Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-03-09
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

| TWO DllultS DI IL. 4 lllilS II WIZ NC
Of the greatest assistance In producing
the witness whom | require. Thank
you very much. ! believe O have
some matches in your pocket, Watson.
/ Now, Mr.. Lestrade, | will ask you all
to accompany me to the top landing"
AS / have said, there was a
broad corridor there, which ran
AT one end OF the corridor we
were all m~arshalled by Sherlock
Holmes. the constables grinning and
Lestrade staring at my friend with
amazement, expectation, n derision
chasing each other across his feat
ures. Holmes stood before us with the
air Of a c%onjurer who is performing a
trick.
would you kindly send one of your
constables for two buckets Of water?
Put the straw on the hoor here, free
from the wall on either side. Now /
think that we are all ready"
Lestrade's face had begun to grow
red and angry.
II don't know whether you are play
Holiness" said he. IF you know any
thing, you can surely say II without all
this ~tomfoolery."
Il assure you, my good Lestrade,
that | have an excellent reason for
everything that l do. You may pos
sibly remember that o chalfed me a
little, some hours ago, when the sun
seemed on your side of the hedge. so
you must not grudge me a little pomp
and ceremony now. Might l ask you,
Watson, to open that window, and then
to put a match to the edge Of the
straw
l did SO, and driven by the draught,
a coil of grey smoke swirled down the
corridor, while the dry straw cracked
and famed.
Now we must see il we can find this
witness for you. Lestrade. Might 1
ask o all TO join in the cry of Fire.
Now. then; one, two, three"
Fire." we all yelled.
Thank you. l will trouble you once
again"
Fire"
Just oncc more, gentlemen, and all
together"
Fire." The shout must have rung
over Norwood.
1t had hardly died away when an
amazing thing happened. A door sud
denly flew open out Of what appeared
to be solid wall at the end Of the cor
ridor, n a little, wizened man darteQ
u of 1t, like a rabbit out of its bur
row.
Capital" said Holmes. calmly.
Watson, a bucket OF water over the
straw. That will do! Lestrade, allow
me TO present you with you principal
missing witness. Mr.. Jonas Oldacre.'
The detective stared at the new
conner with blank amazement. The
latter was blinking In the bright light
of the corridor, and peering at us and
at the smouldering fire. II was an obi
Gus face-crafty, vicious, malignant,
with shifty, light grey eyes and white
lashes.
What's this, then ?" said Lestrade at
f.ue gNVFl,fr ,,-- 49,, 49,. 1T II
this time, eh?"
Oldacre gaven an uneasy laugh,
shrinking back from the furious red
face OF the angry detective.
81 have done no harm"
NO HARM You have done your best
to get an innocent man hanged. II il
wasn't for this gentleman here, / an
not sure that you would not have sue
ceeded."
The wretched creature began tc
whimpsr.
Il am sure. sir, 1t was only my prac-
tics. joke
"Oh! a Joke, was 1t? You won't fine
the laugh on YOU side. / promise you
Take him down, and keep him in tht
sitting room until / come. Mr. Holiness
he continued, when they had gone, 'r
could not speak before the constables
but / don't mind saying. in the pres.
ence OF DIR. Watson, that his is thu
brightest thing that you have done yet
though 10 Is a mystery to me how yol
did 1t. You have saved an ipnocen
mans life, and 90 have prevented
very grave scandal, which would hav,
ruined my reputation In the force"
Holmes smiled, and clapped Lestrad'
upon the shoulder.
Instead of being ruined, my gooC
sir. you will find hat your reputation
has been enormously enhanced. jus
make a few alterations In that repor
which you were writing, and they will
understand how hard it is to throw
dust in the eyes Of Inspector Les
trade"
And you don't want your name t
appear
, ward. Perhaps ! shall get the credi
also at some distant day, when | per
NIT my jealous historian to lay out hi
~foolscap once more-eh, Watson? Wei
|, now, let US see where this tat has bee
lurking"
|, A lath-and~ plaster partition hai
been run across the passage six fee
! from the end. with the door cunningl
! concealed in 1t. 1t was lit within b
! Sits under the caves. A few article
!, of furniture and a supply OF food an
|, water were within. together with
! number of books Inc papers.
|, There's The advantage OF being
builder" said Holmes, as we came GU
: He was able To fix up his own it'll
: hiding place without any confederate
/, save, OF curse. that precious house
: keeper OF his, whom ] should lose n
: time in adding to FOUR bag, Lestyade.
!. 'Iil take your advice. But how di
: you know OF this place. Mr.. Holmes?
: II made up my mind that the felloN
: was In hiding in the house. When
raced one corridor and found 1t six fee
!, shorter Ia the corresponding n be