The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-03-02

two OF which had been onened by the
police. They we're not. 40 far as I could
Judge. OF any greav value. Q did the
bank book show hat Mr.. Oldacre was
In such very afiluent circumstances.
But 1t seemed to mi that all the papers
were @ there. There were illusions
to soine deeds-possibly more valuable
which I could not find. This, Of
course, il we could definitely prove 1t,
would urn Lestrade's argument
against himself; for who would steal
a thing II he knew that he would
shortly inherit 1T?
FINALLY, having drawn every other
cover and picked up no scent, I tried
my luck with the h~ousekeeper. Mrs.
Lexington is her name-a little, dark,
long eyes. She could tell us something
IL she would am convinced of it.
But she was. as close as Yes,
she had let Mr.. McFarlane In at half
past nine. She wished her and had
withered before she lac lone so. She
DON was at the other end of the house,
n she could hear nothing OF what
passed. Mr.. McFarlane had left his
hat. and to the best of her belief, his
stick, in. the hall. She had been awak-
ened by the alarm of fire. Her poor
dear master had certainly been MUIR
dered. Had he any enemies? Well.
every man lac enemies. out Mr.. Old
acre kept himself very much to him
self, and only mel people in the way
of business. She had seen the buttons.
and was sure that they belonged to
the clothes which he had worn last
night. The wood pile was very dry,
burned like finder. and by the time
she reached the spot, nothing could be
seen but flames. She and all the fire.
men smelled the burned flesh from in
side 1t She knew nothing of the
papers. nor of Mr.. Oldacre's private
affairs.
80, my dear Watson, there's the
he clenched his thin hands in a par
oxysm Of conviction II know It's all
wrong. I feel it in my bones. There is
something that has not come out, and
that housekeeper knows 1t. There was
a sort of sulky defiance In her eyes,
which only goes with guilty knowledge.
However, there's no good talking any
more about 1t, Watson; but unless
some lucky chance u way I
fear that the Norwood disappearance
case will not figure in that chronicle
of our successes which I foresee that
a patient public will sooner or later
have to endure"
Surely" said 1 the mans appear
ance would go far with any jury?"
1ndl Is u dangerous argument, my
dear Watson. You remember that
terrible murderer, Bert Stevens, who
wanted us to get him off In 1877 Was
there ever a more mild hammered, Sun
day school young man"
1T Is true"
UNLESS we succeed in establishing
an alternative theory this man is lost.
You can hardly find a flaw in the case
which can now be presented against
him, and all further investigation has
served to strengthen 1t. BY the way,
there is one curious little point about
those papers which may serve us as the
starting point for an inquiry. On look
ing over the bank book I found that
the low state of the balance was prin-
clpally due TO large checks which have
been made out during the last year
to Mr.. Cornelius. l confess that I
should be Interested to know who this
Mr.. Cornelius may be with whom a
retired builder has such very large
transactions. Is it possible that he has
had a hand in the affair? Cornelius
might be a broker, but we have found
no scrip to correspond with these large
payments. Failing any other indica-
ton, my researches must now take the
direction of an inquiry at the ban for
the gentleman who has cashed these
checks. But I fear, my dear fellow,
that our case will end ingloriously by
Lestrade hanging our client, which will
certainly be a triumph for Scotland
Yard"
l do not know how far Sherlock
Holmes took any sleep that night. but
when l came down to breakfast I found
him pale and harassed, his bright eyes
the brighter for the ark shadows
round them. The carpet round his
and with the early editions Of the
morning papers An open telegram
lay on the table.
What do you think OF this, Wat
SOM" he asked, tossing 1t across.
1t was from Norwood, and ran as
follows.
Important fresh evidence to hand.
.McFarlane's guilt definitely estab-
lished. Advise o to abandon CASE
Lestrade."
This sounds serious" said L.
1T is L%estrade's little cock-a-doodle
of victory" Holmes answered, with a
bitter smile. "And yet it may be pre-
mature to abandon the case. After all,
important fresh evidence is a two
edged thing, and may possibly cut in
a very different direction to that which
Lestrade imagines. Take your break.
fast, Watson. and we will go out togeth
er and see what we can do. 1 feel as If I
shall need your company and moral
support today"
Ny friend had no breakfast himself,
for it was Of his peculiarities that
III his more intense moments he would
permit himself no food, and 1 have
known him to presume upon his iron
strength until he has tainted from pure
inanition. "At present 1 cannot spare
energy and nerve force for Digestion"
he would say in answer to my medical
remonstrances. I was not surprised,
therefore, when this morning he left
his untouched meal behind him, and
started with me for Norwood. A crowd
of morbid sightseers were still! gath
cred around Deep Dene house. which
was Just such q suburban villa as I
had pictured. Within the gates Les
trade met US. his face flushed with
victory, his name grossly triumph
ant.
well. Mr.. Holmes. have you proved
VI to be wrong yet? Have you found
your tramp" he cried.
II have formed no conclusion what
ever" my companion answered.
But we formed ours yesterday, and
now 1t proves to be correct, so you
must acknowledge hat we have been a
little In front Of you this time. MI.
Holmes"
..xy-. .x-..1 49,. -