Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-01-12
The Adventure Of
the Abbey Grange
No. IL of the Series
(csNrisbt 1901, 3, A. Conan De,,. and co,li.,'s
Weskly.)

fcs'u'sbs, 1901. ., 4: Conan De,. and co,,,.,'.
(cosyrixht, 1905, BY Mcclure, PHILLIP q Co..
The household at the ApDey Grange
were much surprised at our return, but
Sherlock Holmes, finding that Stanley
Hopkins had gone off to report to head
quarters, took possession Of the dining
room, locked the door upon the inside
and devoted himself for two hours to
one of those minute and laborious in
vestigations which form the solid basis
on which his brilliant edifices Of de-
duction were reared. Seated in a cor
ner like an interested student who OBJ
serves the demonstration of his pro-
fessor followed every step Of that re-
markable research. The window. the
curtains, the carpet, the chair, the rope
each in turn was infinitely examined
and duly pondered. The body Of the
unfortunate baronet had been removed,
and all else remained as we had seen
1t IN the morning. Finally, to my as
constituent, Holmes climbed up on to
the massive mantelpiece. Far above
his head hung the few inches of red
cord which We're still attached to the
wire. For long time he gazed up
ward at 1t, and then in an attempt to
get nearer to 1t he rested his knee upon
wooden bracket on the wall. This
brought his hand within few inches
OF the broken end Of the rope, but It
was not this SO much es the bracket
itself which seemed to engage his at
tention. Finally he sprang down with
an ejaculation Of satisfaction.
TITS all right, Watson" said he. eve
have got our case-oae Of the most re-
markable in our collection. But, dear
me, how slow witted 1 have been and
how nearly have committed the blum
der of my lifetime! Now, l think that,
with a few missing links, my chain is
almost complete"
"You have got your menu"
Man, Watson, man. Only one, but
very formidable person. Strong as
lion witness the blow that bent that
poker! Six foot three in height, active
as a squirrel, dexterous with his fin
gers; finally, remarkably quick witted,
for this whole ingenious story is Of his
concoction. Yes, Watson, we have
come upon the handiwork Of very re-
markable individual. And yet, in that
bell rope he has given us clew which
should not have left us doubt"
'Where was the clew?"
"Well, If you were to pull down
bell rope, Watson, where would you
expect it to break? Surely at the spot
where it is attached to the wire. Why
should it break three inches from the
top, as this one has done?"
Because it is frayed there?"
EXACTLY. This end, which we can
examine, is frayed. He was cunning
enough to do that with his knife. But
the other end is not frayed. You could
not observe that from here, but If you
were on the mantelpiece you would
see that it is cut clean off without any
mark of fraying whatever You can
reconstruct what occurred. The man
needed the rope. He would not tear
IT down for fear Of giving the alarm
by ringing the bell. What did he do2
He sprang upon the mantelpiece, could
not quite reach it, put his knee on the
bracket-you will see the impression in
the husband SO got his knife to bear
upon the cord. could not reach the
place by at least three inches, from
which infer that he is at least three
inches bigger man than am. Look at
that mark upon the seat Of the oaken
chair What is IT."
Blood"
Undoubtedly it is blood. This alone
puts the lady's story out of court II
she We're seated on the chair when
the crime was done, how comes that
mark? No, no; she was placed in the
chair after the death Of her husband.
III wager that the black dress shows
corresponding mark to this. We
have not yet met our Waterloo, Wat
son, but this Is our Marengo, for it
begins in defeat and ends in victory.
l should like now to have few words
with the nurse. Theresa. We must be
wary for awhile if we are to get the
Information which we want"
She was an interesting person, this
stern Australian nurse-taciturn. sus-
picious, ungracious. It took some time
before Holmes pleasant manner and
frank acceptance Of all she said thaw-
ed her into a corresponding amiability.
She did not attempt to conceal her ha-
tired for her late employer.
Eyes, sir, 1t Is true that he threw the
decanter at me. l heard him call nv
mistress name, and I told him that
he would not dare to speak 80 II her
brother had been there. Then 1t was
that he threw 1t at me. He might have
thrown a dozen IL he had but left my
bonny bird alone. He was forever Ill
treating her, and she too proud to com
plain. She will not even tell me all
that he has done to her. She never told
me Of those marks on her arm that you
saw this morning, but know very
well that they come from stab with
hatpin. The sly devil-God forgive
me that should speak Of him SO now
that he is. deadl But devil he was II
ever one walked the earth. He was all
honey when first we met him, only
eighteen months ago, and we both feel
as If it were eighteen years. She had
only just arrived In London. Yes, 1t
was her first voyage. She had never
been from home before. He won her
with his title and his money and his
false London ways. II she made a
mistake abe has paid for it IL ever
woman did. What month did we meet
him? Well I tell Won II was inst aft.