The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-23

two OF which had been onened by the
police. They were not, so far as could
Judge. of any great value. nor did the
bank book show that Mr.. Oldacre was
III such very affiuent circumstances.
But 1t seemed to me that all the papers
| We're not there. There were illusions
to some deeds-possibly more valuable
which l could not find. This OF
course. IL we could definitely prove 1t,
would turn Lestrade's argument
against himself; for who would steal
a thing il he knew that he would
shortly inherit it?
Finally, having drawn every other
cover and picked up no scent, tried
my luck with the housekeeper. Mrs.
i Lexlnston Is her nalne,a little, dark,
silent person. with suspicious and side
long eyes. She could tell us something
x she would am convinced OF It.
But she was as close as wax. Yes,
she had let Mr.. McFarlane In at half
past nine. She wished her hand had
| withered before she had done so. She
had gone to bed at half-past ten. Her
room WAS at the other end of the house,
and she could hear nothing Of what
passed. Mr.. McFarlane had left his
hat. and to the best OF her belief, his
! stick. in the hail. 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 had enemies but MIR. Old
acre kept himself very much to him.
self. and only met 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,
for 1t had not rained for month. 1t
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 it. She knew nothing of the
papers. nor of Mr.. Oldacre's private
affairs.
$50, my dear Watson, there's the
report OF a failure. And yet-and vet"
he clenched his thin hands in a par
oxysm Of conviction Il know it's all
wrong. feel it in my bones. There is
something that has not come out, and
that housekeeper knows it. There was
sort of sulky defiance in her eyes,
which only goes with guilty knowledge
However, there's no good talking any
more about it, Watson; but unless
some lucky chance comes our way
fear that the Norwood disappearance
case will not figure in that chronicle
OF our successes which I foresee that
patient public will sooner or later
have to endure"
Surely" said 1 the mans appear
ance would go far with any jury?"
THAT is a dangerous argument, my
dear Watson. You remember that
terrible murderer. Bert Stevens. who
wanted US to get him off in 'S7? Was
there ever more mild hammered, Sun
day school young MANI"
ut is true"
Unless we succeed in establishing
an alternative theory this man is lost.
You can hardly find flaw in the case
which can now be presented against
him, and all further Investigation has
served to strengthen it. 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-
ctpally due to large checks which have
been made out during the last year
to Mr.. Cornelius. confess that /
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 hand in the affair? Cornelius
might be 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 bank for
the gentleman who has cashed these
checks. But l fear, my dear fellow
that our case will end ingloriously by
Lestrade hanging our client, which will
certainly be Il triumph for Scotland
Yard"
l do not know how far Sherlock
Holmes took any sleep that night, but
when came down to breakfast found
him pale and harassed, his bright eyes
the brighter for the dark shadows
vVN11 ft1nv,N =.
chair was Uttered with cigarette ends
and with the early editions OF the
morning papers. An open telegram
lay on the table.
What do you think of this, Wat
son." he asked, tossing it across.
1t was from Norwood, and ran as
follows
Important fresh evidence to hand.
McFarlane's guilt definitely estab-
Lestrade."
This sounds serious" said I.
1T Is Lestrade's little cock-a doodle
of victory" Holmes answered, with g.
bitter smile. And yet it may be pre-
mature to abandon the case. After all.
important fresh evidence is two
edged thing, and may possibly cut in
Lestrade imagines. Take your break
fast, Watson, and we will go out togeth-
er and see what we can do. feel as IL
shall need your company and moral
support today"
My friend had no breakfast himself,
for 1t was one of his peculiarities that
in his more intense moments he would
permit himself no food, and I have
known him to presume upon his iron
strength until he has tainted from pure
hamilton. AT present cannot spare
energy and nerve force for Digestion"
he would say in answer to my medical
circumstances. 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 We're still gath
cred around Deep Dene house, which
was just such suburban villa az I
had pictured. Within the gates Les
trade met us, his face flushed with
victory, his manner grossly triumph
| ant.
well. Mr.. Holmes, have you proved
us to be wrong yet? Have you found
| your tramp? 2" he cried.
have formed no conclusion what
4 ever" my companion answered.
But we formed ours yesterday, and
now. 1t proves to be correct so you
must acknowledge that we have been q
little in front of you this time, Mr..
4 Holiness
you certainly have the air of scme-
thing unusual having occurred" said
\ Holmes.
Lestrads laughed loudly.