Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1906-09-06

non, then in an instant the case rises
from the commonplace to the exceed
fngly remarkable, Tor it can only mean
that Lady -:rackenstall and her maid
h we deliberately lied to us. that not
one word of their story is to be be-
lfeved. that they have some very strong
| reason for covering the real criminal,
and that we must construct our case
for ourselves without any help from
therl. That is the mission which now
II before us. and here. Watson. is the
Sydenham train"
The household at the Abbey Grange
We're 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
NestiSations which form the solid basis
on which his brilliant edifices of de-
| duction We're reared. Seated in cor
ner like an interested student who OBJ
serves tho demonstration of his profess
sor. j followed { step of that re-
markahle research. 7:c window, the
curtains, the carpet. tbs. chair the
rope each i'm turn was minutely ex-
| amined and duly pondered. The body
of the unfort nate baronet had been
removed. "nd all else remained as we
had seen 1T i'm the morning. 'nally,
to my establishment. Holmes climbed
up on to the massive mantelpiece. Far
above his head hum, the few inches of
red cord which We're still attached to
the wire. For Il long time he gazed up
wards at it. and then i'm an attempt to
get nearer TO it he rc:ted his knee upon
n wooden bracket on the wall This
brought his hand within a few inches
of he broken end of the rope. but 1T
WAS not this so much as the bracket
itself which seemed 10 engage his at
teniiotl FINALLY, he sprang down with
an ejaculation of satisfaction.
Its all right, Watson, said he. I'VE
have got our case=-one of the most re-
in;tikable in our collection But dear
me. how slow-wittcd l have been. and
how nearly have committed the
bunder of my lifetime. Now | think
that. with few missing links, my
chain is almost complete
You have got Your men,
Man, Watson, man. Only one but
u Very formidable person Strong as
Il lionz-wirness the blow that bent that
poker. Six foot three in height. active
us :, squirrel. dcxtr"us ,sith his fin
gers. finally, remarkably auick-witted.
for this whole ingenious story is of his
concoction. Yes Watson, we have come
upon the handiwork of a very remark
able individual. And yet in that bell
rope. he has given us clue which
should not have left us u doubt"
Wherc WAS the clue"
We'll if you We're to pull down n
bell-ropc. Watson, where would you ex-
poet il To break" Surely at the spot
where it is attached to the Wire. Why
should ii break three inches from the
top. rs this one has tone?"
Because il is frayed there"
.l.Nactiy. his end. which we can ex-
anime is frayed He was cunning
enough to do tna- With his knife. But
the other end is NOT frayed. You could
mot observe that from here. but if you
We're on The inantelpiece you would see
that il is cut clean off without amy
mark of frayng Whatever. You can
reconstruc'. what occurred. The man
needed TIE rope. He would not tear 1t
down for fear of giving the alarm by
ringing the bell. What did he do? He
spr&n2 up ON the mantelpiece, could
not quite reach it, put his knee on the
brncket-you will see the impression in
the husband so got his knife to bear
upon the cord. could not reach the
place by NJ least three inches-from
which infer That he is at least three
inches n bigger man than /. 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. IL
she were seated on the chair when the
crime was done, HOY comes that mark.
No. no. she was placed i'm the chair
after the death of her husband. IN
wager that the black dress shows 81
corresponding mark to this. We have
not Vet met oui. Waterloo, Watson, but
this is our Marengo. for it begins in
defeat and ends i'm victory. / should
like NOW To have Il few words with the
nurse Theresa. We must be wary for
awhile. if we are to get the informa-
ton which we want"