before us with the
air Of n corJurer who Is performing a
trick.
Would you kindly send one OF your
constables for two buckets OF water7
Put the straw on the floor here. free
from the wall on either side. Now
think that We are all ready"
Lcstrnde's face had begun 10 grow
red and angry.
Il don't know whether you are play
Ing a game with us. Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes" said he. If you know any
thing, you can surely say IL without all
this tomfoolery."
Il assure you. my good Lestradc.
that I have an excellent reason for
everything that do. You may pos
sibly remember that you chnffed me
little. some hours ago. when the sun
seemed on your side OF the hedge. so
you must not Erudge me little pomp
and ceremony now. Might I ask you,
Watson. TO open that window. and then
TO put n match 10 the edge OF the
straw
did so. and driven by the draugh,.
Iii
corridor, while the dry straw cracked
and famed.
''Now we must see II We can find this
witness for you, Lsstrade. Might
ask you all to Join In the cry OF Fire =
Now. then: one. two, three"
"E1re!" we all yelled.
Thank you. ! will trouble you once
again"
Fire"
Just once more, gentlemen. and all
together
"Fire!" The shout mus; have runs
over Norwood.
II had hardly died away when an
amazing thing happened. A door sud
denly few open out OF what appeared
TO be solid wall nj the end OF the COR
ridor. and a little. wlzened man darted
out OF Il, like rabbit out OF its bur.
row.
Capital" said Holmes. calmly.
Watson. a bucket Of water over the
straw. That VIII do! Lestrade. allow
me to present you with your PRINCIPAL
missing witness. Mr Jonas Oldacre."
The detective stared at the new
conner with blank Amusement. The
latter was blinking In the bright light
OF IN" corridor, and pecring nj VA and
at the smouldering FIRE. II WAS an obi
Gus facc-crafty. vicious. malignant.
with shitty, light grey eyes and white
lashrs.
What's this. them" said T.estradc n;
last. What have you been doing all
this time. ch?'..
oldacre gaven an uneasy laugh.
shrinking back from the furious red
face or the angry detective.
II have done no harm"
NO hnrm2 You have done YOUR best
To get an innocent man hanged. If IL
wasn't for this gentleman here. I am
not sure that you would not have sue
ceedcd.'
The wretched creature began to
whimpcr.
Il am sure. sir, II was only my prac-
teal joke"
"oh, n joke. was IT, You won't ind
the laugh on your side. promise you.
Take him down, and keep him in the
sitting room until i come. Mr. Holmes"
he continued. when they had gone. Il
could not speak before the constnbIcS.
but don't mind saying. in the pres
encr Of DR.. Watson. that this IL the
brighi"s. thing that YOU have done yet,
though IL is mystery tn me how you
did u. You have saved an innocent
mans life. and you have prevented n
very grave scandal, which would have
ruined my reputation IN the force"
Holmes smiled. AMI Clappcd Lcstradc
upon the shoulder.
Instead nf brir. ruined. my good
sir. you VIII find that your reputation
has been enormously enhanced. Just
make a few alterations In that report
which YOU were writing. and they will
understand how hard n In 20 throw
dust IN the eyes OF Inspector Les
trade"
appear"
Not at nll .-,nr work IL it's own re-
ward. Perhaps ! shall get the credit
also NJ some distant day. when ! per-
NIT my Jealous historian To lay out his
foolScIp orCC more--ch. Watson Well
nov. let "a see where IkIs rat has been
lurking"
\ iath-and- plaster partition had
been 'un across the passage ak feet
FROM the end. with the door cunningIy
concealed In II. II was III within by
Sits under the caves. \ few articles
81 furniture aud supply Of food and
water were within. together with
number ~ books and papers
There's the advantage 90 being "A
builder said Holmes, "a we came out
Tie was able To Tx NJ his own little
hiding place without any confederate
save. % course. that precious house
keeper % his. whom I shaIld lose no
time I'm adding TO your bag LsStrade."
I'll take your advice. Bu; how did
you know % this place. Mr.. Holmes 49,
Il mad" up my mind nm the fellow
was Ia hiding iu IN" house. when I
raced ono corridor aud found Il six feet
shorter than ~" "ypnnd!nE on, be-